11 Outdoor Design Trends That Will Date Your Home Instantly

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Outdoor spaces can be a part of your living area and can bring a piece of nature to your home. Since patios, decks and gardens are often sanctuary spaces, the design choices here are even more important. However, like all styles, outdoor trends come and go, and what used to look stylish can become outdated very quickly, transforming your outdoor oasis into a blast from yesteryear’s past rather than contemporary retreat.

Here’s a look at 11 outdoor design trends that can date your home faster than you’d think.

Complicated Patterns of Stone Pathways

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Patterned stone pathways in garden magazines everywhere were once intricate, but now they can feel cluttered. At first, a winding, intricate path may seem charming, but that’s a labor intensive setup that doesn’t lend itself to a natural look. Today, opting for simple, straight paths with minimal cuts is more visually appealing.

Concrete or Faux Stone Planters

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Faux stone planters were once a staple of outdoor design, but their heavy and bulky appearance is falling out of favor. These planters not only fade over time, they crack, and they are difficult to move. Now lightweight materials like fiberglass or ceramics are popular and make outdoor spaces feel refreshed and airy, updated and versatile.

Ornate Iron Fences

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An ornate iron fence will be grand on an old estate, but can feel out of place in a contemporary outdoor setting. These fences can look overdone and even a little bit intimidating, especially on smaller properties, because of the detailing. As a result, many homeowners are now picking out horizontal slat or wooden clean, minimal fence for a modern, sleek finish.

Overly-Themed Gardens

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In the past, themed gardens were all the rage — guests would plant Mediterranean or Zen inspired setups inspired by dreamy visions of far away places. But these themed designs can quickly become contrived, or even kitschy. Nowadays, a more understated approach is better: one that focuses on native plants and subtle decor to create a naturally cohesive look that is authentic and timeless.

Plastic Outdoor Furniture

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While plastic furniture is convenient and cheap, the look can make an outdoor area feel like a 70s pool deck. Plastic outdoor furniture doesn’t age gracefully, even when styled well. Choose more durable materials for more sophisticated looks like teak or aluminum and it simply weathers the elements better.

Oversized Bulbs String Lights

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Outdoor string lights with oversized Edison bulbs used to be the way to go for backyard ambiance. But now these lights feel a little overplayed and commercial. Smaller, less harsh lighting solutions, like low profile LED or fairy lights, can fill up a space with a gentle, warm light without being overstated or overly trendy.

Artificial Turf

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Artificial grass had its day, promising a year round green lawn with minimal maintenance. But it can be unnatural and uninviting underfoot, and is not as eco friendly as many homeowners now prefer. A more sustainable, and attractive, alternative is a natural, low water landscaping design like gravel gardens or drought tolerant ground covers.

Mismatched Rustic Décor

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The ‘rustic’ trend caused a wave of mismatched wood pieces, from barrels, to driftwood decor and wooden crates. Although charming in a farmhouse setting, these pieces can quickly become scattered and mismatched in an outdoor space, and detract from a cohesive look. Choose clean, coordinated wooden pieces or even metal accents for a refined wooded, natural look.

Lava Rock Landscaping

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In the past, lava rock was a common ground cover in landscaping, but its dark color and chunky texture don’t go well with the soft, earthy look that most people desire in their outdoor areas. It can cause a garden to feel over manicured to the point of being heavy. Neutral shades of light gravel, mulch, or even lighter stones are more versatile and help gardens to look relaxed and updated.

Bright, Bold Color Palettes

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Neon cushions or flashy flower pots were all the rage in outdoor design, once upon a time. But using bold color choices can quickly date an outdoor space. Today, plants and natural surroundings blend together perfectly with more muted tones, earthy neutrals and shades inspired by nature.

Elaborate Water Features

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Over the top designs like fountains with angel statues or cascading waterfalls can seem dated and even excessive, but water features add a sense of calm to an outdoor space. But small, subtle, water elements — water bubbling from an urn, a shallow, reflective pool — creates the same feeling without swallowing the space. They also need much less energy and maintenance.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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