The Top Outdoor Trends This Summer Include Pocket-Sized Pools and Themed Gardens
Some of the top outdoor home trends this summer will, unsurprisingly, be reflective of the strange, unprecedented times. Just in time for the summer season ahead, online landscape design service Yardzen released a summer 2021 trend report on the top design concepts and decor that will dominate the outdoor living space this year. Purpose-driven gardens, Moditerranean (a portmanteau of “modern” and “Mediterranean”) design, and pocket-sized pools are among the trends set to make a major splash this summer.
To determine the trends, Yardzen analyzed customer research and utilized landscape designer expertise. A social, functional front yard, sustainable patio furniture, and family-forward green space also made the list. Below are some of the top outdoor trends to expect this summer, courtesy of Yardzen’s 2021 report.
A functional front yard. While most outdoor designers focus on the backyard, 37 percent of Yardzen clients have begun to incorporate their front yard into their design plans. Interest in front porch expansions, seating areas, and front yard gardens have increased. “The front yard is no longer just about visual curb appeal,” Yardzen noted. “Homeowners are realizing they can increase the liveable square footage of their homes by utilizing their front yards for entertaining friends and neighbors.”
The end of open concept. Joanna Gaines would object, but distinct “rooms” and designated areas for dining, exercising, and gardening will be trendy this year, according to Yardzen, since the pandemic has culminated in a need for separation. “Whether to create separation from spouses in a new WFH situation or kids tackling Zoom school in the kitchen while you’re preparing lunch, more walls = more privacy,” Yardzen noted, adding that pergolas are having a major moment.
Pocket-sized pools. The hottest (and safest) summer destination this year? Home. With clients looking to bring resort life into their yard, pools are a great resource. Plunge pools, also known as “cocktail pools,” and stock tank pools, also known as “hillbilly pools,” are both affordable options that come in various shapes and sizes, accommodating even the smallest of outdoor spaces.
Moditerranean style. While mostly employed inside of homes, Yardzen clients have taken the modern Mediterranean trend outside with clean lines, neutral colors, and cool-toned plants, including olive trees and agave. Greige-toned hardscaping, including pea gravel and concrete pavers, and a mix of new and vintage pieces, give a yard that Moditerranean look.
Purpose-driven gardens and family-forward green space. The pandemic gardening boom has been well documented, and Yardzen predicts that purpose-driven, themed gardens will continue to reign supreme, including immunity gardens (herbs, fruits, and veggies that support immune systems), cocktail gardens (mint, basil, and rosemary for those home bars), and kid-friendly gardens. Family-forward spaces will also be in high demand; features like kid-friendly treehouses and outdoor movie projectors are on the rise among clients.
For a full breakdown of the trends, see Yardzen’s summer 2021 trend report.