10 Outdoor Renovation Trends Everyone Should Know About
See the latest on features, furnishings, pro hiring and more from the 2024 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study
Outdoor areas offer a tremendous opportunity to improve the look and feel of a home. Homeowners are turning to their outdoor areas to enhance entertaining space, boost curb appeal and create pleasing environments with plants and trees. And nearly two-thirds are doing so with the help of pros. That’s according to the 2024 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study, which in May surveyed over 1,100 homeowners who are in the middle of, are planning or have recently completed an outdoor renovation.
To read more on how homeowners are approaching outdoor upgrades, check out these 10 outdoor renovation trends from the just-released study.
To read more on how homeowners are approaching outdoor upgrades, check out these 10 outdoor renovation trends from the just-released study.
2. Outdoor Living Takes a Cue From the Indoors
Another reliable way to add living space is by creating areas for lounging and relaxing. More than one-third of homeowners (33%) upgrading their outdoor areas are doing so to extend their living space. Many homeowners are taking cues from interior spaces when upgrading their outdoor areas by adding lighting (29%), chairs or armchairs (24%), pillows and throws (20%), umbrellas (19%), rugs (19%) and sofas or sectionals (16%). Other than cost, aesthetics and durability were the leading considerations when purchasing furniture (71% each), followed by comfort (69%).
The Boston porch shown here by design-build firm Carpenter & MacNeille features many comfortable and stylish elements, including two outdoor sofas (one of which is a swing model), pillows, a throw blanket and a lantern-style pendant light.
Shop for outdoor furniture, lighting and other products
Another reliable way to add living space is by creating areas for lounging and relaxing. More than one-third of homeowners (33%) upgrading their outdoor areas are doing so to extend their living space. Many homeowners are taking cues from interior spaces when upgrading their outdoor areas by adding lighting (29%), chairs or armchairs (24%), pillows and throws (20%), umbrellas (19%), rugs (19%) and sofas or sectionals (16%). Other than cost, aesthetics and durability were the leading considerations when purchasing furniture (71% each), followed by comfort (69%).
The Boston porch shown here by design-build firm Carpenter & MacNeille features many comfortable and stylish elements, including two outdoor sofas (one of which is a swing model), pillows, a throw blanket and a lantern-style pendant light.
Shop for outdoor furniture, lighting and other products
3. Fire and Water Features Bring Ambiance
Few things create a peaceful ambiance better than outdoor fire and water features. Among homeowners upgrading outdoor features, about 1 in 5 add or upgrade fire features (21%), such as fireplaces or fire pits, and add or upgrade water features, such as fountains (18%), in their outdoor spaces.
This outdoor space in Boerne, Texas, has a welcoming patio lounge area surrounding a built-in fire pit. Nearby, a swimming pool feeds a blue-tiled waterfall.
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Few things create a peaceful ambiance better than outdoor fire and water features. Among homeowners upgrading outdoor features, about 1 in 5 add or upgrade fire features (21%), such as fireplaces or fire pits, and add or upgrade water features, such as fountains (18%), in their outdoor spaces.
This outdoor space in Boerne, Texas, has a welcoming patio lounge area surrounding a built-in fire pit. Nearby, a swimming pool feeds a blue-tiled waterfall.
Hire a landscape contractor near you
4. Curb Appeal Gets Creative
Curb appeal helps make a good first impression, can set the tone for interior spaces and can make a home more attractive to future buyers. Nearly half of outdoor projects take place in the front of the home (46%). Leading exterior accents include trimwork (59%), columns or pillars (38%), awnings (25%), beams (19%) and window flower boxes (18%).
This Lafayette, Colorado, home by Intentional Architecture features many appealing elements, including board-and-batten siding, black window trim, a porch roof with raw wood beams and pillars, and a black front door. Steel edging marks the front walkway and outlines low-maintenance landscaping that also enhances the curb appeal.
Before and After: 3 Front Yards Get Captivating Curb Appeal
Curb appeal helps make a good first impression, can set the tone for interior spaces and can make a home more attractive to future buyers. Nearly half of outdoor projects take place in the front of the home (46%). Leading exterior accents include trimwork (59%), columns or pillars (38%), awnings (25%), beams (19%) and window flower boxes (18%).
This Lafayette, Colorado, home by Intentional Architecture features many appealing elements, including board-and-batten siding, black window trim, a porch roof with raw wood beams and pillars, and a black front door. Steel edging marks the front walkway and outlines low-maintenance landscaping that also enhances the curb appeal.
Before and After: 3 Front Yards Get Captivating Curb Appeal
5. Front Door Colors Give Exteriors a Boost
Speaking of curb appeal, a home’s front door is a key factor in boosting first impressions. Seven in 10 homeowners (70%) who tackle an exterior door project choose to upgrade their front door. The most popular front door colors are black (24%), red (22%), white (18%), blue (13%) and green (11%). Wood is the most popular material for upgraded front doors (32%), followed by lited doors that include glass (26%) and doors with a fiberglass exterior and a wood or wood composite interior (18%).
This Arts and Crafts-inspired Chicago home by BBA Architects features a black front door with sidelites and a transom window.
10 Essentials for a Welcoming Front Porch
Speaking of curb appeal, a home’s front door is a key factor in boosting first impressions. Seven in 10 homeowners (70%) who tackle an exterior door project choose to upgrade their front door. The most popular front door colors are black (24%), red (22%), white (18%), blue (13%) and green (11%). Wood is the most popular material for upgraded front doors (32%), followed by lited doors that include glass (26%) and doors with a fiberglass exterior and a wood or wood composite interior (18%).
This Arts and Crafts-inspired Chicago home by BBA Architects features a black front door with sidelites and a transom window.
10 Essentials for a Welcoming Front Porch
6. Exterior Surfaces Take On Neutral Palettes
A home’s overall exterior surfaces are an important part of increasing outdoor style. Of the nearly 3 in 5 homeowners who upgraded their home’s exterior wall surface (58%), nearly a quarter used natural wood (23%) as a lap (53%), vertical (49%) or shingle (24%) siding. Other popular exterior wall surface materials include fiber cement (22%), stucco (19%), plastic or vinyl (18%) and concrete (17%).
The most popular colors chosen for exterior wall surfaces are neutrals, including white (23%), gray (19%) and beige (10%). When homeowners depart from those neutrals, they typically choose green (8%), black (8%) and brown (7%). Popular trim colors include white (28%), black (22%) and green (13%).
This Portland home by designer Anna West features a stylish mix of exterior surfaces and colors, including white lap siding, black trim and other details, and wood used for the garage door and front door.
Read more stories about exterior upgrades
A home’s overall exterior surfaces are an important part of increasing outdoor style. Of the nearly 3 in 5 homeowners who upgraded their home’s exterior wall surface (58%), nearly a quarter used natural wood (23%) as a lap (53%), vertical (49%) or shingle (24%) siding. Other popular exterior wall surface materials include fiber cement (22%), stucco (19%), plastic or vinyl (18%) and concrete (17%).
The most popular colors chosen for exterior wall surfaces are neutrals, including white (23%), gray (19%) and beige (10%). When homeowners depart from those neutrals, they typically choose green (8%), black (8%) and brown (7%). Popular trim colors include white (28%), black (22%) and green (13%).
This Portland home by designer Anna West features a stylish mix of exterior surfaces and colors, including white lap siding, black trim and other details, and wood used for the garage door and front door.
Read more stories about exterior upgrades
7. Tech Adds Function and Fun
Tech features can increase safety, ease maintenance and improve entertaining in outdoor spaces. More than two-thirds of all products purchased for outdoor spaces can be monitored or controlled by a mobile device (68%), including security cameras (43%), light fixtures (26%), irrigation systems (16%) and speakers or sound systems (15%).
This covered porch in Minneapolis by Michels Homes includes outdoor speakers integrated into the ceiling.
8 Ideas From Pros to Elevate Your Outdoor Entertaining Spaces
Tech features can increase safety, ease maintenance and improve entertaining in outdoor spaces. More than two-thirds of all products purchased for outdoor spaces can be monitored or controlled by a mobile device (68%), including security cameras (43%), light fixtures (26%), irrigation systems (16%) and speakers or sound systems (15%).
This covered porch in Minneapolis by Michels Homes includes outdoor speakers integrated into the ceiling.
8 Ideas From Pros to Elevate Your Outdoor Entertaining Spaces
8. Lighting Brightens Up Landscapes and Exteriors
Adequate outdoor lighting can increase safety and help highlight hard and soft landscaping details. A well-lit yard will also make using outdoor spaces at night more enticing. Among homeowners with outdoor system projects, nearly 4 in 5 upgrade outdoor lighting (78%). Landscape lighting tops the list (81%), followed by string or bistro lights (44%) and porch sconces (37%).
This enchanting Atlanta landscape by Innovative Design Build includes a variety of lighting features that illuminate plantings, trees and structures.
10 Outdoor Furniture and Lighting Trends for 2024
Adequate outdoor lighting can increase safety and help highlight hard and soft landscaping details. A well-lit yard will also make using outdoor spaces at night more enticing. Among homeowners with outdoor system projects, nearly 4 in 5 upgrade outdoor lighting (78%). Landscape lighting tops the list (81%), followed by string or bistro lights (44%) and porch sconces (37%).
This enchanting Atlanta landscape by Innovative Design Build includes a variety of lighting features that illuminate plantings, trees and structures.
10 Outdoor Furniture and Lighting Trends for 2024
9. Landscaping Lifts Moods
In addition to lighting, plantings and trees can enhance an outdoor space’s atmosphere and attract wildlife. Among homeowners with outdoor feature projects, more than three-quarters upgrade plants, shrubs or trees on their property (77%), and two-thirds upgrade beds or borders (66%).
Flowering (82%), low-maintenance (70%), butterfly-, bee- or hummingbird-attracting (55%) and native (52%) were the most common plant, shrub and tree additions.
This moody Santa Barbara, California, landscape by Natural Concepts Landscaping Contractors includes layers of greenery surrounding a steel-edged path.
8 Landscape Trends From the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show
In addition to lighting, plantings and trees can enhance an outdoor space’s atmosphere and attract wildlife. Among homeowners with outdoor feature projects, more than three-quarters upgrade plants, shrubs or trees on their property (77%), and two-thirds upgrade beds or borders (66%).
Flowering (82%), low-maintenance (70%), butterfly-, bee- or hummingbird-attracting (55%) and native (52%) were the most common plant, shrub and tree additions.
This moody Santa Barbara, California, landscape by Natural Concepts Landscaping Contractors includes layers of greenery surrounding a steel-edged path.
8 Landscape Trends From the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show
10. Most Homeowners Hire an Outdoor Pro
Creating highly stylish and functional outdoor spaces often requires the help of professionals. Nearly two-thirds of homeowners hired a professional for their outdoor project (65%). Landscape contractors were hired most frequently (21%), followed by stone, pavers and/or concrete specialists (17%); general contractors (15%); and landscape architects or designers (14%).
Landscape contractor AAA Landscaping helped turn this San Luis Obispo, California, outdoor area into an appealing space with gravel-covered grounds, a fire pit and lush trees and shrubs.
See more results and download the full study
More on Houzz
Read more landscape design stories
Get landscape design ideas
Find a landscape designer or architect
Shop for outdoor products
Creating highly stylish and functional outdoor spaces often requires the help of professionals. Nearly two-thirds of homeowners hired a professional for their outdoor project (65%). Landscape contractors were hired most frequently (21%), followed by stone, pavers and/or concrete specialists (17%); general contractors (15%); and landscape architects or designers (14%).
Landscape contractor AAA Landscaping helped turn this San Luis Obispo, California, outdoor area into an appealing space with gravel-covered grounds, a fire pit and lush trees and shrubs.
See more results and download the full study
More on Houzz
Read more landscape design stories
Get landscape design ideas
Find a landscape designer or architect
Shop for outdoor products
A great way to increase living and entertaining space at home is with an outdoor kitchen. One in 8 renovating homeowners (12%) adds or upgrades an outdoor kitchen. These projects often involve significant construction, including installation of plumbing, electrical or heating (58%); appliances (55%); countertops (50%); storage (22%); and roofing (21%). Grills are most common for outdoor kitchen appliances (88%), followed by cooktops (46%), pizza ovens (32%) and smokers or deep fryers (24%). And grabbing a cold one is easy with two-thirds of homeowners incorporating a beverage refrigerator (67%).
This stylish outdoor area in San Jose, California, features a kitchen with grilling options, an ice maker, a sink and a bar counter. Landscape lighting designed by In-Lite Outdoor Lighting sets an inviting mood.
What to Know About Adding an Outdoor Kitchen