With the irresistible call of coziness back in wintertime, it was easy to shift your focus to your interiors at that time of year. But with the arrival of spring, we’re all relishing the outdoors, especially many of us in Florida, so right now is the perfect time to dive into your porch and patio upgrades for 2022. If you’ve been giving your outdoor spaces careful consideration and feel you’re ready to start researching patio furniture and fire features for the outdoors, there are a few nice trends to keep in mind in the new year.

Here’s what some outdoor design experts have been forecasting lately to help you decide upon your perfect (and perfectly on-trend) outdoor space:

Maximizing Outdoor Space—and Modernizing It

The rise in outdoor living in 2022 means homeowners aren’t just craving more space—they want to make it modern, too.

Homeowners are looking to extend their spaces and have more areas to relax and take in some fresh air. From a design perspective, outdoor living spaces are becoming more modern and functional to suit the taste of today’s consumers.

Clean Lines and Geometric Shapes

As a part of creating a more modern patio space, clean lines are key for 2022 porch and patio features.

Modular, geometric patterns are a big trend, offering clean lines and an uncluttered aesthetic. Flooring, especially, is becoming more geometric, with the introduction of patterns like hexagons and herringbone to make layouts more interesting. Modular materials also make installation more efficient, so construction proceeds more quickly and you can spend more time enjoying a new or upgraded patio.

Multi-Functional and Multi-Seasonal Elements in Porch and Patio Features for 2022

Along with maximizing the space, homeowners are eager to maximize their outdoor season.

The trend is to incorporate elements like lighting, sound, and shade structures to make patios and other outdoor areas usable no matter the time of day or season. Many homeowners are also seeking to create more functional spaces for day-to-day use, but that’s not to say they won’t use them for entertaining as well. Outdoor kitchens and kitchen elements, like a small grill island, pizza oven, or bar, are great to have for entertaining.

Outdoor kitchens aren’t the only rising trend we’ll see carried through into 2022. There also has been a rise in outdoor living rooms. Many homeowners are adding technology like large TVs and outdoor projectors to catch their favorite game or movie or binge Netflix.

Porch and Patio Design in 2022 Means Luxury Upgrades for Everyone

Not only are outdoor kitchens thriving, but homeowners are also looking for major upgrades in their porch and patio features for 2022 and beyond.

A trend to expect in 2022 will be big, luxury, custom-built entertaining zones. There’s already more demand for extensive outdoor kitchen and bar appliances that include dishwashers, beer kegs, outdoor fridges, and super-size grills. These types of luxury custom builds are sure to continue in 2022. Style and quality, along with the ambition to extend outdoor spaces into a complete functional ‘adults’ playground’, will be the order of the day.

All Fire Pits—but Especially Gas

If you were worried your 2021 fire pit will be out of fashion by 2022, the good news is that fire pits have always been a top-selling feature, and we’ll continue seeing them in backyards everywhere.

But if you’re keen to upgrade your existing set-up, go gas. Experts are noticing that fire pits are increasingly converting to gas, which is cleaner, convenient, and easy to use, and offers many more options for styles.

In terms of the latest outdoor fireplace tech, another trend being seen involves an update on the classic fire pit design: the fire table. Fire tables offer a sleek, linear look, which complements the modern design trend that so many are seeking.

One expert says that, while last year saw a big trend in outdoor fire pits, with the most common styles being a simple wood-burning or charcoal steel bowl, 2022 is seeing people moving away from solid fuels and gas, looking more seriously to electric, natural gas, and biofuel fire pits.

Along with fire pits, this upgrade in technology will probably extend to all outdoor appliances. Until recently, electric grill technology and appliances have been limited to luxury yachts and boats, but we are starting to see manufacturers develop this type of technology for outdoor kitchens. The popularity of going green and the public’s growing awareness of the impact on the environment of traditional solid fuels and gas means we will start to see the rise of the electric outdoor grill.

Playing With Color in Porch and Patio Design

Color is definitely continuing to be important to the overall outdoor aesthetic in 2022 porch and patio features. Monochromatic color schemes, with varying tones of the same color, are quickly becoming an interesting trend, along with pops of color in outdoor furniture, plants, and other accessories.

There is also more movement toward dark accents with hardscaping and landscaping, with tones like deep charcoal used for patio walkways, retaining walls, and more.

Color is particularly useful for creating a zoning effect in your outdoor space. Some designs are now utilizing decking boards in contrasting colors to draw attention to a focal point, such as an outdoor bar or an inviting garden room.

Two or more colors can also be used to zone an area—for example, to separate a formal dining area next to a space to relax. Consider using a complementary color for each area, or simply select a different color to cut through the space.”

Using more than one color can be practical, too, such as creating the edge of steps in a contrasting shade to highlight the drop.

Curated Nods to Travel and Tradition

There is a rise in carefully-selected pieces that reflect the wider world, being utilized for decorating our outdoor spaces.

We’ve been confined to our homes for so long that now there seems to be a hunger for traveling, which is driving an increase in decor collections from around the world. This will likely be reflected in interest toward folklore and traditional artisanal items in particular.

This perfect mix of old and new, begs for scouring vintage stores or upcycling pieces you may frequent, to really make the most of this growing trend.

An Explosion of Beautiful High-Quality Materials in 2022 Porch and Patio Features

Another trend you can expect to see is the blending of high-quality traditional landscaping materials, granites, and natural stone, along with the new super-tough, man-made cladding and engineered work surfaces.

There is a bit of an explosion in the outdoor design arena for engineered work surfaces like dekton and infinity stone. These new surfaces are impermeable, freeze- and thaw-resistant, high-heat-resistant, and scratch-resistant, So, along with an incredible array of colors and textures available in large formats, these engineered materials are poised to grow in popularity.

Crafting Your Dream Outdoor Space Takes Good Planning Ahead of Time

As you’re considering all the features you want for your outdoor space, one critical word is: Plan. Plan, plan, plan! Adding your must-have features further down the line can be much more tedious and a lot less cost-efficient.

I’d love to show you how to create your perfect vision for your outdoor living environment – you won’t believe the wonderful spaces that can be created. Just contact me for a consultation. You can message me here, right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link, or you can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And, of course, you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.