The outdoor living season is upon us folks! After the unique scenario the pandemic has brought us over the last year or so, the home improvement industry has seen a tremendous shift in perspectives and attitudes within the residential market. With a renewed interest in spending more time at home, it is only natural that this spill over into the outdoor areas of our home. According an article from Realtor.com, outdoor spaces rank among the top three features homeowners find most valuable – right beside quiet neighborhoods and a home with close proximity to grocery stores.
With the shift in how homeowners access the areas of their home that are the most important, we can also see certain trends rising to the forefront. This is especially prevalent in the way outdoor living spaces customers are asking for and the designs being built. As Archadeck of Columbus picks up steam heading into the height of the outdoor living season, here is a list of the key trends that are popular among homeowners this year.
Deck Amenities Abound
Columbus-area homeowners love decks! Decks remain one of the most requested structures we build here at Archadeck of Columbus. The latest outdoor living trends in deck design encompasses bigger decks and deck with more amenities.
One of the most popular reasons that people renovate their outdoor space is to create a new place to entertain at home. Well, with that in mind, you may be asking what makes a great outdoor living space perfect for entertaining? Our deck amenities are the answer!
From railing and lighting to shade and privacy, here a few amenities clients ask for when planning their new deck design:
Drink Rails – the addition of a drink rail is a simple way to gain more functionality and convenience on your deck. A drink rail consists of a wider rail cap to your deck railing, one that is large enough to set a drink on, or even your mobile phone. Archadeck of Columbus readily uses a decking board turned in such a way that creates a spacious top rail.
Deck Lighting – integrating lighting is something we highly recommend to our deck clients. Not only does the addition of deck lighting add ambiance to the space, it also enables you and your family better use of the deck in the evening. Adding lighting to areas like stair treads, deck posts and integrated into the entry and exits areas promotes a safer, more functional space.
Deck Privacy – adding privacy features to a deck is on our most requested list of deck amenities. This is especially the case with pool or spa decks. If your home is in close proximity to those around it, there are discreet and attractive ways to add privacy to your deck space. These include custom privacy screens and panels that are made as attractive as they are functional, along with many other options.
Deck Shade -- what is the one thing a deck doesn’t have? A roof, of course! Decks that get a great deal of sun exposure can be miserable during the summer. Archadeck of Columbus has a variety of options to overcome the heat and create an inviting shaded space. Shade pergolas are one option, providing a certain level of shade along with vertical interest and panache to your space. Another option is adding a covered area to a portion of the deck. This will eliminate the sun’s rays and protect you from inclement weather. Both pergolas and porch covers can also be outfitted with a ceiling fan increasing the comfort of the shaded area.
Integrated Deck Seating -- did you know we can design your deck with seating that is built right into the design? YES! This is called integrated custom seating and it will help increase the functionality of your space, and promote good traffic flow. We have creative solutions for additional seating such as built-in benches around the perimeter of your deck, wide sprawling staircases that leave room for the kids to sit, and more. We also can help you choose the size of your deck based on how big of a table you’d like, or even help you choose a multi-level deck that will allow for lounging on one level and dining on another. The possibilities are endless!
Bigger Is Better!
We have seen a trend over the last few years of clients using their outdoor living spaces for daily activities. Once reserved for weekends and special entertaining occasions, outdoor spaces are now becoming an integral part of the everyday functions of the home. More clients look to us to create larger-scale outdoor spaces complete with multiple rooms – like full outdoor living rooms, kitchens and grilling areas, fire features and more.
Columbus-area homeowners want designs that meet the needs of how they want to live outside. Just as we usually don’t have a room inside where we do everything from eating to reading and relaxing, our customers request outdoor living combination spaces.
These can include:
Tech-Savvy Outdoor Living
Homeowners want the ability to “plug in” or “tune out” outside. This means designing with function and capability in mind. Archadeck realizes that many clients need ways to “connect” within their outdoor spaces. A demand for remote work and outdoor office areas has resulted in the need for enhanced electrical capabilities – such as additional outlets for computers and office essentials. Aside from work-from-home conveniences, we also cater to creature comforts. These include TV mounts, ceiling fans and lighting to make the time spent outdoors more comfortable.
Neutrals Comes Out On Top
When it comes to choosing the materials for your deck, porch, patio or hardscape neutrals remain a top choice. These include tans, browns and especially grays! Neutrals are often mixed to deliver multi-tonal designs that add depth and dimension to your outdoor living space. No other builder in the Columbus area knows this better than Archadeck of Columbus. As the area’s premier TimberTech deck builder and Unilock patio builder, we are masters at combining color, pattern and texture within a design. So much so, that we have received the Archadeck Design Excellence Award multiple times. This award recognizes building design excellence among Archadeck’s franchise locations.
Geometric Is Hot In Patio Shapes
When it comes to custom patios and hardscapes, geometric patterns are quite popular. This trend aligns with the minimalistic approach to all areas of design that has also risen in recent years. Geometric patterns create clean lines and simple formats that make a space feel uncluttered and fresh and allow the allure of the structure to stand on its own.
Whether you’re adding a simple deck or a combination of several outdoor living structures, we would love to design and build your project. We can customize the design features you have in mind. Why wait? Contact Archadeck of Columbus today to schedule a design consultation for your new or expanded outdoor living space.
The Archadeck of Columbus team.
