Homeowners Gravitate Toward Low-Maintenance Outdoor Living Spaces

Outdoor spaces have become a bigger priority for homeowners, with a recent survey from Houzz showing that homeowners are increasingly transforming outdoor spaces into functional extensions of the home. The 2026 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study shows that 41% of homeowners feel motivated to upgrade their deteriorating outdoor spaces. Additionally, outdoor spaces are increasingly being designed as functional extensions of the home, with approximately 83% of renovating homeowners creating lounge or seating areas.

Outdoor kitchens are especially being prioritized

As more homeowners view their exteriors as extensions of the home, outdoor kitchens have become increasingly popular. Among homeowners upgrading an outdoor structure, 12% added or upgraded an outdoor kitchen, and the share adding or upgrading built-in bars increased by 2 percentage points to 8%.

Homeowners opt for low-maintenance designs

As homeowners prioritize thoughtful outdoor designs, they are incorporating low-maintenance landscaping. The survey found an increase in homeowners choosing synthetic lawns—up by 10 percentage points to 19%—and a respective 57% and 51% of survey respondents also said they opted for hardscaping and mulch.

Homeowners are more likely to reach out to professionals for help designing their outdoor spaces

Professional involvement in outdoor renovations reached a new high in 2026, with 71% of homeowners hiring a professional, compared with 65% in 2024. Landscape contractors remain the most commonly hired professionals, rising 5 percentage points to 26%, followed by stone, paver and concrete specialists at 20%, general contractors at 17%, and landscape architects or designers at 15%.