Top 5 Outdoor Living Trends in 2023

Article Written By: Jordan E Raley

Here at Full Circle Land Design, we’re no strangers at creating unique, inviting, and livable outdoor spaces for our clients. As we kick off the New Year, fresh trends & ideas are cropping up as folks continue to make use of these areas. And if you’re not sure where to start? Don’t sweat it: these top 5 trends can assist you in designing any outdoor dream or style.

What is outdoor living? Outdoor living is a general term that refers to spaces outside of the home that are often created to make your yard a comfortable place to entertain, cook, play, and relax. The way your outdoor living space is designed is based on your lifestyle, needs, desires, budget, and property. Popular features include paver patios, fire pits or fireplaces, seat walls, kitchens, pergolas, and pavilions to name a few. Landscaping, retaining walls, water features, and other structures further help define the outdoor space while adding charm and function. A combination of these features can be trendy while making sure your additions never go out of style.

Popular outdoor living features include paver patios, fire pits, seat walls, dining spaces and landscaping.

1. Integrating the Indoors & Outdoors

You don’t have to be ultra-wealthy to have a space that seamlessly blends the indoors with the outdoors. If you love to host at your home, these incorporated spaces offer ease of movement between your indoor and outdoor entertaining areas. Think wide glass doors that easily trail to a lush garden or think of collapsible walls that open to a beautiful patio filled with luxurious furniture and warming fire pits. Your outdoor space layered with cozy indoor-type accessories such as knitted blankets, moody lighting, and billowy curtains also provides a relaxing respite during the colder months.

2. Natural Stone

Natural stone is environmentally friendly, it’s soothing, and it’s a wonderful addition to create a trendy yet tranquil outdoor living space. Natural stone can be used for patios, pavers, and pathways using a variety of colors, styles, shapes, and textures to design distinctive looks for your home.  A stone fountain or simple pathway could offer tranquility and a slowness we often look for in our outdoor spaces. Stone retaining walls or fireplaces are solid structures that help ground your space while providing great function and eco-style.

3. Vertical Plants

Vertical plants are a wonderful way to make use of smaller outdoor living spaces while also being a fun way to shake up the traditional garden style of the backyard. Great for use on balconies and patios to grow your favorite veggies and flowers, you can consider the trend of vertical plants for privacy as well. Do yourself a favor and save on installing a fence or wall when a few well-placed vertical planters can provide you fresh air and closed space. Items such as planter boxes, baskets, or pergolas are effective and simple ways to ensure your outdoor retreat remains on trend.

Planter boxes, baskets, or pergolas are effective and simple ways to add privacy and define spaces in an outdoor living area.

4. Climate Resistant Gardens

Whether from lack of resources due to drought or lack of remembering to water frequently, 2023 will continue to see climate resistant gardens trend. Utilizing the right native plants, flowers, trees, and shrubs can make a huge difference in not only promoting the right blooms and wildlife but native species will also work best in your climate. Here in Chattanooga, the weather can vary wildly week-to-week during certain seasons. It is wise to use species that are used to our fluctuating weather patterns in order to keep a healthy, beautiful landscape year-round.

5. Accessibility

Last but certainly not least, accessibility is the most talked about trend for outdoor living in 2023. It’s clear to see with an aging population that loves the outdoors and society working on more inclusion, why an accessible outdoor space is something to heavily consider when looking to revamp or construct a space. Some items to consider:

• Think of how you need the space to function for your present and your future. Are you looking for a softer space to land after a day in the garden?

• Are there children that love to play in your flowers and need a trip-free pathway to explore?

• Are there guests with varying mobility methods (think walkers, canes, wheelchairs) that would also love to relax in your outdoor living space?  

With these considerations in mind, look to create a space, whether it’s for relaxation or your garden, to reach a wide variety of folks to use. Raised planters and hanging baskets make for easier gardening, saving the back and knees. Wide pathways are great for turning wheelchairs or walkers. If you don’t have a garden but have another outdoor space like a patio or a deck, consider ramps for easier access or smooth stone paths. Those cozy items listed above, and more plush seating help keep everyone comfortable while enjoying company and nature.

While outdoor living certainly is no trend, these top 5 trends will no doubt be big hitters in 2023. Full Circle Land Design is here to help you make the best use of these outdoor spaces this year or any year to come. Call us at 423-385-4955 or check out our website at www.fullcirclelanddesign.com!!