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It’s always fun to be the trendsetter. Each year, new home and garden trends take the spotlight. They can be a great way to freshen up your landscape to find new ways to enjoy your yard, boost the resale value of your home, and to impress neighbors and guests.
We spoke to several experts to get the scoop on the top outdoor living styles for 2025.
According to Loren Taylor, a seasoned expert in landscaping and gardening and owner of Outdoor Fountain Pros, “landscaping trends in 2025 are heading in exciting directions that blend beauty, functionality, and environmental responsibility.”
Joe Raboine, vice president of design at Oldcastle APG in Atlanta, Georgia, says that curb appeal trends will focus on maximizing the functionality and aesthetic of front yards, particularly as lot sizes continue to shrink. “Homeowners are getting creative, turning their front yards into multi-use spaces that blend relaxation, entertainment, and environmental responsibility,” says Raboine.
Check out these outdoor living trends to try out as the weather gets warmer in the coming months.
1. Welcoming Front Yards
As people crave more social connection, they are starting to spend more time in their front yards. “We’re seeing front yard spaces deliver a strong ROI,” says Raboine. Many outdoor trends can boost your home’s value, “with front yard space being one of the top three feature priorities of homebuyers,” he says.
The trends for 2025 will prioritize creating versatile, low-maintenance front yards that serve as an extension of the home, while using available space efficiently and sustainably. “Simple upgrades to small front yards, such as adding paver overlays to concrete walkways or driveways and incorporating border plantings, can refresh a space without overwhelming it,” says Raboine.
“These changes can significantly enhance curb appeal and create a welcoming environment,” says Raboine. Just be sure to avoid overcrowding your front yard and porch or patio with too many features and sculptures. Instead, create an organized, balanced design.
2. Green Drenching
Expect to see a lot more of the color green this summer in landscaping. Green drenching is all about bathing the outdoor area in soothing green tones, from soft fuzzy ground covers to living walls of greenery, says Katie Tamony, chief marketing officer and trend spotter for Monrovia. “The focus is on foliage, adding structure and a sense of calm to the chaos of everyday life,” says Tamony.
More than half of the homeowners surveyed for Monrovia’s 2025 Design Trend Report said that gardening is good for their mental health and well-being. “Those who say gardening helps them feel hopeful and positive has increased by 4 percent,” says Tamony. “We’re seeing a rising interest in soothing tones of green foliage…to create spaces that are more serene.” Other green foliage to experiment with includes lush vining plants, shrubs, and evergreen hedges to create beautiful, serene garden spaces that also add height and privacy.
3. Smart Landscaping
Just as it’s happening inside the home, smart technology is transforming outdoor spaces. Homeowners can now choose automated lighting, climate control systems, security features, and app-controlled irrigation to make their lives much easier, says Evan Davis Santi, award-winning landscape designer and president of Urban Plantscapes LLC, which has locations in several metropolitan areas including New York City and Miami, Florida. “These innovations enhance convenience, safety, and sustainability, making gardens more functional and efficient,” says Santi.
4. Ditching Concrete Driveways
Concrete driveways are on the way out, and more appealing choices are in, says Santi. “Traditional concrete driveways contribute to water runoff and drainage issues, so more homeowners are replacing them with permeable pavers, gravel, or green driveways to improve water absorption and reduce heat buildup,” he explains. Not to mention, concrete driveways are pretty dull. Instead, consider stone, brick, turf, or gravel for an attractive, functional, and sustainable driveway. These materials help boost curb appeal, increase property value, and are often more cost-effective in the long run.
5. Wellness Landscaping
Taylor is seeing more homeowners prioritizing wellness in their landscaping. “Adding spaces for relaxation, like a small meditation corner surrounded by fragrant herbs or a simple water feature, makes a yard feel like an escape,” he says. “These features aren’t just about appearance—they give people a sense of calm and connection to nature, which is more important than ever.”
Another approach to wellness landscaping is to choose lots of fragrant and edible vegetation. “Why just admire beauty when you can taste it, too? Edible landscaping is blooming, and homeowners are integrating fruits, herbs, and vegetables into their ornamental gardens,” says Matthew Wilson, landscaping expert and owner of Handy Gardeners in the United Kingdom. “Just imagine walking past a flowering pear tree or a fragrant rosemary hedge—functional décor at its finest,” he says.
6. Modern Meadow
Moravia also found that 28 percent of those surveyed prefer their garden to have a more natural look, which is up 6 percent from last year. Modern meadow gardens provide a full sensory experience using color, movement, and a connection to nature. “Modern meadows add a relaxing beauty to the garden. By choosing the right plants for the space, they can be low maintenance and drought tolerant once established,” Tamony says. Be sure to choose lots of beautiful grasses and colorful, pollinator-friendly native plants to attract birds, bees, and butterflies to your modern meadow landscape.
7. Mixing Materials and Colors
Don’t be afraid to mix it up this summer. Expect to see color and texture play a bigger role in outdoor spaces, says Raboine. “Homeowners are embracing vibrant, layered palettes that add depth and dimension to their front yards,” he explains. Consider mixing materials, such as wood, metal, glass, and gravel, to elevate the look of outdoor living areas. “This trend moves away from using a single material or color for an entire space and encourages a more dynamic, customized approach to landscaping and design. By blending different textures and hues, homeowners can create a more visually engaging yard that feels rich and multi-dimensional,” says Raboine.
8. Romancing the Garden
The trend of longing for nostalgia and romance in the garden is on the rise and expanding. “We are seeing this trend advance, which involves pairing beauty and productivity,” says Tamony. “Edible plants and pollinator attractors are showing up with new combinations to create a romantic cottage feel that brings more function and nostalgic connection to the garden,” she says. Try pairing hydrangeas with blueberries to create a beautiful and edible hedge or tucking in strawberries and apples with roses to create a rich, nostalgic feel.
