California-based System Pavers, a key player in hardscape design and installation from Texas to the West Coast, has issued a forecast of top outdoor living trends that will shape homeowners’ enjoyment of their yards from 2025 forward. As specialists in designing and creating functional, aesthetically pleasing outdoor living solutions, the professionals at System Pavers are dialed into this year’s biggest trends.
“We are at the forefront of an innovative time of change for the outdoor living industry as homeowners’ expectations and priorities shift,” says Director of Operations Aaron Brundage, a System Pavers veteran of 15-plus years. “The options available and requested by homeowners are now technological, prioritizing comfort, aesthetics and functionality.” Entering 2025, he and colleagues cite the top outdoor living trends for hardscape and landscape business stakeholders:
Smart Spaces. More and more homeowners want to take the convenience of smart technology outside, utilizing it for their porches, backyards, and patios and revolutionizing how they experience their outdoors. By incorporating smart technology into outdoor spaces, homeowners can effectively create seamless extensions of their indoor living areas, while increasing the emotional, mental, and physical benefits of spending more time outside. From remote-controlled fireplaces and lights to Alexa-enabled spaces and pergolas that can open and close from the touch of a phone, homeowners are turning to technology previously only used indoors to make their outdoors more convenient, accessible, and enjoyable than ever before.
Composite Decking. As homeowners continue to have resale value at the top of their minds, investments in long-lasting materials are a big priority. Many people have moved away from wooden decks in favor of composite decking, which is a sustainably-made combination of recycled wood and plastic that can last as long as 50 years. While wood decks are initially a cheaper option, they require ongoing maintenance, such as staining, painting, and repairs that can add up over the years. Composite decking is warp- and stain-resistant and requires far less upkeep.
Phased Multi-Use Spaces. Outdoor spaces increasingly incorporate multiple features, including sitting areas, fire pits, pergolas, decks, swimming pools and kitchens as opposed to a single-use space. Homeowners have started to do these larger projects in phases, allowing them monetary flexibility and the ability to live in their space, assessing priorities as they go. This gives the most flexibility, as homeowners can make changes to their overall plan to better fit evolving lifestyles.
When it comes to entertaining, there’s also been an uptick in customers investing in top-tier products for their multi-use outdoor spaces, which is expected to continue. System Pavers notes how outdoor cooking enthusiasts increasingly want upgraded kitchen features such as Kamado grills, smokers, and pizza ovens for hosting in style.
“While we can’t predict the future, based on our thousands of conversations with homeowners in 2024, we anticipate that these trends will be at the forefront of their minds for quite some time. This is an incredibly exciting time for the industry and the homeowner, who now has the ability to truly bring their outdoor living dreams to life,” concludes System Pavers Operations Manager Robert Frost.