Outdoor Living Is All About Relaxation

A desire to stay home, disconnect, and improve our existing spaces are all motivations behind this year’s top outdoor living trends. There is so much awareness around taking care of yourself and making time for yourself, which is a hard thing to do with today’s busy and overbooked lifestyle. Investing in ways to do this at home makes it more attainable and feasible to make time for.

Creating an exterior that promotes relaxation involves incorporating elements that evoke a sense of calm, serenity and comfort. This year, homeowners are creating spaces to unplug, unwind, and relax.

Here are some of the most popular outdoor living trends in 2023 to do so!

1. Sensory Pathways

This outdoor trend is all about making space to recharge and activating the senses. Although it doesn’t require a lot of square footage, it does pack a big impact with thoughtfully chosen design elements. Incorporating beautiful sounds like bamboo, wind chimes or a water feature are a great way to calm the mind.

Texture also plays a role; sensory pathways often include materials like wood and stone. Variations in plant life, including colours and shapes, types of flora and heights and depths, are an opportunity to indulge the eyes and sense of smell whilst creating visual interest.

2. Relaxing Water Features

From bubbling fountains to cool plunge pools, water features of all types are upping the relaxation factor in backyards. While water has a role in the sensory pathways trend, too, here we’re seeing opportunities for personal rejuvenation. Specifically, there is an increased interest in adding saunas, hot tubs, and outdoor showers to create spa-like environments to unwind without leaving the comfort of home.

3. Organic Style

Organic modern is a popular interior decorating style and now its design influences are hitting the home’s exterior too. This style favours organic shapes, curves, and softer hardscapes as well as gravel underfoot on pathways, heritage vine overhead and naturalistic stone pavers defining an outdoor patio.

To achieve the organic modern style in your outdoor space, incorporate colour and texture through natural elements like wildflowers, ornamental grasses, and olive trees. For contrast, antique-inspired furniture and decor. Choose materials that have a lived-in look, such as patinaed metal chairs or a salvaged wood garden bench, natural finishes like rattan and jute or timeless vintage clay pots. Not only do these decorative items add to the natural beauty but they can be sourced sustainably.