In 2023, we saw a big spike in the desire for outdoor entertainment space, multi-functional solutions that serve a variety of activities, and an increased desire to blur the transition between nature and the indoor environment.
Stay current and keep your outdoor space fresh, inviting, and unique to your style by implementing some (or all) of these timeless, functional design shifts. Here are the top 5 trends we expect to take over the decking and outdoor living industry in 2024!
Custom Plantings, Bringing the Inside Out, & Vertical Gardens
A new emphasis on hybrid workspaces, natural materials, and hobby gardening increasing in popularity means the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces are more fluid than ever. As much as we see a rising desire to bring nature in, we’ve also noticed the inside moving out.
In 2024, we expect to see our clients request custom items on their decks, like:
Vertical Gardens or trellises
Whether you want to grow veggies or vines, a trellis or vertical planting option adds height, texture, and variety to an outdoor space. This can also be a great option for adding privacy to certain areas of your deck or acting as a natural space divider between two areas.
Planter boxes in custom shapes and sizes
This is a great way to add personality and life to any deck. We see the use of color, height variation, and uniquely shaped planters to bring an artistic, personal flair to the outdoor space. We can even help you select the best location(s) on your deck for optimized sunlight and growth!
Bring the Inside Out
The comfort and aesthetics of our indoor spaces are slowly creeping out the door. The back patio door, that is! Technology advancements in outdoor fabrics pave the way for better quality and more comfortable outdoor furniture. Soft textures, fabrics, and even plush rugs are now being introduced to our outdoor areas.
Outdoor Kitchens & Cooking Areas
No outdoor entertainment space is complete without a proper kitchen and place to prepare your meals! From built-in grills to copper sinks and modest wet bars, an outdoor kitchen can be anything you want it to be. The options are almost endless!
Here are a few particularly popular outdoor kitchen and cooking area trends we see gaining traction in 2024.
Built-In Appliances Galore
While the most popular outdoor appliance is currently gas grills, there’s a wide selection of other amenities to include in your ideal outdoor kitchen. Whether you prefer a wine fridge, a pizza oven, a blackstone, or even a full-size refrigerator… it can certainly be done! We even anticipate seeing a rise in demand for outdoor dishwashers coming this year.
The Wet Bar
If a wet bar isn’t on your list to add to your outdoor space in 2024, you’re missing out! This is the perfect entertainment solution, whether you are having a football watch party or a celebratory evening with friends. The customization options are endless and can be seamlessly tailored to suit your needs.
Outdoor Storage
As useful outdoor kitchens rise in popularity, so does proper storage. While this does look a bit different for an outdoor kitchen space than it would in your typical kitchen (no wooden cabinets here), it’s still a very important part of a functional space.
For outdoor kitchens, storage is typically stainless and heavy-duty, while still accessible and user-friendly. It makes the outdoor cooking experience that much more enjoyable, and we anticipate outdoor storage being requested more and more in 2024.
Modular Furniture
It’s not uncommon to see indoor design trends make their way to outdoor living areas as well. In this case, modular furniture is a very welcomed shift in the outdoor furniture world. For the past several years, we’ve seen modular sofas and multifunctional furniture take the living room by storm. Now, it’s the deck’s turn!
We see these modular furniture trends hitting hard in 2024.
Modular Outdoor Sofas
The beauty of a modular sofa lies in its fantastic ability to move around and adapt to multiple occasions. Since most homeowners use their outdoor spaces for a variety of different uses, modular sofas just make sense. A modular sofa that can effortlessly transition into an intimate dining area for an evening outdoors is the perfect way to make the most out of the furniture you select for your outdoor space.
Modular Meets Leggy & Colorful
If you’ve searched for your own modular outdoor furniture in the past few years, you might’ve noticed one thing they seemed to ALL have in common – gray. It’s true, gray was a major trend a few years ago that came onto the scene quickly and went just as fast. But in 2024, we’re expecting a major rise in vibrant colors and patterns for these pieces!
When we think of outdoor furniture, we typically picture the chunky, woven, boxy look that many modular pieces sport. However, some major lines have placed a new importance on structured arms and legs with open air and room to breathe! In 2024, look for leggy outdoor furniture to make an appearance.
Outdoor Art
Homeowners are forever finding new and improved ways to leave their personal touch on a space. The deck is no exception. One of the most unique methods we’ve seen thus far is utilizing the bold impact of outdoor art to make a statement and add flair. It’s a pretty broad category, from wall art to sculptural, and even mosaic art or inlaid designs. And while this isn’t something we see in every outdoor space, it’s definitely gaining in popularity.
We think these types of outdoor art will become increasingly popular in 2024.
Sculptural Outdoor Art
Sculptural art is an excellent way to express personal tastes and styles and add a touch of whimsical nature to any outdoor area. Not only can it add a unique flair, but it can also help break up awkward empty spots, add height to certain areas, or even emphasize specific points of interest throughout your outdoor space.
Outdoor Murals
While some types of outdoor wall art are more common, like hammered metal designs and backlit logos or symbols… We’re anticipating something even more unique becoming common in 2024. Colorful mosaic or painted murals are making their way into homeowner’s outdoor living spaces, adding the much-needed color and vibrancy that so many outdoor areas lack.
Sustainability
Sustainable building and design has never been more important. Homeowners are selecting environmentally friendly materials more than ever before, and we’re happy to see it. In 2024, we believe this trend will continue to gain popularity and more homeowners will choose to build their outdoor spaces with the environmental impact of their selections in mind.
In 2024, we expect these sustainable practices to become more prevalent in outdoor design.
Reuse of Existing Materials
Often when a homeowner is remodeling their outdoor living areas, there is some existing material there that doesn’t always have to go to waste. Some of our favorite ways to repurpose existing materials include:
- Using wood from previous decking to build functional furniture pieces, planter boxes, or suspended shelves
- Repurposing pottery and planters to create unique mosaic designs or redesigning a multi-purpose gardening area on the deck
- Making use of what’s already there: Take advantage of quirky challenges and design restrictions to make your space truly unique
Eco-Conscious Material Selections
Most of today’s decking materials tend to lean toward composite, as it’s a more sustainable and durable option for many situations. We recommend composite decking for most of our clients, as it can also be produced in many colors and sizes to achieve the desired aesthetic. It’s a win-win! Better for the environment, and better design options available for you.
Rainwater Harvesting
We see a huge surge in aesthetic rain-collection and redirection options coming for 2024, as opposed to a traditional gutter system. Artistic rain chains produce a beautiful alternative that redirects rain in the same way a gutter would but is much more pleasing to the eye. If you’re planning on building planting or gardening options in your outdoor space, rainwater collecting is a fantastic way to reduce water usage and take advantage of the rainfall to water your plants!
The decking and outdoor living industry is due for some exciting changes and new trends appearing on the scene in 2024.
Which trends do you see yourself applying to your outdoor living areas in 2024?
We’ve built hundreds of deck systems and outdoor living areas that are built to stand the test of time. We take pride in prioritizing the small details just as much as the big ideas.
You can trust 3 Brothers Decking to be right beside you for every step of the process, from initial consultations to the end of the building process and beyond.
