Turn your back yard into an outdoor living room

Y ou have spring fever.

We know.

We’ll have one day of schizophrenic sun, one day of random rain followed by two days of both, followed, perhaps, by a dusting of snow for good measure.

It enough to make you forget summer’s backyard barbecues, late-night hot-tub retreats and lazy afternoons of sunbathing.

But those days are coming, and now is the time to plan your outdoor escape.

Whether that’s a couple of plastic Adirondacks thrown in a corner of your backyard, a bistro table on your balcony or a $10,000 outdoor kitchen just outside your mansion, you have plenty of dreamy options, thanks to an explosion in the world of outdoor decor.

“Right now the industry is really expanding and thinking outside the box in outdoor furniture,” said Margo Lagen, the garden furniture buyer for Molbak’s in Woodinville. “It will be really interesting to see what happens with the whole category in the next few years.”

Advances in technology are driving innovations and design, Lagen said, citing increasing options in weather-resistant hardware, fabrics and accessories, all made to last.

Sleek and black, frilly and formal, bright and beachy. Metal, wood, plastic: You name it, it’s out there, accented with weather-resistant prints, comfy cushions and can’t-miss accessories, including die-hard rugs, umbrellas, bars, stools and more.

“People can come in and really personalize their outdoor living space,” Lagen said.

This year, you can even sleep outside if you want, and we’re not talking about a two-person North Face tent.

In fact, we may look back on the summer of 2007 as the year the bed moved outside.

Weatherproof mattresses with hardy teak, metal or woven resin frames for snoozing al fresco are landing at major retailers across the land.

Called sun beds, daybeds or lounges, they are a new category of outdoor furniture in national chains and home centers, sporting amenities such as mildew-resistant cushion covers and mosquito-netting canopies.

Crate and Barrel has added ultrathick 6-inch cushions to its weather-resistant sectionals and a teak banquet-size dining table that seats 12 with a built-in extension.

Flip through one of the spring catalogs pouring into mailboxes and see the lineup of beds that don’t have to be made, just hosed down.

Restoration Hardware’s Del Mar Daybed is a towering four-poster in espresso hand-woven resin with a queen-size mattress that’s available in a dozen Sunbrella fabric options.

Smith &Hawken has introduced a tasteful teak Royal Hall Sunbed with a thick olive-colored mattress piled high with oversize bolsters and pillows.

Accessories, of course, are equally important to outdoor living.

Manufacturers are churning out all-weather versions of flat-screen TVs, pillows, recliners and billowing curtains impervious to showers or bugs.

Americans have already bought in big to outdoor living rooms and kitchens.

“Now it seems like the whole house is emptying into the backyard,” said Stephanie Yonkers, a spokeswoman for Crate and Barrel.

Why?

Doug Fraser with Rich’s for the Home in Lynnwood, which sells patio sets and outdoor furniture 12 months a year, believes it’s more than our desire to reconnect with nature.

“With gas prices and with other considerations, people are wanting to say, ‘OK. Fine. If we’re not going to go on a trip. We’re going to stay at home and invest our money in our outdoor living environment,’” he said. “Staying at home allows you to reconnect with the people that you love.”

No matter what your budget, outdoor living must start with a place to sit and, wow, have patio sets improved over the years.

Weather-resistant wicker is particularly hot this season among many manufacturers, especially longtime wicker maker Lloyd Flanders, offering seven new styles for 2007, including the traditional Veranda line in blue-gray wicker ready for your grandmother’s porch as well as the modern Rendezvous line, a showcase of contemporary shapes in chocolate-brown hues.

“It’s accented with a leopard print,” Molbak’s Lagen said of the Rendezvous. “It’s just very fun. They came out with a rocking chair that can go outside too.”

Rich’s for the Home also carries Lloyd Flanders, including the contemporary Hamptons line, which includes swivel chairs, loungers, dining chairs, sectional pieces and ottomans.

“It’s modular,” Fraser said. “You can make everything from what we call a chat group to, basically, an outdoor sofa that you can wrap around the edge of a deck or a covered porch.”

Even La-Z-Boy wants you to be able to put your feet up while your steaks are grilling with its first outdoor recliner – the Whitley – sold exclusively at Sam’s Club stores.

It’s made of a “java brown” woven resin, paired with lipstick-red weatherproof cushions.

“The outdoor world has been dominated by female purchasers,” said Chris Carmicle, president of Brown Jordan International, the company licensed to produce the Whitley. “Males will go along a little more willingly if they can have a recliner outside.”

Reporter Sarah Jackson: 425-339-3037 or sjackson@ heraldnet.com.

The Washington Post contributed to this report.

Shop now: Most stores sell outdoor furniture seasonally with displays that dwindle dramatically during the hottest months of the year. If you wait until late June to shop for your Fourth of July or Labor Day party, you’ll find slim pickings, if any, at many stores, which seem to begin outdoor clearance sales and back-to-school promotions earlier every year, replacing their outdoor firepits and patio sets with crayons and SpongeBob SquarePants notebooks by August.

Order early: If you’re buying high-end outdoor furniture at stores such as Rich’s for the Home in Lynnwood or Molbak’s in Woodinville, you can save money by putting in special orders now to obtain discounts before the peak selling season begins, typically over Memorial Day weekend.

Plan for storage: While most outdoor furniture can withstand the elements these days, you’ll save yourself a ton of cleanup and prolong the life of your furniture if you take care of it. Dust, evergreen needles and moss can pile up if you don’t cover or store outdoor pieces over the winter. Many retailers sell covers tailored to perfectly fit their outdoor pieces, but you can also use a strategically placed tarp or two. If you’re short on storage, opt for wood pieces that fold up flat or stack for easier garage storage. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance and storage to avoid rust, rot and other pitfalls.