The concept of outdoor living has gone beyond just patios and decks to include other areas of the home, like garages, porches, and front yards. Outdoor living is the trend of using your home's exterior space for activities other than just sitting on your patio.
The outdoor living trend has moved beyond the backyard into the front porch and patio and even into the garage. There are ways to maximize every inch of a property, so every space has a purpose; homeowners can enjoy their space to the fullest and create memories with friends and family.
What is Outdoor Living?
Outdoor living is about creating a space that feels like an extension of the home. It's about so much more than just sitting on a lawn chair. Outdoor living can add to the property’s value and make a backyard feel like an oasis in the middle of suburbia.
Why Now for Outdoor Living?
Outdoor living is part of a larger home renovation movement that started during the COVID-19 pandemic. Garden landscaping accounted for 26% of home improvement projects in 2020 in the US, while 18% of projects were fixing or adding a lawn space.
Spending more time at home caused some to rethink how they see the space, while others with budgets for travel, dining, or recreation redirected the funds into their home. The combination of extra funds from these types of budgets, along with government stimulus money, gave many the ability to invest in dream home projects, like additions, kitchen renovations, and outdoor living.
Even though the majority of restrictions from the pandemic have subsided, many have a newfound appreciation of their homes and want to invest in these spaces. Mental health and the topics of mindfulness and wellness may have some homeowners rethinking how to use their outdoor spaces for their health goals. Others may want to reduce screen time for themselves or their kids and invest in a safe outdoor place to play and learn. Lastly, some may have let their pandemic green thumb run wild and are looking to embrace their yard for gardening.
Outdoor Space as an Extension of the Home
Outdoor living is no longer just sitting around on a lawn chair — it's about bringing the indoors out and effectively using every inch of your outdoor space.
It's time to redefine what you think of when you hear "backyard." Instead of thinking about it as an area where kids play baseball or dogs run around, think about how you can transform the space into something more than just an afterthought in your life — something that will make you want to spend more time outside with family and friends!
Outdoor living spaces come in many forms unique to each homeowner, but these are some of the top choices to get you and your clients brainstorming:
- Inground or above-ground swimming pool
- Outdoor kitchen and dining
- Outdoor living room and entertainment space
Outdoor living spaces are no longer just for summer lounging; they're becoming integral to every homeowner's life year-round.
Expand Property Value
Outdoor living is a way to grow your property’s value. And outdoor living space is an investment in the home that improves curb appeal and raises property value when done correctly.
While a renovated and well-kept yard adds to a property’s monetary value, it also adds to the value homeowners get from their space. Outdoor living areas provide an opportunity to transform small spaces into larger ones by adding features like patios, decks, and porches that extend from inside into the backyard or garden space. They expand room options by creating additional entertaining areas where friends and family can gather in comfort all year round; they also help maximize outdoor space so that there isn’t any wasted space!
Think Beyond the Backyard
Outdoor living has become a way of life for many homeowners, and the trend is moving beyond patios and decks to include other areas of the home. Garages, porches, and front yards are becoming part of the outdoor living experience.
Backyard pools or a top-notch BBQ station are great backyard classics, consider how homeowners could completely reinvent their outdoor spaces. Could a side yard become a secret getaway with a spa, or can the patio become the neighborhood happy hour spot? Can the garage become a home gym? With the right products, eye for design, and imagination, there’s no limit to how homeowners can embrace outdoor living on their property!
Outdoor living is a great way to make the most of a client’s home, and the options are limitless. Whether it's adding an extra dining table or deck chairs for entertaining guests or building a fire pit for roasting marshmallows at night — there are endless possibilities when it comes to creating an outdoor paradise!
