Homeowners and potential buyers are looking for features that allow them to enjoy the outside of their homes as much as the inside. Among them are backyard pickleball courts and weather-resistant landscaping.
1. Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens are getting upgraded with cabinets, islands, outdoor electric ovens, and granite or highly polished concrete countertops. Online search terms, compared to last year, reveal the following upticks related to consumers’ interest in outdoor kitchen design. A growing preference for electric outdoor appliances—in place of traditional gas grills.
2. Weather-Resistant Landscaping
Weather extremes, like droughts and extreme heat, are challenging the practicality of large, green lawns. Homeowners are now turning to alternative landscaping approaches, including:
Native landscaping: The use of native plants to preserve the local, natural ecosystem. These require less maintenance, less water, and little or no fertilizers.
Wild scaping: This includes native landscaping and creates a habitat for local bees, birds, and small animals.
Xeriscaping: Landscaping designed to reduce or eliminate the need for water, such as using rocks. In the West, droughts and government-mandated water limitations are rising and prompting more homeowners to explore xeriscaping.
Solar: In harnessing the sun, solar lighting and bird baths are a rising trend. Bird baths are being outfitted with a solar panel to provide energy to run a fountain pump and circulate water.
3. Backyard Pickleball Courts
While the emergence of pickleball has infused life in vacant commercial properties, homeowners are beginning to install their courts, too. Backyard pickleball courts are still considered a luxury; for those on a budget, the driveway has become the optimal location for playing pickleball at home.
4. New Levels of Outdoor Spaces
Rather than building out, homeowners are building up to maximize square footage, especially for homes with small lots. Raised outdoor spaces can offer a view and increase a home’s entertainment space.
5. Adaptable, Flexible Yards
Outdoor kitchens that can double as an entertaining space.
Lightweight sectional furniture that can be moved to accommodate a cocktail party or a child’s birthday party.
Just enough lawn—or turf—for visual appeal but also for enjoying outdoor games.
Screened-in porches or pergolas provide shade, protection from insects, and an extended outdoor living season.
© 2024 National Association of Realtors® (NAR)