Cheryl Karr - Your Solid Source Realty Agent

  Open-air rooms, year-round use and high-tech connectivity: This year's top landscape design trends reflect a shift towards daily living outdoors. Home is where the heart is, but over the past year it has also become where the office, classroom, restaurant and cinema are, too. Many Americans are spending more time than ever at home, which has made us take a new look at our private outdoor spaces. “We’re definitely seeing outdoor living areas shift from entertainment-focused spaces to true living spaces,” says Joe Raboine, director of residential hardscapes at Belgard, a landscape design firm. “The increased time spent at home in 2020 has given many homeowners pause to reevaluate how they utilize their spaces and the need to make them more functional.” This move toward considering outdoor spaces an essential extension of the home is the common thread that runs through many of the top landscape design trends for the upcoming year. “Homeowners need space for home offices, as well...

    Homeowners and house hunters are looking to maximize outdoor space while sheltering at home. The National Kitchen & Bath Association reports a 65% uptick in interest among its membership in outdoor living projects this year. NKBA, John Burns Real Estate Consulting, and Houzz have surveyed design professionals and home builders to identify some of the top outdoor trends this year. Year-round gathering spots. NKBA professionals report that the most requested features for enhanced outdoor living spaces are upgraded seating, fireplaces, and fire pits. “COVID-19 may be encouraging homeowners to get more year-round usage from their outdoor living areas,” NKBA’s report notes. Millennials were particularly drawn to outdoor spaces that integrated more entertainment and gathering spots. Privacy.  John Burns Real Estate Consulting notes that homeowners are craving more privacy in their backyards, using their outdoor spaces more for meditat...