Outdoor Trends 2026: Four Brands, Four Ideas

DEDON, ClassiCon, Garpa and Paolelli recently demonstrated in Milan just how diverse outdoor living has become today – from atmospheric weaving and iconic designs to soft-shaped concrete.

Milan Design Week 2026 placed outdoor spaces firmly in the spotlight. Four brands revealed where outdoor furniture is heading: DEDON approaches outdoor living as an atmosphere, ClassiCon brings design classics outdoors, Garpa combines textiles and structure, while Paolelli makes concrete feel surprisingly light and approachable.

With its new presentation The Hours Between, DEDON demonstrates how outdoor living can be reimagined beyond traditional furniture. The focus is not on individual pieces but on transitions – those quiet moments between day and evening when spaces subtly change their character. New modular systems meet refined versions of existing collections, including designs by Stephen Burks, Sebastian Herkner and Barber Osgerby. Rather than introducing entirely new concepts, the emphasis lies on continuity and refinement. What stands out most is the treatment of materials. Woven elements, textiles and textured surfaces are combined in a way that creates depth without becoming dominant. Outdoor living is understood here not as a function, but as an atmosphere.

ClassiCon expands its portfolio with outdoor versions of well-known designs. Pieces by Konstantin Grcic, Sebastian Herkner and Herzog & de Meuron have been adapted through the use of materials such as steel, marble, cork and robinia wood. The concept is straightforward yet consistently executed: existing designs remain formally unchanged while being translated to function seamlessly outdoors. Compared to other brands, the outdoor aesthetic feels less staged and more precise and restrained – furniture that retains its architectural clarity even in open-air settings.

Garpa explores new approaches to outdoor design through materials and surfaces. In collaboration with Bodo Sperlein, textiles introduce movement and structure, ranging from flowing, wave-like patterns to calmer, linear weaves. This is complemented by the Arcus seating collection, where concrete stone meets teak wood. Despite the solidity of the materials, the forms appear surprisingly light. What makes the collection particularly interesting is the interplay between soft textiles and clear, almost architectural elements, creating a calmer and more tactile interpretation of outdoor living.

At the Salone, Paolelli Outdoor presented for the first time how versatile concrete can be in outdoor environments. Planters, tables and objects appear remarkably light, partly thanks to new material compositions that significantly reduce weight. Particularly prominent was the Sassi collection by Paola Navone. Instead of hard edges, soft and almost playful forms dominate. Stools, tables and vessels resemble stones shaped over years by natural forces rather than conventional concrete furniture. That is precisely where the appeal lies: the material loses its rigidity and becomes more approachable. Surfaces remain intentionally lively, colours draw on mineral tones, and each piece feels subtly unique.

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