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Whether it’s dining alfresco, gardening, or lounging in the sun, time spent outdoors can boost your health and happiness. In recent years, more and more people are finding creative ways to maximize usable outdoor spaces and entertain themselves at home. Be it for a sprawling yard or a small patio, the desire to extend our living spaces outdoors continues to grow. Keep an eye out for these eight outdoor living trends in 2022.
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1. Backyard Escapes
When you can’t get away for a vacation, escape to your own backyard. Resort-like additions are popping up in outdoor spaces in the way of hot tubs, hammocks, and cozy lounging spots. It’s all about ambiance when incorporating this trend, so don’t forget small touches like fairy lights and potted flowers.
2. Fire Features
The popularity of fire pits, fire tables, outdoor fireplaces, and outdoor heaters skyrocketed during the pandemic and will remain in demand in 2022, and with good reason. Fire can create a warm and cozy atmosphere, perfect for chilly nights or social gatherings year-round. There are luckily options for yards of all sizes. Larger pits can serve as the center of a seating area, while portable ones are perfect for small patios, such as this Outland Living fire pit, which we found to be the best portable option in our researched guide to the best gas fire pits.
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3. Family Vegetable Gardens
A top landscaping trend we’ve seen rise over the past few years is the edible garden. Whether planting in containers on a patio or in more extensive garden beds, growing your own fruits and vegetables can be highly gratifying. If you have limited space, herbs can make a compact yet fun and useful outdoor addition. For an enriching family activity and a good start to healthy eating, let the kids shovel and water, too!
4. Outdoor Workspaces
Remote work is here to stay, so home-based employees are getting creative with their workspaces. Why not set up a desk on your deck for fresh air while you work? Just make sure your WiFi signal reaches outdoors and add an overhead umbrella, like this 9-foot Sunnyglade patio umbrella, for shade. Working alfresco with coworkers who chirp from tree branches might make those long meetings a bit more palatable.
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5. Expanding Living Spaces
After spending more time at home in recent years, homeowners are looking at exterior spots for opportunities to gain living space. Outdoor kitchens continue to grow in popularity, with additions like wine refrigerators. Pizza ovens, like this one from Ooni, a favorite in our best outdoor pizza oven guide, are also great for cooking outside. Some may prefer to use the extra space as an outdoor den or living room, bringing traditionally indoor elements outside for comfortable gatherings.
6. Infusing Personality
Say goodbye to bland exterior spaces in favor of more curated outdoor decor. Accessorize seating and dining areas to truly set your space apart. Think lighting, pillows, umbrellas, and outdoor rugs with fun patterns and colors to bring your favorite indoor design trends outdoors. If you love boho decor, choose rattan furniture, natural textiles, and an umbrella with fringe, such as this one from Safavieh.
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7. High-Tech Additions
Whether it’s a festive dance party or a relaxing movie night, families are taking the fun outside with technology. Outdoor entertainment accessories continue to grow in popularity, from Bluetooth speakers to TVs and projectors, like this WiFi-enabled DBPower model. Solar-powered purchases also are popular for their no-hassle operation in items, including lighting and charging stations.
8. Vertical Gardens
Vertical gardens are gaining popularity for their aesthetic appeal and space-saving functionality. Try this one out yourself by finding a sunny spot to hang a few planter boxes, or go big and cover a whole wall in green with tiered planters or a ladder garden.
