Indoor-outdoor living (73%) leads the way in outdoor living trends for 2023. According to Fixr’s Outdoor Living Trends Report 2023, the cohesive transition from interior spaces to exterior spaces is a highly sought-after trend followed by outdoor kitchens (52%) and privacy (44%).
Floor-to-ceiling pocket doors can break the barrier between indoor living areas and the outdoors, the report notes, while outdoor kitchens are also an extension of indoor living that goes further than just a grill. Because homeowners are spending more time outdoors, privacy is a top trend that can be achieved by trees and foliage or fences and privacy walls.
Upscale relaxation (35%) to create the sense of a vacation getaway, work-from-home spaces (29%) to adapt to continued pandemic work lifestyles, fire pit tables (27%) to offer practical, multipurpose use are also set to be popular this year. On the sustainable living front, kitchen gardens (17%) and climate-resilient gardens (13%) are becoming increasingly popular.
Surveying 52 experts in home construction, design, and architecture, the report reveals that minimalism (40%) is a top outdoor living design with clean lines, rounded edges, and natural colors. Eclectic style (31%), cottagecore style (27%), Mediterranean style (17%), and global designs (13%) also rank highly for 2023. Another 10% of experts named additional design styles as top trends like modern and contemporary.
From accessories to finishes, top 2023 outdoor living trends include:
- Modular and comfortable furniture: Experts agree that modular furniture's adaptability works well in backyards and is a top trend for 2023 (40%). In line with modular furniture are comfortable sofas (33%), eco-friendly furniture (23%), bold-colored furniture (17%), hanging chairs and oversized furniture (15% each), and rounded furniture (10%).
- Natural stone flooring: From limestone to slate, over half of home construction experts (58%) say that natural stone tiles are the most popular flooring for outdoor areas in 2023. More affordable trends include concrete tiles (38%), brick pavers (36%), artificial grass (27%), porcelain tiles (25%), and gravel (17%).
- Mixed materials and colors: To frame features, define spaces, and complement an overall aesthetic, experts say that mixed materials are a top trend for both materials and colors in outdoor spaces. Tying in with natural stone flooring, experts say earthy colors will be popular (31%). Neutral colors (21%) will also blend with splashes of bold color (17%). Monochromatic (13%), terracotta (11%), bold and bright colors (8%), and metallic finishes (6%) are also cited as popular for this year.
