The shift to outdoor living

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn why outdoor living spaces are rising in popularity, and how you can help your clients create their dream spaces. 

In the last few years, there has been a shift in homeowner interests to extending their home design and architecture into their outdoor spaces. Nikole Starr, founder of Nikole Starr Interiors, shared some thoughts about why this is happening with Houstonia Magazine back in June 2025, saying, “During COVID, everyone was staying home. Now, I feel like people aren’t thinking about their backyards as an afterthought. They’re putting them in the plan from the beginning for whole-home design.” In addition to this mental shift, new technology and products have made it easier than ever for homeowners to get long-lasting outdoor set ups, no matter their budget or style. For example, on the higher end of the budget homeowners can incorporate permanent structures for year-round use of an outdoor space. This might be an outdoor fireplace or a full kitchen under a protective awning or on top of a neat patio or deck.  

If a homeowner is looking for something a bit simpler or a bit more affordable, there are great options for outdoor dining sets. And gone are the days of only having cheap, plastic lawn chairs as an option. Nikole explained, “[Today’s outdoor sets have] fabrics that look like they can be used inside, but you can hose them down if you need to. Some have slipcovers you can remove and throw in the washing machine, [making it easier than ever to maintain them].” In a similar vein, large patio umbrellas offer a great alternative for a permanent awning structure. Nikole personally used a 10-foot, marine-grade Shadowspec umbrella on a client’s home is Houston, Texas. 

Overall, bringing the living space outdoors has grown more and more popular as homeowners learn that they don’t have to sacrifice style for durability with modern products.  

To learn more about creating an ideal outdoor space that is both stylish and functional, read the full article about pool and patio trends in Houstonia Magazine. 

Original image source: Houstonia Magazine