Landscaping projects make back gardens the life of the party

It’s time to take the party outside, according to the Houzz UK 2018 Landscaping Survey,* which found that three in five of homeowners spend more time entertaining outside after completing landscaping projects (61%). One in seven homeowners also report that their usable outdoor area is significantly larger than that of their home (14%). So transforming the garden into added living space creates an entertaining haven for the next garden party or family barbecue.

The study found that homeowners on Houzz invest in a variety of elements during landscaping projects that make their outdoor areas more livable, including dining furniture (43%), grills (38%), benches (34%), and lounge furniture (30%). The addition of string lights (34%), fire pits (25%) and patio heaters (14%), suggest a focus on exterior ambience that allows people to entertain outdoors into the evening.

Technology also plays a role in making the garden entertainment-ready. Of the one in ten homeowners who added or upgraded entertainment systems during their landscaping projects (10%), over four out of five added speakers (85%), with half of homeowners choosing solar or wireless speakers (50%) and more than a third opting for wired speakers (35%). One in 10 homeowners also added projectors (18%), wired and solar charging stations (16% each, respectively) and TVs (15%).

Kerb appeal part of the plan

While the majority of outdoor projects take place in the back garden (86%), nearly a quarter of landscaping homeowners update their front garden (22%) and more than one in ten work on side returns (14%). Homeowners adding or updating elements in the front of their home report that the most important features contributing to kerb appeal are beds and borders (39%), shrubs (24%) and perennials (18%). Considering these priorities, it’s no surprise that they are also the most popular features installed in front of homes (42%, 41% and 35%, respectively).

The leading reason for homeowners to begin a landscaping project is to improve elements of the outdoor space that have deteriorated or broken down (30%). Costs for landscaping projects vary widely, with a fifth of homeowners who completed their outdoor renovation spending more than £10,000 (20%) and nearly two thirds of homeowners spending less than £5,000 (64%).

Regardless of motivations or budget, the majority of homeowners who completed a landscaping project report that they spend more time outside (81%). Some of the other ways that homeowners enjoy their newly upgraded outdoor space include relaxing (74%) and eating (63%).

You can browse a collection of outdoor essentials from the Houzz Shop here.