5 backyard trends that are in this year, and 4 that are out, according to landscapers, gardeners, and interior designers

• According to the pros, native plants, mood lighting, and outdoor living rooms are getting popular.
• On the other hand, plain, expansive lawns and matching patio sets are falling out of favor.

Pavilions and pergolas are becoming backyard staples.

One-size-fits-all patios are out.

Many people are replacing single gathering areas with “outdoor rooms” or dedicated zones for different activities such as cooking, dining, and seating, Marciniak said.

Dividing an outdoor space in functional ways using planters, unique pavers, and landscaping designs can also help elevate how it’s enjoyed.

“There’s a little bit of almost an experience of going from one space to another in sequence,” the designer told BI.

Plastic outdoor furniture is being replaced with investment-worthy pieces.

As outdoor spaces become more integrated into daily life, many people are moving away from inexpensive plastic furniture and turning toward pieces made with durable materials, according to Pryde.

“We’re seeing a lot of teak and wood furniture and just more high-quality furniture,” she told BI.

Although these pieces can be more expensive upfront, they are usually designed to last through many seasons.

Matchy-matchy patio sets are out.

Pryde told BI that she’s seeing a shift away from “matchy-matchy” coordinated outdoor furniture sets, which have been the norm for a long time.

Instead, she said, homeowners are mixing materials, finishes, and furnishings from different sources to create a more “curated” outdoor space. This adds a lot more visual interest to a space.