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Future Trends: Outdoor Living Areas

Future Trends: Inside Goes Outside

Uncertainty about the economy is resulting in more families staying closer to home and nestling in their own backyards. Millions of people are using their resources more wisely and transforming their home into a special place. The travel industry has slowed, resulting in an interest for many to recreate at home—designing a place of relaxation, or having that creative space to entertain family and friends, all within the comforts and convenience of their own backyard.

“Outdoor Living” is on the rise and is one of the greatest trends of the 21st century. Within the last five years, we have gone from the traditional patio and decks, to the point of creating state-of-the-art backyard luxury living resorts. The inside has gone outside, literally. Outdoor rooms and patios are becoming the favorite areas of the home.

People are staying put and finding within their homes that ideal place of relaxation. Homeowners are increasingly reconnecting with their families, friends and communities through the use of outdoor living areas. These great outdoor get-a-ways make great social hives, where entertainment enthusiasts can have informal gatherings as often as they desire.

People everywhere are finding the outdoors to be part of their daily lifestyle. For some, it’s all about outdoor opulence; for others it is backyard entertainment, or even a weekend getaway; and for many it’s a daily escape to reflect and enjoy tranquil moments away from it all.

More homebuilders are incorporating quality outdoor living areas into their building plans, and valuing outdoor living rooms as an important design feature to residential home landscapes. Outdoor living areas with fireplaces and kitchens are gaining better returns on equity investments than that of swimming pools and spas.

The backyard is a simple space that brings together families and friends and warrants an investment to reflect personal or family style. Comfort, entertainment and escape continue to drive this ‘inside goes outside’ trend into our future.

Outdoor living has increasingly demanded the best products—outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, gas torches, Italian ovens, sinks, wine cellars, island bars, coffee baristas, etc. More elaborate scenes have incorporated waterfalls, spas, pools, ponds, or just a water feature to balance the feng shui.

A mixture of natural material textures and finishes are also gaining popularity—a patio with tumbled flagstone is highlighted with hammered natural cedar columns; a natural dry stake stone kitchen grill is complimented with granite counters and wrought iron accents. A myriad of landscapes, hardscapes, boulderscapes and waterscapes can create an outdoor space that skillfully embraces exotic destinations of various architectural/cultural expressions. Now homeowners can enjoy their very own ultimate backyard experience.

Everyone loves outdoor excitement, especially if the outside compliments the social and luxury lifestyle of the homeowner. This can be a result of a creative mixture of Old World Tuscan stone opulence, highlighted with beautiful sounds of flowing water and accented with natural plant life in a surreal oasis in your own backyard. Traveling the world of possibilities for your own outdoor area is what it’s all about. Whether it’s an outdoor covered kitchen island, or a glamorous combination of stone grilling, wine chilling and coffee baristas on granite counters. All-inclusive functionalities are what make the outdoor living rooms so enjoyable.

Outdoor patios and living rooms are becoming much more user-friendly and attractive. Outdoor versions of traditional indoor appliances are abundant and easy to find. Virtually everything you have inside your home is now available for outdoor living. As outdoor rooms gain popularity, manufacturers are providing new outdoor appliances—barbecue grills, kitchen ovens, stainless sinks, refrigerators, cabinets and lighting.

The more elaborate outside structures have all the amenities—HD TVs, heated and air controlled ceiling fans, wine cellars, wrought iron furniture, remote surround-sound, gas teak torches, fiber-optic lighting and more. These items give your simple backyard that special touch, creating a world of possibilities.

Bright colorful spring tones are popular accents, as well as earthy tones that enhance the appeal for the rustic designs. A few small stylish pieces can go a long way—your goal should be to create a retreat that nurtures your personal lifestyle.

For homeowners who are budgeting, think fabric, rugs, plants and other structural elements to create comfort and intimacy in your space. You can dress up any porch or patio with pots and wall art or iron hangings. Anchor a trellis in a large plastic planter for a walled environment; dry stack stones for sitting areas or planter columns; hang small pots of colorful flowers with hooks anchored in the overhead structure.

As the trend grows, so too do outdoor accessories—upholstered furniture, prefabricated water features and fountain displays, miniature reflecting pools, fire features and so on. So, too are the outdoor baths and showers and cabo-canopy beds available in all styles. Coffee tables, candelabrums, lamps, outdoor Lazy-boy recliners, curtains and hangings are popping up everywhere.

The “Inside goes Outside Trend” has doubled every year for the past few years and shows no signs of slowing down. Join the trend and create for yourself a great outdoor living area.

Charles Mathis is the owner of Day Spring Landscape Stone Creations.