Outdoor living: Pools, patios, decks, water features and more

Spring is here and homeowners are ready to make the most of their outdoor living spaces.

Current outdoor living trends focus on several areas, including heating, lighting, dining and multi-level design, with the overall theme of creating a welcoming, relaxing environment suitable for entertaining guests or enjoying in private.

“If you can think it, you can do it in outdoor living spaces,” says Gretchen Coley of Gretchen Coley Properties. “There is a revolution in outdoor living with the sky being the limit for homeowners.”

From fire pits to pools, homeowners are treating their outdoor living space as a welcome extension of their home. While outdoor entertaining can be a focus, homeowners also seek a quiet, relaxing retreat from the everyday stresses, Coley says, “Everyone is looking for that peaceful, serene spot to just enjoy the outdoors after the work week,” she says. “No matter the price point of the home, everyone wants their own special outside place.”

The first steps of outdoor living often start with the basics – fences and decks.

Most homes today have decks of all types and shapes in the backyard. And fences are a must for families with small children and pets. Susan and James Brennan are second-generation fence and deck installation business owners. His father sold fences in Illinois. When the Brennans moved to North Carolina in 1996, it was a natural fit for them too.

Today, Brennan’s Fence and Deck Installations has warehouse and retail space in Clayton. Their son, Joe, is taking the business into the third generation.

While wood fences remain the most cost efficient option, today’s homeowners are selecting more fences made of aluminum, PVC or vinyl. The maintenance is low and the lifespan is long, Brennan says.

“Today, people want fences installed before they even move into a new home,” she says. “Families with young children and pets want the protection that a fence offers from the very beginning.”

Deck installation is another part of the Brennans’ business. While the majority of homes are built with basic decks, many homeowners want to enlarge the decks with numerous tiers including outdoor kitchens and pools, Brennan says.

“Wood decks are still popular and less expensive,” she says. “But we are seeing more people select composite materials due to the low maintenance required.”

Any upgrade to an outdoor living space starts with defining a vision. Many homeowners are looking to buy larger lots that will be perfect to add a pool and more down the road, says Coley. She has been a real estate agent in the Triangle since 2000 and partnered with The Allen Tate Company in 2016.

“Often homeowners want to design their own space that will include a pool, kitchen and home entertainment center,” she says. “A simple deck and covered porch can grow into the backyard of your dreams.”

The popularity of outdoor living spaces has been growing for years.

A study from the home remodeling and design platform Houzz found that 56 percent of homeowners were making updates to improve their yards for entertaining. Similarly, nearly 60 percent of architectural practices surveyed by the American Institute of Architects in 2017 said outdoor living spaces were popular features in the homes they built.

Before beginning to renovate an outdoor living space, start by walking around the area to determine the right locations for paths, paving stones, pools or multiple levels that will be safe as well as attractive. Once homeowners define their vision for a backyard, pool or patio area, the next steps are to consider design basics, such as colors, patterns and materials.

Outdoor living design companies suggest creating a “mood board,” a collection of colors, furniture styles and landscaping that can create the right design to fit the budget and the vision. Studying design websites can offer a visual element suitable for any taste and style. Once homeowners get their vision on paper, backyards can be transformed into ideal spaces with fire pits, kitchens, pools and even televisions.

“Homeowners want a multi-functional entertainment space outside,” says Coley. “They want it to be a natural extension of the home itself so many times they want to design it themselves. Others, however, look for homes with all these amenities already there and ready to use.”

Today, fire pits and fireplaces are hot items and provide a central point for gathering guests on summer evenings before, during or after dinner. An added bonus is a wood fire to help keep the mosquitoes away. A 2017 survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects found that fireplaces and fire pits were the most popular outdoor design element. Such features can provide a focal point in the backyard while also extending the outdoor living season into autumn and even early winter.

The right lighting is an essential part of an enjoyable, safe and functional backyard design. Some ways to add light and set the mood for a patio party include illuminated planters, pendant lights and string bulbs. Outdoor kitchens allow homeowners to prepare more than just traditional backyard barbecue fare. A standalone charcoal grill in the backyard might get the job done, but a built-in gas grill complete with burners and surrounding granite countertop makes for a more functional outdoor entertaining space.

Indoor entertaining areas often include bars, so it makes sense that homeowners want to include a place to prepare and serve drinks to their guests. Homeowners with room in their budgets may want to install wet bars where they can rinse mixers, glasses and other items needed to prepare drinks for their guests.

“Home entertainment centers are a big trend for outdoor living spaces,” says Coley. “Music, sports and movies are important parts of the outdoor living experience for family and friends.”

A pool is the ultimate in outdoor living for most homeowners.

Susan Brennan says many of the tiered decks they construct involve relaxing spaces around a pool. And, fences are an important part of keeping a pool safe, she adds. Outdoor living spaces are often found in the backyard, but homeowners with bigger front yards than backyards may want to expand or open their porch spaces to create more space outside. Porch swings and rocking chairs provide a place to relax, and covered porch spaces mean homeowners can continue to enjoy time outside even when it begins to rain.

In the backyard or front yard, outdoor living is ideal in the Triangle area almost all year round, local experts agree. As an extension of the home, fire pits, decks, screened porches, kitchens and dining areas can work for both family and friends all four seasons here. Whether the budget is a few thousand dollars or a few hundred, there are lots of ways to create an enjoyable outdoor living space.

“Outdoor living space starts with each homeowner’s dreams and visions,” says Coley. “They can make it happen and enjoy it all year long.”

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