BackDon’t be an April Fool04/01/18

Though the cold weather is sticking around longer than normal, spring has arrived and so have new home trends for the season. Don’t be an April fool; keep these outdoor remodeling ideas from the 2017 U.S. Houzz Landscape Trends Study in mind in order to freshen up your home for spring.

Outdoor Lighting

According to Houzz, 45 percent of outdoor-renovating homeowners are updating their lighting. Whether for design and/or functionality, increasing the lighting in your lawn eliminates the time restraints placed by the setting sun, allowing homeowners to continue evening festivities or landscape work. Additionally, 19 percent of homeowners updating their outdoor lighting chose “smart” lighting, which can be controlled by an app on a smartphone or computer.

Upgraded Structures

Adding in arbors, gazebos, pergolas or trellises are popular among outdoor renovations, with 26 percent of homeowners including this in the project scope. And to offer homeowners more reason to stay outside and enjoy the fresh air, adding to or upgrading patios, terraces and decks has also become more popular. Concerning materials, pressure-lumber is the most popular choice for decking materials, and pavers, mulch and crushed rock are the top choices for patios and other hard surfaces.

Hardscapes

Lightening the burden of yard work and increasing the design of the lawn, homeowners are moving away from landscapes and moving toward hardscapes such as pavers and stones. According to Houzz, 66 percent of homeowners reducing their lawns renovated landscapes to hardscapes.

Complementary Features

Homeowners aren’t stopping at the outdoor structures though. Go all out with your patio and/or deck this spring by considering outdoor lounge furniture, fire pits, dining furniture, benches and more. In addition, borders, shrubs and perennials complement the front yard well and allow for a much-improved curb appeal, according to Houzz.