{"id":228606,"date":"2024-06-13T17:14:07","date_gmt":"2024-06-13T21:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/?p=228606"},"modified":"2024-07-09T17:12:11","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T21:12:11","slug":"here-are-6-trending-outdoor-features-for-a-dreamy-backyard-oasis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/design\/here-are-6-trending-outdoor-features-for-a-dreamy-backyard-oasis","title":{"rendered":"Here are 6 trending outdoor features for a dreamy backyard oasis"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/h4>
\n
\"A<\/a>
An outdoor kitchen makes entertaining easy outside. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Creating a backyard oasis that’s a desirable staycation destination is a growing priority for homeowners. With a focus on health and wellness<\/a>, along with design to rival indoor living, what outdoor space features top the list? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outdoor kitchens<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most sought-after backyard features is an outdoor kitchen. If space and budget allow, a fully functional, built-in kitchen adds undeniable wow factor to backyard bay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do homeowners need to consider when planning an outdoor kitchen? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start by choosing \u201cthe type of grill or smoker you\u2019ll be using. A gas grill will require a hook up to the gas line onsite. Often it is easy for contractors to provide a connection on the outside patio, which will determine the location of the cook center,\u201d says Cate Singleton, director of design with landscape company Tilly<\/a>.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, make a wish list to help with space planning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are many features that can be included and will help to determine the size, such as grills, side burners, drop-in ice coolers for beverages, under-counter refrigerators, smokers and sinks,\u201d says Singleton. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another popular addition in an outdoor kitchen is a bar, which provides additional seating or a ledge \u201cfor guests to place a cocktail while spending time with the chef,\u201d says Singleton. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If homeowners are short on space, or don\u2019t want to commit to a full outdoor kitchen installation, portable kitchens are popular. Look for a cart on wheels with built-in prep space to transport ingredients from the indoor kitchen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cocktail pools<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"a<\/a>
Both pergolas and small cocktail pools are trending. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

While a larger inground pool is often the anchor in an outdoor space, not every homeowner has the space or the desire to dedicate that much backyard real estate to a pool.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riffing off a pandemic favorite- lounging in the backyard in an inflatable pool, just deep enough for wading and relaxing, cocktail pools have seen a surge in interest recently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cocktail pools are \u201cjust the right size,\u201d says Rich Masterson, co-founder of Southwest Florida-based Cocktail Pools.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cocktail pools are essentially a smaller, shallower version of a larger inground pool. They take up less space in a backyard and have a flat bottom, which typically makes installation easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cocktail pools are particularly popular with new construction homeowners, given shrinking lot sizes. Choosing a smaller pool also leaves room for other outdoor features, such as a patio or a firepit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 According to Masterson, the most popular cocktail pool sizes are 7.5-feet-by-15-feet and 10-feet-by-20-feet, significantly smaller than the 16-feet-by-32-feet pool that had been a typical fixture in backyard design.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all you need to splash around,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to being practical in a smaller yard, the cocktail pool design fulfills the trending aesthetic: simple luxury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cocktail pools are typically a sleek rectangle with built-in stairs. This design style embraces the greater trend toward \u201cclean lines, elegant and simple shapes,\u201d says Masterson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entertainment walls<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Outdoor living spaces are being designed to replicate those found indoors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outdoor entertainment walls are trending, serving as both a focal point in the design, and as a one-stop entertainment hub that elevates the outdoor experience. The entertainment wall is typically a built-in feature on a deck or patio and often houses a T.V., a sound system and a fireplace, to add warmth on cooler evenings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When designing the wall, practical considerations should play a significant role, especially with electrical access to the wall, as well as protecting TV and audio equipment against the elements.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are outdoor-specific TVs that address light and glare exposure and offer water-resistant benefits. There are also enclosures to help protect against the elements you can use if mounting a regular TV. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Popular finishes and decor for entertainment walls include stone, brick, wooden trim and vertical gardens.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Covered porches and pergolas<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Structures that offer shade, as well as define space are trending, such as covered porches and pergolas.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These features contribute to the overall outdoor aesthetic, and enhance curb appeal, in the case of covered porches.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singleton advises homeowners to look at a covered porch as an element of fusi<\/strong>ng an indoor\/outdoor connection<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA covered patio is a great location for outdoor dining and lounging,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of design, Singleton says that homeowners should \u201cfirst look at the current roofline to see if there is a way to tie a covered porch into the existing structure and allow for an extension of the indoor space.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pergolas are also sleek, offer shade and serve as a striking focal point in the yard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf a free-standing pergola in the landscape works better with the outdoor space, then taking setbacks into consideration is important  Many local municipalities will have a minimum distance from the property line for structures,\u201d says Singleton.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also reminds homeowners to remember utility access and drainage easements when deciding on pergola placement.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A focus on flooring<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gone are the days of scattering patio stones or building a simple deck to create space to spend time outdoors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decor choices are more intentional and work to support the visual continuity of the indoor\/outdoor connection.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A popular choice is to install the same flooring in indoor and outdoor living spaces, with durable, indoor \/outdoor tile, wood-look flooring or even concrete. This, along with keeping furnishings and color palette similar helps to extend sightlines, blurring boundaries between inside and out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natural materials are trending as biophilic design remains popular. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or, for a more dramatic style statement, use brightly patterned tiles instead of patio stones or decking, embracing the trend towards bold color throughout the home.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saunas and hydrotherapy<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"a<\/a>
A backyard sauna is a must for health and wellness. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The backyard is the perfect place to create a spa-like experience to increase opportunity for health and wellness at home.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outdoor saunas are popular, relatively inexpensive and easy to install for the DIY-inclined. There are several DIY sauna kits available on the market, or you can even integrate a sauna as part of the overall backyard design, integrated with a pool area, or decking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember a sauna needs electrical, so tucking it into a remote corner of the yard may not be ideal.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another popular spa-like feature is a hydrotherapy cycle, where a hot tub (or spa) and a cold plunge pool are incorporated into the outdoor design. The health and wellness benefits of cold plunging are being promoted currently, including reducing inflammation, circulatory benefits, muscle recovery and more.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cold pool might be an inground, small plunge pool, suitable for one or two people, or for a more compact, less permanent option, choose a barrel or tank cold plunge pool, placed near the hot tub. <\/p>\n

<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Make backyard bay a destination worth visiting with trending outdoor features, including outdoor kitchens, cocktail pools and saunas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":228608,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2024-06-13T21:14:11Z","apple_news_api_id":"c604859d-0cf7-4df3-a1a3-c3d389a8a95b","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2024-07-09T21:12:15Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQ==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AxgSFnQz3TfOho8PTiaipWw","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11115],"tags":[11113,11364,11366,11365,11133],"coauthors":[10869],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nHere-are-6-trending-outdoor-features-for-a-dreamy-backyard-oasis<\/title>\n<meta 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