Update your Outdoor Living Space for 2024

March 7, 2024

Outdoor Living

House with modern pool and extensive patio

2024 Trends for Revitalizing Your Outdoor Space

As we step into spring, nature and the allure of being outside beacons with renewed vigour, the smell of cherry blossoms sparking ideas of increasing our outdoor living in the coming months. It’s the time of the year when we want to explore new possibilities for our backyard space.

Trends in outdoor living space design can be big and bold, or subtle and nuanced—especially when they involve landscaping and the garden. But regardless of your preferred style, 2024 promises to bring us in touch with our outdoor spaces: nature-infused design will invoke our surrounding environments to inspire comfortable and exciting outdoor spaces created with a sustainable ethos.

At Flintstones, we have completed hundreds of outdoor living space renovations on the West Coast, where, from early on, the general trend has always been to embrace outdoor living. We’ve worked with many clients to transform their outdoor spaces, and have had the pleasure of observing trends in how people want to connect their backyard with nature, what they want to do in their outdoor spaces, and what works, and what doesn’t work to make an outdoor living space that you enjoy. Hint: there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

With each passing year, trends in outdoor living evolve, offering fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and new designs for outdoor living areas. Flintstones has rounded up some of our favourite anticipated trends for 2024, encompassing style, plant selections, spatial arrangements, and construction considerations for an updated or new outdoor living space.

Fusion-Forward: Functionality and Aesthetics

IMAGE: Wildflower

outdoor fire pit — *A chef’s kitchen sits beside a gas fire pit to extend entertaining throughout the evening.*

Outdoor living spaces can become seamless extensions of indoor living areas, accessed with ease and designed to bring the outdoors in, and vice versa. The trend leans towards creating multifunctional outdoor living zones that cater to diverse activities, from outdoor dining and relaxation to recreational pursuits like gathering around a fire pit. Regardless of the size of your existing outdoor space, there are many innovative ways you can add dynamism to your backyard space.

Key elements include:

Outdoor Kitchens and Dining Areas:

Equipped with state-of-the-art appliances and ample seating, outdoor kitchens and dining areas are focal points for social gatherings and culinary adventures.

Cozy Retreats:

Intimate seating areas adorned with comfortable furnishings, fire pits, and ambient lighting offer tranquil retreats for relaxation and contemplation.

Broaden Your Horizons With Hardscaping:

IMAGE: Valdez

*An expansive stone patio gives this home a new lease on life*

Hardscaping elements can define the structure and character of a backyard space. It literally lays the groundwork for anything from a fire pit to multiple seating areas or an outdoor kitchen. In 2024, the trend leans towards harmonious integration, where hardscape features seamlessly complement the natural landscape rather than overpowering it.

Trending hardscape elements include:

Natural Stone Patios and Pathways:

Versatile and timeless, natural stone is an elegant way to structure outdoor living spaces, providing durable surfaces for everything from al fresco dining to lounging by the pool.

Water Features:

From gushing waterfalls to idyllic ponds, water features add atmosphere and visual interest with little intervention to the existing landscape.

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Outdoor Entertaining

IMAGE: Coastal Cabana

Modern backyard pool — *Build alongside this new pool and integrated spa the poolhouse houses a gym, yoga studio and sauna. Beside it is a full outdoor kitchen and dining space.*

A happy hangover of the pandemic lifestyle is the ease with which people came together in outdoor spaces, adding multiple seating areas, outdoor furniture, fire pits or pools. Trends see homeowners investing in outdoor living spaces that rival indoor counterparts in comfort, functionality and fun. The trend for 2024 focuses on elevating outdoor living through innovative design features and well-chosen amenities.

Noteworthy features include:

Swimming Pools:

Whether it’s a sleek lap pool or a lavish spa retreat, places for physical activity continue to give homeowners a return on their investment, providing opportunities for leisure, exercise and socializing.

Saunas:

Cold plunge and heat therapy trends are here to stay. The Nordic tradition is coveted for bringing people together to unwind with company. Thanks to the trend, a wide range of saunas and plunge pools are available to accommodate different outdoor configurations.

Sustainable Practices and Materials

IMAGE: Promenade

*Framing the patio are stairs that access the raised garden while acting as a retaining wall to control the water from the lawn, with drainage added to redirect water flow.*

In alignment with the growing awareness of environmental conservation, sustainable landscaping practices and materials are gaining momentum. From water-efficient irrigation systems to recycled building materials, homeowners are embracing eco-friendly solutions to minimize their ecological footprint.

Sustainable considerations include:

Drought-Tolerant Landscaping:

Xeriscaping principles—the practice of including drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation techniques—conserve water resources while maintaining aesthetic appeal.=

Permeable Paving:

Permeable surfaces, such as pavers or gravel, reduce stormwater runoff and replenish groundwater, mitigating the impact on natural hydrological cycles.

Going Undercover with a Pergola

IMAGE: Himount

Outdoor patio under overhang of house with seating area and modern fire pit — *The homeowners wanted an outdoor living space that would protect them from the elements and allow them to entertain outdoors all year round.*

Nothing allows you to extend your outdoor living space more than a covered outdoor structure or pergola. The increasing range of technological features makes the pergola a popular trend for 2024. For technology-loving homeowners, louvred pergolas let you control sunlight, ventilation and heat. These innovative and practical structures provide versatility to any outdoor space. Whether seeking shade on scorching days or inviting a gentle breeze, a louvred pergola allows you to control sunlight and ventilation with adjustable louvres.

Alternative options include:

Classic Pergola:

A well-built pergola can add a distinct architectural feature to your outdoor living space. On the West Coast, wood is a favourite for its natural qualities that give way to the surrounding outdoors.

Louvred Pergola:

Innovations include adjustable louvres controlled using smart technology for optimal shading and ventilation. Cutting-edge structures integrate weather sensors, LED lighting, and remote operation, enhancing outdoor living spaces with versatility and ease of use.

Embracing Ecological Diversity

IMAGE: Rogers

*A pair of experienced, passionate gardeners wanted a space to entertain and showcase their planting.*

In 2024, the emphasis on biodiversity and ecological sustainability continues to shape landscaping trends in outdoor spaces. Gardens designed to support local ecosystems and promote biodiversity are, not surprisingly, gaining traction as homeowners realize the role their gardens can play in supporting local ecosystems. Native plant species remain a cornerstone, celebrated for their resilience and ability to thrive in their indigenous environments while attracting pollinators and beneficial insects.

Popular choices include:

Native Grasses and Wildflowers:

From native grasses like California brome and tufted hairgrass to vibrant wildflowers such as purple delphinium and Camus, native flora adds texture, colour, and ecological value to outdoor spaces.

Pollinator Gardens:

Deliberately planting species that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators not only enhances the beauty of the garden but also contributes to the vital role these creatures play in ecosystem health.

What’s Next

Outdoor living trends for 2024 reflect an ecological consciousness characteristic of the West Coast, functional design as expressed in well-selected features, and an overall harmonious aesthetic. This year, homeowners will transform their outdoor spaces by embracing native flora, creating multifunctional spaces, and prioritizing sustainability.

The most important thing about any outdoor space renovation is that the design is deeply rooted in how you live, what you like to do, and how you want to enjoy your space outside. We’ll work closely with you to create a plan that encompasses some of these trends in a way that works for you and your lifestyle.

Book a call with Flintstones to find out what is possible in your outdoor space.

What our clients say about our renovation services

We were totally impressed with the Flintstones Construction Crew ... Courteous, timely and master workmanship! We would definitely recommend Flintstones Construction to our friends. Len Atkinson and Marje Clews

Marje Clews
Highly recommend Flintstones, Everyone I dealt with , Both Mike's and Rhett made sure everything was how we wanted, 🙂 Trent did an amazing job on our retaining wall and new slate stairs, it is beautiful. We are so happy with the way things turned out, Thanks guys

Sharon Wood
The Flintstones team has been an absolute delight to collaborate with on multiple projects. Their professionalism, organizational skills, and unwavering focus on client satisfaction truly set them apart. As a sub trade, they effortlessly foster a seamless working environment, demonstrating their exceptional ability to engage in collaborative design and expertly tackle any challenges that arise. Having had the pleasure of partnering with the Flintstones team, we wholeheartedly recommend them for all your renovation and construction projects. Their commitment to excellence, paired with their remarkable problem-solving capabilities, make them an invaluable asset to any undertaking. Jonathan Poppitt CEO Thomas and Birch Kitchens + Living

Jonathan Poppitt
Flintstones built a project I designed for a client living on the beach- a flagstone patio, sitting height wall, and glass surround to minimize the wind. I was impressed with their professionalism as well as their clear and organized approach to doing business. All costs were transparent and the finished product adds incredible value and functionality to the property. The client is extremely happy with both the design and the finished product.

Gillian Taverna
When we decided to renovate our patio, we contacted several companies to do the work. The first company we called never called back. The second company gave us a quote but didn’t ask us what we wanted. Then we found Flintstones. They sat down to talk to us about our vision, came back to us with plans the next week that we were very impressed with. Our outdoor living space is now finished and it is more than we ever imagined – there are smiles on our faces! From the moment the building started we had confidence in Flintstones. All of the workers were energetic, polite, and very competent. Communication was clearly very important to them. When we changed our minds on what they were building partway through the project, they were happy to comply without complaint or increase in cost. Next time we need a project done, Flintstones will be the first company we call! Thanks for everything.

Sharon Buckingham
Within a few weeks of contacting them, we had a gorgeous new patio! Max was very responsive and made the process of getting our estimate and getting work underway go quickly and efficiently. Trent and Arlo were very professional with their installation and their work has exceeded our expectations. A wonderful experience and we will definitely work with them on all of our future projects.

Sarah Alpert