Decorating & Design
Outdoor Living: What Everyone Wants Now
Updated on July 12, 2024
With the warmer weather on the horizon, we couldn’t help but round up some of the top outdoor features everyone’s coveting. From fire bowls to cocktail pools, here’s what homeowners are looking for in their green spaces this spring and summer. Scroll down!
Cocktail Pools
Sometimes a quick dunk is all you need. In an urban backyard, consider a petite plunge pool (or swim spa). This tiny pool is livened up by a scalloped tile border.
Gas Fire Bowls
Designer Erin Feasby turned her backyard into a cottage in the city, “and there’s no long commute!” she says. A sleek fire bowl invites the family to get outside in shoulder seasons and on chillier spring and summer evenings.
Ambient Lighting
Hanging string lights or using uplighting to highlight plants are some of the best ways to set the mood in a backyard. “String lights are totally cost efficient and you can get them from any big box store. Round, traditional bulbs instantly make you feel like you’re in California or Tuscany,” says Toronto Landscaper Joel Loblaw. See more of Joel’s tips on outdoor lighting here.
Conversation Sets
A classic outdoor conversation set never goes out of style. In this beautiful garden, designer Michelle Hurley brought her own spin to the set by swapping out the sofa’s matching table for a more eclectic look and breaking up the solid upholstery with a mashup of colorful throw pillows.
Outdoor Bars
Turn your outdoor space into everyone’s favorite bar this patio season. “An outdoor bar creates a seamless indoor-outdoor moment for easy outdoor entertaining,” says designer Jocelyn Ross of JRStudioworks.
Awnings
A striped awning provides plenty of shade and is a great alternative to pergolas and cabanas. This cottage backyard takes its cues from beachy Cape Cod resorts.
Vegetable Gardens
Skip the farmer’s market and go straight to your own backyard for the season’s freshest produce and herbs. “Growing your own food feels like you’re contributing something positive to your family and the environment,” says Lisa Moody of her own veggie garden.
Cabanas
It has many names: cabana, garden shed, outdoor office, backyard studio — but this feature has become even more covetable lately as a spot to escape to polish off some work, practice meditation or simply take some personal time in peace (and nature).
Quiet Reading Corners
To create a lush, private environment for reading and relaxing, landscape designer Aaron Teer planted three large Persian ironwood trees to shade this Vancouver yard from prying eyes. Then, around the perimeter, he planted 14-foot-high yew and Portuguese laurel hedges. The result is jungle-esque: a hammock is nearly hidden by Hollywood junipers and magnolia trees.
Wood Burning Fire Pits
S’mores, anyone? Whether it’s a smoky firepit at the cottage or in the city, dancing flames always draw people together and are one of the most popular garden additions.
Overscale Blooms
In fashion designer Tu Ly’s Montreal home, a lower entrance, which opens to the mudroom, is dressed up with hydrangea-filled pots and a bench for taking it all in.
Oversize Pots
Jeweller Noura Sakkijha understands the importance of creating an at-home oasis. “I wanted a place to unwind, a space that was peaceful and easy on the eyes, where I could decompress,” she says. Her rooftop terrace features a vintage-look oversized pot overflowing with fresh flowers and greenery.
Pergolas
Think of it as a frame that lets the sun shine in. A pergola is an easy way to add structure and highlight an area of the garden, making it feel like a distinct room. It’s also great for supporting climbing vines. See more gorgeous garden structures here.