5 Easy Outdoor Sitting Area Trends You Can Incorporate Today

outdoor sitting areaTrends come and go, but you don’t need to break the bank to add a few special trendy touches to your backyard. We have five ideas to help you update your outdoor sitting area easily. Need more backyard design inspiration? Give our team a call for a custom deck or porch that’s always on trend!

Big Pops of Color

Over the past few years, homes have been dominated by the color gray. This is changing. Today, it is a much more trendy option to add lots of color or even multiple colors. But don’t worry; you don’t have to paint your deck neon pink to make a splash!

Instead, think about adding pops of color using outdoor textiles like rugs, cushions, and pillows. You can also add color with lighting. Rather than basic white lights, consider color-changing options that allow you to choose a color for any mood. Of course, don’t forget that plants can add pops of color. Choose brightly colored flowers that have a long blooming season.

Add a Garden to Your Outdoor Sitting Area

You don’t have to become a farmer to grow a few fresh herbs or veggies. In fact, you can pretty easily add a simple garden to your outdoor sitting area even if you have a small backyard. Not only will this make the space more inviting, but it can be rewarding in the kitchen as well.

If you’re new to gardening, start small with an herb garden. You can find kits that start at less than $25 for tiny tabletop herb gardens or just plant some yourself in a pot. Basil, mint, dill, sage, rosemary, parsley, thyme, and chives are all very easy to grow. You can also graduate to growing microgreens, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, strawberries, and potatoes, which are all relatively easy to grow.

Sun Protection

If you are a child of the 80s or earlier, you might remember summers baking in the sun with your friends. Today, we know more about how harmful sun damage can be to our skin. Homeowners are looking for new ways to add sun protection to their outdoor living spaces, and this is one trend we think will last.

For a quick and inexpensive way to update your deck or yard, you can add:

  • Umbrellas
  • Awnings
  • Pergolas

You can also consider adding a roof to your deck or even building a screened-in porch. Though, these options will of course incur more expenses and take longer to install than quick weekend projects.

Fire Pits

The trend of adding a fire pit to your backyard started a few years ago and shows no sign of slowing. They’re great for conversations or just relaxing after a hard day of work. Like with some of the other backyard trends on this list, you can certainly spend a lot of money on a custom fire pit. However, there are more affordable options as well. You can even find tabletop fire pits, which are perfect for a small space.

If you do add a fire pit to your backyard design, make sure you have a working water source. Likewise, keep a bucket of water handy just in case. Larger fire pits should be placed away from the home and any trees to ensure safety.

Create a Space for Entertaining

Last but not least, we are seeing many outdoor sitting areas playing double duty as spaces for entertaining as well. Although you may love relaxing on your deck in the morning with a cup of coffee, you’ll get more use out of the space if you also can convert it to a place to host friends and family.

Luckily, this doesn’t mean you have to invest in all new deck furniture or redesign the space completely to make it bigger. Here’s what we recommend:

  • Buy some rolling bar carts that you can wheel out during a party but store when they are not in use.
  • Add extra seating that is easy to stack and store if your space is small.
  • Instead of larger dining room size tables, go for a few smaller tables or even high tops that make conversation easy.

FAQs About Hiring Outdoor Contractors for Your Space

If you want to kick things up a notch, we can help you budget for a new custom deck or porch that is perfectly on trend. We’d love to answer any questions you have about your backyard design. Here are a few questions as a start:

What flooring should I use for my outdoor sitting area?

Decking materials include pressure-treated pine, exotic hardwoods, cedar, composite, and pvc. They all have pros and cons, depending on your budget, the amount of maintenance you’re willing to do, and the aesthetic you want.

Can I update the backyard myself?

For small projects, do-it-yourself options might work out well. However, larger projects like building a porch or deck often end up more expensive if you don’t hire a professional. Unless you have experience designing custom decks/porches, getting the proper permits, land grading, selecting the proper materials, and using construction equipment, it is not something we recommend as a DIY project.

What is the best layout for my backyard?

It depends on how you intend to use the space, as well as the size of your backyard. If you’re not sure the best backyard layout, our experienced designers can help. We’ll help you translate the ideas you have for a dream backyard into real life plans that can be expertly executed.

Is a porch better than a deck?

Both porches and decks have advantages. If you’re really split on what you want, we can also design a porch and deck combo, which is the best of both worlds! Contact our team today to get started.