Cologne, Germany - This summer's garden furniture designs are large and larger: Chaises and garden sofas are the "in" items, and they are impressive not only because of their size.

No design element is being spared as the trendsetters displace foldable lounge chairs and wooden benches that might have been stylish once, but are now better left in the shed. Several well-known designers have expanded their lines into garden furniture and have transformed once low-cost and functional furnishings into exclusive items.

The garden is becoming a fashion mecca, according to organizers of the garden trade show Spoga in Cologne. Unusual lifestyle products are pushing mundane, cheap furniture from their established places on balconies, terraces and lawns. New interpretations of basket-work beach furniture are in.

Designers have come out with recliners and day beds on which several people can make themselves comfortable. One example is Vela designed by the Austrian furniture company Joka-Werke. It is shaded by integrated, adjustable panels.

Like Vela, Kosmos by the Belgian company Extremis is also well upholstered. It features a bench shaped around a table under an integrated sun umbrella with lighting for the evening hours. The table can be collapsed, allowing Kosmos to turn into a lounge island.

Ursula Geismann of Germany's furniture industry association in Bad Honnef said the lounge theme has made its way to outside furniture in the form of inviting large format pieces. Balconies and terraces are considered valuable components of any apartment or house and relaxation is being encouraged there by the new furniture elements.

People looking to replace their plastic folding chairs and uneven tables with designer garden furniture have to dig deep into their pockets. Germans appear to be willing to do so: In 2007 an estimated 10.7 billion euros (14.15 billion dollars) was spent in Germany on outdoor plants, furniture and appliances and the trend is growing, according to Spoga.

People are investing in "garden salons," which is exactly the type of living space designers at high-end labels such as Alias of Italy and Garpa of Escheburg have in mind for their creations. Lower-priced furniture makers such as Sweden's Ikea are also launching outdoor sofas, chairs and seats in natural colours. The upholstery is usually easy-care, high tech material that cannot be damaged by rain, wind or sunlight.

Furniture reminiscent of rattan also fits the current natural trend. Spoga notes that a green identity is popular among today's garden furniture buyers. More and more consumers have a well-honed ecological consciousness and want to buy "real," long-lasting products, particularly made of wood, but preferably not teak and other tropical woods because of concerns about deforestation.