Where the wild things are
Gone are the days when pink flamingos and bearded garden gnomes were popular lawn ornaments, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a hip animal kingdom in your backyard this summer. The bright-fuchsia, two-foot-high Wire Hare ($79.95 at CB2 [1277 Robson Street]) adds an instant punch of colour to gardens and patios. For something more subdued, we like the arty Eames Elephant ($320 at Inform Interiors [50 Water Street]), which comes in a matte grey-blue and four other colours. While the Charles and Ray Eames–designed 1940s original never made it to mass production, this modern update is fashioned from easy-to-clean plastic, and doubles as a child’s toy. And if you don’t mind attracting a bird or two, consider hanging Dutch designer Marcel Wanders’s Droog Birdhouse ($92, also at Inform), which lets small birds eat in refinement from a shaded porcelain plate.

> Michelle Da Silva

Quest for fire
The term fire pit usually brings to mind cavemen and camping trips, but Canada’s Paloform has put a contemporary, architectural spin on the primeval concept. The pieces in the company’s new collection, Concrete Fires, take the form of smooth, sophisticated concrete. The Bento ($3,200) is a minimalistic box filled with river or lava rock, while the round Soba (also $3,200) will remind you of a simple Japanese bowl. We like the way the fine stone look plays off a cedar deck and slate tiles. They come with either natural-gas or propane flames. Paloform ships worldwide, and these prices generally include that cost and everything you need to set up your instant outdoor fire—a warm-up for those not-so-sultry Vancouver summer evenings.

> Janet Smith

Camp it up
Going rustic doesn’t have to mean going style-free. Just check out Gallant & Jones’s new FieldCandy tents (from $631), whose waterproof flysheets are covered in quirky, whimsical prints that just beg to be displayed. Show them off in your backyard during a party, or use them as fun kid play zones. And if you do head for the hills, the inner tent is made of breathable natural cotton, so you’ll stay comfy no matter the elements. Available online at the Gallant and Jone website, from the Vancouver company best known for bringing its classic British fabric deck chairs to the West Coast.

> Jessica Werb

Cool shades
Check out the ultra-modern take on the old-world patio umbrella. Andrew Richard Designs is carrying the new Tuuci line, which includes a Razor shade that’s as sharp and sleek as a shark fin ($1,975) and will set off the modular lines of contemporary condo-patio furniture. Impervious to saltwater and UV degradation, this tiltable, flat model features an 11-foot-wide octagon that’s all corners and cold anodized aluminum. Its Sunbrella fabric comes in customizable colours, but we like it best in steely grey via the Andrew Richard Designs website .

> Janet Smith

Witty wire chairs
There’s more to patio furniture than metal and nylon recliners and white plastic chairs. California-based furniture and product design house Bend makes handcrafted wire chairs in an array of cheerful colours and patterns that work just as well indoors as they do on the deck. The geometrically detailed designs on the backs of the chairs are created through hand-shaping and spot welding for optimal comfort. Mix and match chairs in the same hue, like the zany Lucy and hypnotizing Ethel chairs ($475 each at Provide [529 Beatty Street]). Both chairs are available in black and white, but we like the bright tangerine for a burst of summer colour. Pull up the matching Drum stool/table/ottoman ($450), which wins for versatility.

> Michelle Da Silva

Bringing functional chic to the yard or deck are Metalarte’s floating lamps (Lightform); the colourful Mummolan Marjat tray (Marimekko); and the plastic-rattan Ammerö storage bench (IKEA).

Let there be (outdoor) light
With apologies to Kim Mitchell, forget patio lanterns. Style hounds should check out LightForm’s (1060 Homer Street) futuristic new outdoor lighting, a way to bring a little space-age style to the pool deck or patio, without ruining the contemporary cool with melting candles or tiki lights. Metalarte has introduced the Inout, a glowing, standing polyethylene lamp, complete with moulded shade shapes, in striking white ($2,939 for the big model, $1,568 for the medium). The company has also come out with rechargeable, waterproof floating lamps ($550 apiece).

> Janet Smith

Tray chic
Finnish design house Marimekko is synonymous with colour and pattern, which means its kitchenware is perfect for outdoor summer dining. Make a statement while moving dishes easily from inside to the patio with the Mummolan Marjat tray ($59 at Marimekko [1233 Hamilton Street]). The 43-by-33-centimetre rectangular fabric-and-plywood serving tray features a pop-art-inspired berry print in saturated pink, blue, purple, red, and green. For smaller bites, check out the petal-painted Mini-Unikko or landmark-illustrated Helsinki trays ($29 to $35), which measure 27 by 20 centimetres. During summer patio parties, impress your guests by serving drinks on the Siirtolapuutarha tray ($82), which comes in blue and white or pink and orange flower prints and is 46 centimetres in diameter.

> Michelle Da Silva

Stellar stowaways
If you’ve got kids, chances are you’ll have a beach ball, a Frisbee, and a jump rope or two flung across the lawn when the weather warms up. If you’re looking for an easy but stylish way to store summer toys, consider getting a simple storage bench for the patio. IKEA (various locations) has several to choose from, including the kid-friendly Ammerö ($119), which is made from ouch-free hand-woven plastic rattan. The waterproof and easy-to-clean box is 124 centimetres wide, 62 centimetres deep, and 57 centimetres tall. Wheels on one end of the box mean no heavy lifting. Whether you’re stowing away toys, garden tools, or outdoor seat cushions, the Äpplarö ($89 to $129, depending on size) also makes for a stylish storage unit that doubles as seating. It’s made from slats of handsomely dark acacia wood, and depending on size may feature a steel handle and wheels on opposite sides so that it can be moved around the yard easily.