The most enduring piece of outdoor furniture that Judy Paolini designed in her career is a stationary hammock that rocks gently but doesn’t tip as people climb in and out.

Trends in patio furniture come and go with the seasons, but the Portland designer’s sturdy hammock continues to sell at Lowes and other big-box stores after 10 years on the market.

From Adirondack chairs to hammocks, consumers typically purchase patio and outdoor furniture that is practical and can withstand the elements. The pieces have been considered part-furniture and part-outdoor equipment, like a grill or John Deere mower. A metal table or wood bench might serve a family for 10 or 20 years – and then have a second life when recycled at a garage sale.

But outdoor furniture design also is undergoing a renaissance, mixing functionality with fashion, durability with design. Many new pieces are not only made to last, but also could easily be mistaken for indoor furniture.

Consumers can pay as little as $12 for colorful plastic chairs to $12,000 for a modular, customized outdoor kitchen with interlocking aluminum units that include a stove, gas grill and sink.

“The indoors have moved outside,” said Paolini, who lives with her husband on Long Island and has an office in Portland.

Paolini often designs furniture for companies that sell products to big-box stores, such as Home Depot, so she follows trends that appeal to the middle class as well as high-end users.

In addition to beach chairs and umbrella tables, the range of outdoor furnishings seems limitless. It includes sofas, coffee tables, rugs, lamps, canopied day beds and Lazy Boy recliners specifically made for outdoor use.

There are free-standing metal-roof gazebos to protect and store grills when the garage just won’t do. Some homes have complete outdoor rooms, such as kitchens and dining areas, that require interior designers and builders to plan and install.

Many traditional furniture companies, such as Cabot, are now offering upscale patio furniture lines, joining traditional bargain stores, such as Sears, Home Depot and Target.

Maine Cottage of North Yarmouth offers stylized outdoor wood furniture that is durable and painted in lively colors. Maine also is home to many individual craftsmen who are furniture makers, such as Eric Ritter of New Gloucester. Ritter designs ultra-contemporary furniture from sustainable wood.

UPDATE WITH ACCESSORIES

Especially in these lean times, luxury purchases are beyond the means of American consumers. Casual Living Magazine, a trade publication for outdoor furniture makers, notes that accessories are hot in 2010 with customers buying outdoor pillows, lamps, umbrellas and rugs to update existing patio furnishings.

Low-budget alternatives to costly patio and deck furniture sets abound, says Paolini and other experts. “There are simple ways to make an inviting space inviting without breaking the bank,” says Paolini.

Sharon Kitchens of Cape Elizabeth agrees. Instead of investing in a set of outdoor furniture, Kitchens has collected pieces over the years, including vintage benches, large clay pots and Moroccan rugs. Her choices– which Kitchens describes as “boho” – are highly personal, reflecting her taste and lifestyle,

“I do a lot of entertaining and want my outdoor space to feel inviting and comfortable,” said Kitchens, who writes the food blog, “Delicious Musings.” She grows spearmint and peppermint in outdoor pots to surround guests with the sweet smells of spring and summer.

Outdoor heaters are at the top of the list for Paolini, who tries to be practical when furnishing her home, including outdoor spaces.

“I don’t know why more people in Maine don’t use them,” said Paolini, noting that a little extra warmth extends the time people can spend outdoors.

The heaters, which start at $100, were first introduced in California 15 years ago and largely used by restaurants that serve customers outdoors. Now they have been adapted and redesigned for homes.

The heat is more constant and stronger than the flames from a chiminea or other portable outdoor fireplaces, she noted. The fuel tanks the heaters use are the same size and kind that fit on gas grills.

MIX AND MATCH

Decorating on a budget often requires a little more planning and bargain hunting.

Paolini offers other budget tips for furnishing outdoor spaces:

Determine outdoor needs before shopping. How large is the space? How will it be used? Large tables, if they fit the area, can be handy if there is a lack of storage areas and counter tops on a patio or deck. If a home or camp is close to the coast, think twice before buying a large umbrella. It may be a waste of money since the ocean breezes quickly will topple it.

Mix and match chairs and tables. It is not necessary to buy a complete patio set of a sofa, chairs, love seat and table, which may cost several hundred dollars. It often is more attractive to mix pieces, as many people do with inside furniture. “Unless it’s your style to have a set of furniture, try buying different pieces and grouping them,” she said. Lowes sometimes lets shoppers buy just the chairs or a table without purchasing an entire ensemble.

Buy new cushions or an outdoor area rug to spruce up a space. There is an abundance of patterns and styles available. “The fabric market has exploded,” said Paolini, noting that the outdoor fabric is made from the same durable material used for tents and sails. Outdoor rugs are just as hardy, with many consumers buying them for indoor use, as well.

Consider the options in furniture choices, which include wood, aluminum, steel and all-weather wicker. Popular these days is furniture made from renewable wood, such as bamboo. Jennifer Fowler of Portland said she found a bargain at the Christmas Tree Shoppes on a small outdoor table with four chairs, for under $100. The table has a hard plastic top that looks like glass. The set fits her home’s small patio area. “It’s neutral and I was looking for something that was affordable,” Fowler said. “That was my primary goal.”

Grill gazebos make sense for Mainers who want shelter from the cold, rain and even snowy. The gazebos protect the person grilling and the equipment. Grill gazebos have metal roofs, so there is no fire hazard and no fuss about storage. The gazebos start at about $200, available at Ace Hardware, and run to $999 for an aluminum model that BJ’s Wholesale Club sells for $999.

Chris Haskell, who recently moved from Colorado to Portland, said she was not looking for fancy outdoor furniture.

She invested in a table and comfortable chairs from Home Depot that she and her partner use for dining outdoors or playing with their two pet dogs.

“It’s so nice to eat outside and have a sturdy table and chairs,” says Haskell, who shopped for furniture that would last in the elements.

“We also bought an outdoor rug. It just makes the space more inviting. As it gets nice outside we spend more time in the yard, enjoying the birds and playing with the dogs.”

Likewise, Kitchens said, the fleeting summers are the prime time for enjoying the quality of life in Maine.

“I like to bring outside the furniture and items I’ve collected over the years and create a space that reflects who I am.”

Kitchens grows edible plants, such as lettuce, in large pots she places in her outdoor area. She has two favorite Adirondack chairs from L.L. Bean that she painted cottage white and a pair of antique benches with orange cushions. Large pots of mints and herbs help to create a space where people want to linger and enjoy themselves, she said.

Paolini also suggests looking in magazines that specialize in outdoor furniture, for ideas. She recommends Casual Living, which is not sold in stores but is available online.

The magazine’s editors attribute advances in all-weather materials to part of the explosion of products in outdoor furnishings. Casual Living, a trade publication, notes that furniture companies are “blurring the line between indoors and out.”

Paolini said she appreciates the growing number of furnishings for outdoor spaces.

“We grill outdoors 365 days a year, no matter the weather,” said Paolioni, who lives year-round on Long Island, where she has magnificent views of Casco Bay. “I love nothing more than sitting outside.”

This photo is of outdoor patio pieces designed by Judy Paolini, who lives year-round on Long Island and has an office in Portland. She creates outdoor furniture that is sold in big box stores. Pictured here are some of her outdoor pieces from recent years. Paolini said the big trend in outdoor patios is bringing the inside outdoors, whether it’s an-all-weather sofa, Laz-Boy recliner or entire kitchen.Judy Paolini’s pieces include the stationary hammock, which rocks but doesn’t flop over every time you climb in or out of it.Sharon Kitchens uses the vintage furniture that decorated the deck at her apartment in Somerville, Mass., to outfit her outside living area at her new Cape Elizabeth home. She says she tries to make good use of potted plants, growing aromatic herbs to please visitors.