As the weather improves and more people look to spend time outdoors, green spaces will see an increase in popularity, especially as the year continues. Sunny climates, like San Diego’s, make our outdoor living spaces as valuable as those inside.
Whether you’re entertaining, relaxing, or throwing a barbecue, outdoor areas offer a way to expand your home. Home improvements related to outdoor living can provide homeowners with a great return on investment and a beautiful space for your friends and family to enjoy. Here are some of the trends predicted to grow in popularity in 2022.
Now, more than ever before, we’re informed about our impact on the planet. People not only want stylish outdoor spaces, but sustainable ones. Eco-friendly décor and natural materials for building projects like reclaimed wood and bamboo are gaining in popularity as companies and their customers embrace more sustainable practices.
Besides environmentally friendly materials, landscaping designs have been trending toward sustainability as well. This includes adding more native plant species, a focus on ways to use organic planting methods, and efforts to conserve water through drought-tolerant plants and replacing turf with succulents and rock gardens. Succulents and drought tolerant plants offer an attractive and energy-efficient alternative to traditional landscaping. Not only that, but by switching out your lawn for more water-wise plants, you’ll save money, too!
The benefits of sustainability have also given rise to a concurrent trend: low-maintenance landscaping. Following the installation of new landscaping, few homeowners want to spend all their time tending to their new plants constantly. This is especially true with a new lawn. These must be mowed, fertilized, and watered regularly.
Switching to low-maintenance designs often means including a mix of fast- and slow-growing native plants, or drought tolerant plants as substitutes where native plants aren’t available. This allows for a less expensive and water-wise irrigation methods, such as drip irrigation.
Adding mulch and erosion control can also cut down on maintenance, since you do not have to water or fertilize as much. Mulch helps insulate plant roots and minimize water loss, while also reducing weeds and controlling any erosion or mud problems. Compost-based erosion control products bond tightly with the soil, which means less opportunity for water to run freely and undermine the soil structure.
Though everyone has been spending more time in their backyards than ever before thanks to the pandemic, those lucky enough to live in a year-round outdoor destination like San Diego tend to spend the most time outside than anyone else. With so much time spent outside, the focus on comfortable outdoor living spaces has only grown in importance. Residents want to extend the design and style of inside to their backyards.
This has led to well-designed areas meant for spending time together. Think fire pits, gazebos, and comfortable walking surfaces beneath your feet. A covered patio can be the perfect location for an outdoor “room,” too. Outdoor kitchens have grown in demand, built with high quality materials and finishes and including top-notch appliances. In a sunny region like San Diego, these kitchens can be used year-round!
Want a space to entertain? Outdoor living rooms are also a popular choice among San Diego homeowners. Everyone wants to relax in the fresh air while still having the same kind of comfort you would find indoors. Outdoor living rooms are welcoming, easy to move through, and can be designed to have all the modern conveniences of a living room inside.
For those working from home, why not create a space outdoors where you can enjoy the fresh air and work at the same time? The work-from-home trend is expected to continue in 2022, especially as employers adopt the hybrid work-from-home model. Patios, balconies, and terraces can be converted into outdoor workspaces. With comfortable, weatherproof furniture, and umbrella, and a little privacy, you’ll be able to stay relaxed and focused. You can even choose to install wireless, weather-resistant speakers to play soft music while you work.
San Diego’s weather might be perfect most of the time, but even bad weather days shouldn’t keep you inside. This up-and-coming trend introduces methods of controlling the climate of your outdoor living space no matter the weather. When it’s cold, you can hang overhead heating lamps or style a fire pit table on your deck with coordinated lounge chairs. In the summer, ceiling fans can keep you cool under your covered porch. Luxury alternatives include energy-efficient outdoor evaporative coolers and larger outdoor fireplaces.
As everyone spends more time outside, so does the need for privacy from our neighbors. Privacy screens, creative landscaping choices such as tall shrubs, and vertical gardens are all ways to help increase your sense of security and comfort whenever you’re outside.
Privacy solutions can also provide a multipurpose function. A wall can have built-in slats to hang wall pockets, act as a focal point with fountains and vertical gardens, or support a climbing vine, which adds both greenery and increases privacy.
Not all outdoor spaces need to be for entertainment. Nature is a great way to escape the daily stresses of life and an increased focus on health and wellness means more homeowners are looking for an oasis they can enjoy. Privacy features and comfortable outdoor furniture will ensure you have the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the benefits of nature right in your own home.
Calm, cool colors such as soft, earthy shades of green, relaxing blues, and chill neutrals have all been announced by paint and design companies as 2022’s colors of the year. These colorways focus on themes of tranquility and renewal. Patio furniture in these hues will be easy on the eyes as well as the mind and can enhance overall feelings of wellness.
This past year, more people became more interested in locally grown ingredients and home gardening. Growing your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs at home can be a great way to spend meaningful time in your backyard with delicious results!
Vertical gardens are another popular option this year. Initially created to save space in smaller living spaces, vertical gardens have become a beautiful way to showcase plants no matter the size of your space. They add visual interest while also offering a practical way to grow your own food. You can also choose to intersperse your home garden with foliage, such as suspended pots of succulents.
Ready to make your dream outdoor living space a reality? The team at Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling can help! Our experienced staff can walk you through the process of designing and building your outdoor living space. Whether you want a living room or an outdoor kitchen, we can find a design that fits your style.
As San Diego’s premier design and build company, we pride ourselves on our communication, project management, and design skills. Call us for your complimentary design consultation today!
