SHOPPING: Spring brings a market for outdoor furniture

Spring in Las Vegas usually arrives ahead of time. So, as early as the first part of this month, local outdoor accessory stores put their patio furniture on display in anticipation of the four relatively temperate months before the heat hits.

Although it's not yet spring, outdoor furniture and design stores are already seeing an influx of customers seeking outdoor setups.

This season's colors? Bronzes and deep reds. Many people are seeking cast aluminum, a light-weight, strong material that's easier to maneuver than wrought iron.

When it comes to outdoor decorating, the key to creating a comfy setup is the same formula used for the interior: make the best use of furniture to fit your space and your budget, within reason.

Paddock Pools, 2170 N. Rainbow Blvd., and 519 N. Stephanie St. in Henderson, offers everything the outdoor party planner could ever anticipate needing.

"Besides outdoor furniture, we offer gazebos," said Jayne Goetze, designer consultant for the North Rainbow Boulevard location. "We have garden accessories such as wind chimes, acrylic ware for outdoor use so you don't have to worry about breaking glass. We also have bird baths, Tiki torches, metal torches."

Paddock also sells fire pits, ranging from $200 to $400 as well as an array of outdoor heaters, that, let's face it, are probably only a necessity from October to January.

Goetze said already the store has seen a range of customers seeking replacement cushions, small outdoor waterfalls and fountains for their yard.

"We are getting geared up for spring," she said. "Two weeks ago, we packed up whatever winter items we had left, and people have started coming in now."

Pam Nikopoulos of Patio Lifestyles, 5522 W. Spring Mountain Road, said more and more people have come into her shop seeking to give their outdoors a living room atmosphere.

"In the past five years, we've come a long way," Nikopoulos said. "When I started this business, there wasn't much in the way of outdoor furniture."

These days, Nikopoulos designs entire outdoor living arrangements, from plush couches to marble tables, lamps and awnings that literally create an indoor room in an outside climate. With 11,000 square feet of space of furniture, accessories and replacement cushions to choose from, customers have already been coming in with their ideal outdoor concept in mind. The high-end nature and custom designs found at Patio Lifestyles can carry a lofty price tag, but Nikopoulos said for those who want durability and sophistication, the cost is no object.

"People don't just want to go outside and sit for a short time," she said. "They want to have a conversation or read a magazine. They want to entertain."

For those who don't want to spend a pretty penny on an outdoor living room, retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart offer traditional patio sets from $100, depending on the number of chairs (plastic or other material) that are purchased and the size of the table.