10 Fresh Outdoor Living Trends for 2024

As spring bursts forth, now’s the time to shake off the cobwebs — both literal and figurative — and set up our outdoor spaces for the sunny season ahead. This year, the biggest outdoor living trends strengthen the relationship between our indoor and outdoor lives via function and design. Let’s take a look at what’s currently trending and start crafting our summer space wishlist. You’ll want to get your hands on these goodies before they’re gone!

@hgtvcanada
Finally that time of the year where most of our time is spent outside 🌞 #outdoorlife #backyarddesign #hometrends #summerrefresh #greenhouse #outdoorfireplace

♬ Pink and White. – ❔

The Home Depot

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Continuity Supervisor

If we were to choose the umbrella theme in 2024 under which all other outdoor living trends sit, continuity would be king. Creating cohesion between indoor and outdoor styling through the use of colour, texture and materials reflects the recent societal shift to value outdoor spaces just as much as interior ones.

Hampton Bay Claxton Steel 5-Piece Patio Sectional Dining Set and Grey Stripe Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug, The Home Depot, $198-$1,598.

HGTV Canada

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Know When to Fold ’Em

There are few design elements that can bridge the (literal) gap between indoor and outdoor living more effectively than a retractable glass wall, such as this one by Lumon for Backyard Builds.

When closed, you still take in the outside world visually; when opened, you instantly gain usable square footage (and some serious ROI).

Home in Aspen, Colorado, with a large retractable wall surrounded by large clack tiles framing an interior with dark wood floors, living room with a white sectional couch and two grey armchairs, wood panelled ceiling with pot lights, a kitchen in the distance with a large marble topped island, and deck with Mbrico Tiles and a large dining table with woven dining chairs

Mbrico

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Tile Them Up

Selecting patio and deck surfaces that were previously reserved for interiors (and their more robust budgets) is another one of those outdoor living trends tied to continuity.

Using Mbrico Italian porcelain tiles as decking elevates the exterior living areas to match the interior ones. One does not outshine the other, but rather they work together as one design.

Article

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Future Investments

Investing in quality outdoor pieces that are built to last — look for teak, concrete or premium wicker — is definitely on trend in 2024 (and beyond!).

If you’re able to splurge now, you could save money in the long run by avoiding wasteful replacements and repetitive repairs.

Palmera Dravite Black Sofa Set, Article, $4,497.

Ikea

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Sculpture Park

When considering your outdoor furnishing options, don’t shy away from bold, sculptural shapes — it’s a big trend for 2024. If you already have an existing more-traditional set in your outdoor space, mix in a few modern, ergonomic pieces for an updated look.

SKARPÖ Armchair, Ikea, $99.

Sylvox

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Living on the Outside

The rise of entertainment walls — featuring waterproof TVs, game and sound systems and gas fireplaces — is the clearest sign that designers are blurring the line between indoors and outdoors.

These are full-fledged, open-air living rooms arranged to take advantage of clear skies, but resilient enough to withstand the elements.

Waterproof Outdoor TV, Sylvox, starting at $1,329.

Philips

7 / 10

Spotlight on Smart Lights

Outdoor lighting is also getting a tech reboot — with the advancement of Smart lighting, whole properties can operate on a single, integrated system. Move from the back door to the garden and control the colour, brightness and even lighting effects as you go.

Philips Hue Smart Lighting, Philips, starting at $120.

DreamCast

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That’s Fire

Gone are the days of makeshift cinderblock firepits — in 2024, luxury fire features are a hot commodity (yeah, we went there). Installing a high-end, flame-focused feature — such as a Canadian-made DreamCast Design fire table — not only extends time spent comfortably outside, but also vaults up the property value.

Fire Table Linea 72, DreamCast Design, starting at $7,235.

Houston Texas Stainless Steel Flat Panel outdoor kitchen designed by John Michael Studio featuring granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and cabinets, white brick walls with open-air archways facing the garden, a large reclaimed wood ceiling beam, large carriage lantern pendant light, grey linen loveseat and footstool, round antique side table, and large grey tile flooring

John Michael Kitchens

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Bigger on the Outside

When selecting the top outdoor living trends for 2024, there were a few surprising ones (at-home pickleball court!) but outdoor kitchens were an expected repeat. Take note, however; this current trend does not include the grill-and-cooler “kitchens” of years past.

Like those designed by John Michael Kitchens, these are fully-equipped, full-scale gourmet cooking and dining spaces… only they’re located on the outside of the home’s exterior walls.

Outdoor area for al fresco dining with a round dining table, four grey plastic dining chairs, a large sliding black framed door and window set into a tall exterior brick wall with stamped pavers in a herringbone pattern on the ground, potted trees and ferns, and a raised brick garden bed with greenery

HGTV Canada

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The Earth Laughs in Flowers

Once the stamped porcelain pavers are down, the investment furniture is placed and the sliding wall is installed, don’t forget what the work was for in the first place — to be in nature.

Layering greenery at various levels makes a cold, constructed outdoor space come alive. Think seasonal flower pots, raised evergreen-perennial beds and space-saving ornamental trees.