Bring the indoors out
Learn about 2020 outdoor living trends
This year’s outdoor living trends are all about hanging out in the backyard — but with the comfort and ease that homeowners expect from indoor spaces. Today’s outdoor spaces are transforming into an extension of the home.
Current outdoor designs also take into account the look and feel of an entire home, including the interior and exterior, building materials and surroundings.
Connecting with nature: Biophilic design
Biophilic design is achieved when natural elements are incorporated into the space, helping people feel connected to the natural environment. It creates a calm, tranquil space and reduces stress. Biophilia makes sense for indoor urban environments needing to bring the outdoors in, but how does it work outside?
Biophilic design for outdoor spaces means integrating natural elements with constructed elements to create a harmonious space. A plant wall or a raised garden bed can integrate greenery and pops of color with the built elements of an outdoor space. The design also means using natural materials, such as wood and stone, to complement the surrounding environment.
Create greener, more sustainable spaces to celebrate the environment, which can help homeowners encourage pollinators, grow healthy food and forge a cohesive outdoor space. Designs can also use materials such as permeable pavers, which allow water to drain through the surface, replenishing the soil and aquifers beneath a path, walkway or driveway.
More than just a grill
Today’s homeowners want much more than a grill in the backyard. With aspirations to cook and entertain guests outdoors with everything the best outdoor kitchen can offer, the possibilities are endless — from grills to cooktops and ovens, or even a wine cooler and an outdoor bar.
Homeowners also have many options when it comes to the design and price point of an outdoor kitchen. Some may lean toward a grill island, adding prep and storage space to the grilling station, while others might create a full-on outdoor kitchen with a grill, a smoker, a refrigerator, a sink, a seating area and more.
Either way, homeowners can get a feel for exactly what their space will look like before breaking ground through online design resources such as the Belgard Design Studio, which takes a simple sketch, some dimensions and a couple of photos and turns it into 3-D animations and virtual-reality experiences to give homeowners a sense of the finished product in their backyard.
Sleek, modern design
While it may seem contrary to the more organic approach of biophilic design, the contemporary trend toward sleek, modular furniture can enhance your outdoor space.
Modular, sectional pieces with clean lines and streamlined design can be arranged and re-arranged to accommodate any natural elements one wants to incorporate in a space, or to handle different numbers of guests when entertaining.
The minimalist approach to furnishings also allows the natural elements in the area to take center stage.
Multifunctional spaces
Whether a home is in an urban area with limited green space or has an outdoor living area waiting to be optimized, homeowners have many ways to be creative with their outdoor areas:
• Add vertical planters.
• Hang hammocks for lounging. • Create built-in seating.
• Build raised garden beds.
Here’s where some of that modular seating can come in handy, too. Some urban homes make good use of their front porches and yards, instead, which invites more neighborhood engagement.
Entertain night and day
Regardless of the time of day — or year — families can relax comfortably in outdoor sanctuaries, thanks to modern technology and the latest outdoor installations:
• LED lighting is installed in a variety of ways. Users can install strips of light or spotlights, even using multiple colors, to add flair at night.
• In the harsh sunlight, large umbrellas and movable shade walls or screens can keep spaces cool and more comfortable.
• For cooler climates, an outdoor fireplace provides heat and light for cozy evenings in the yard.
Whether one has a straightforward vision for a patio or dreams of elaborate outdoor living spaces, these ideas can help anyone create an oasis.