Smarter Lawns, Bolder Home Exteriors

How Houston Homeowners Are Refreshing Their Outdoor Spaces This Summer

From comfortable backyard retreats to low-maintenance landscaping, Houston homeowners are rethinking outdoor living with comfort, function, and style in mind.

A new Houzz home design trends study offers a glimpse into how homeowners across the country are updating their outdoor spaces this year—and the findings reveal a clear priority: creating inviting areas where people can relax, entertain, and spend more time outdoors.

The 2026 Outdoor Trends Study surveyed nearly 1,200 U.S. homeowners about recent and upcoming outdoor and home exterior projects. Rather than focusing primarily on curb appeal or increasing resale value, homeowners are increasingly designing outdoor areas around their current lifestyles.

For many, that means transforming the backyard into an extension of the home—a place for casual gatherings, comfortable lounging, outdoor meals, and quiet moments.

🏡 Backyards Become Outdoor Living Rooms

Improving appearance remains the leading goal for outdoor renovations, cited by 53 percent of homeowners. However, creating better entertaining spaces comes in close behind at 34 percent, while 32 percent are focused on extending their home's living space outdoors.

In other words, today's homeowners aren't simply making their yards look better—they're making them more livable.

Many outdoor projects are also being driven by practical needs, including repairing aging features and making improvements that homeowners now have the resources to complete.

🔥 Outdoor Kitchens Take Center Stage

Outdoor kitchens continue to be a popular way to make backyards more functional for entertaining. Homeowners are adding decks, shade structures, upgraded porches and verandas, outdoor dining areas, and dedicated cooking spaces designed for gatherings and summer meals.

According to Houzz, 95 percent of homeowners renovating an outdoor kitchen are building a new kitchen rather than remodeling an existing one. For homeowners who already have outdoor kitchens, infrastructure improvements are becoming an important priority.

Plumbing, electrical, and heating upgrades have increased significantly, with 68 percent of renovating homeowners choosing these improvements—up 10 percentage points from 2024. Appliance installations have also risen, reaching 61 percent, a 6-point increase over the same period.

The message is clear: Outdoor kitchens are becoming more sophisticated and increasingly resemble the functionality of their indoor counterparts.

🛋️ Comfort Is the New Outdoor Luxury

Houston homeowners are also extending their living spaces by bringing the comforts of the indoors outside.

Sofas, lounge chairs, coffee tables, fireplaces, and fire pits are helping create inviting outdoor rooms, while upgraded lighting and entertainment features make these spaces useful well into the evening.

For homeowners seeking a quieter escape, dedicated reading areas are gaining attention. More than half of survey respondents said they are creating spaces specifically designed for reading and relaxation, pairing comfortable furnishings with a more peaceful atmosphere.

The backyard is no longer simply an outdoor area—it is becoming a personal retreat.

💦 Water Features Lose Some Momentum

One unexpected finding is the declining interest in water-focused outdoor projects.

Swimming pool projects have fallen by 3 percentage points to 7 percent, while hot tub projects have declined by 1 percentage point to 9 percent. Outdoor shower projects have also dropped by 1 percentage point to 3 percent compared with 2024.

The shift may reflect homeowners' growing awareness of the cost, maintenance, and long-term commitment associated with pools and other water features.

Instead, many are investing in outdoor improvements that provide comfort and usability without the same level of upkeep.

🌱 Low-Maintenance Landscaping Takes Root

For Houston homeowners, landscaping choices need to stand up to the realities of Texas weather. Drought-tolerant plants are becoming an increasingly important part of outdoor renovations, with homeowners showing greater interest in resilient native plants, shrubs, and trees.

Flower beds and landscape borders rank among the other popular improvements, followed by upgrades to garden paths and stairs, as well as the addition of planters and planter boxes.

The emphasis is increasingly on landscaping that looks beautiful while requiring less water and maintenance.

🌿 Is the Traditional Lawn Losing Ground?

Another notable trend is the changing role of grass.

Houzz found that homeowners are increasingly considering durable, low-maintenance alternatives such as synthetic turf and hardscaping. More than one-third of homeowners are reducing the amount of lawn on their properties, with 18 percent cutting back grassy areas and 17 percent removing them altogether.

However, the trend isn't moving in only one direction. The percentage of homeowners reducing their lawn has declined by 5 percentage points, while 23 percent of renovating homeowners are actually expanding their grassy areas.

For Houston homeowners, the ideal yard may ultimately come down to finding the right balance between greenery, functionality, maintenance, and personal lifestyle.

🎨 Beige Is Having a Moment

Outdoor transformations aren't limited to landscaping. Home exteriors are getting a fresh look, too.

Stark white exterior paint is losing some of its appeal as beige becomes increasingly popular among homeowners undertaking major exterior renovations. Other shades gaining attention include green, black, brown, and blue.

Beige exteriors are often being paired with contrasting black or white accents, creating definition around trim, beams, columns, and other architectural details.

The result is a more layered and sophisticated exterior that feels both timeless and contemporary.

🏠 Roofing and Windows Remain Major Priorities

Behind the cosmetic changes, homeowners are also investing heavily in essential exterior improvements.

Houzz reports that 51 percent of exterior renovation projects include some type of roofing work. Full roof replacements are the most common, followed by installing new roofing materials and repairing or patching existing areas.

Windows and skylights are also receiving significant attention. More than half of renovating homeowners—56 percent—are opting for complete replacements rather than partial repairs or temporary solutions. Meanwhile, 37 percent are adding new windows or skylights to their homes.

A New Era of Outdoor Living

The latest trends suggest that Houston homeowners are moving beyond simply creating attractive yards. They're designing outdoor spaces that support the way they actually live. From shaded seating areas and fully equipped outdoor kitchens to drought-tolerant landscaping and comfortable reading retreats, the focus is on creating spaces that offer beauty without sacrificing practicality. This summer, the ultimate backyard may not be the one with the most features—it may simply be the one that makes you want to stay outside a little longer.