5 Hardscaping Trends

Explore 5 beautiful ways to upgrade and enjoy your property.

EP Henry Outdoor Room 2.jpg

Get Out of the House and Into the Yard

Enjoy the outdoors in a protected living room space regardless of the weather.

Photo by: Image courtesy of EP Henry

Image courtesy of EP Henry

Enjoy the outdoors in a protected living room space regardless of the weather.

The real estate market is slowly coming back from a long slump, and companies that specialize in landscaping and hardscaping are starting to see a rise in home improvement projects. Part of this is due to low refinancing rates and the desire of homeowners to upgrade their property so they can get more enjoyment out of it. 

Joe Fields, Director of Contractor Services for EP Henry, a family-owned hardscaping company in Woodbury, New Jersey, reveals some trends in hardscape design.

Outdoor Living Rooms

Open patios or decks where homeowners can enjoy cookouts and casual entertaining have been popular for years. But the trend today is to create a covered outdoor room that you can enjoy all year. This could include everything from an entertainment center with a built-in LED widescreen TV to a recreational room (pool table, ping pong) with a full bar or beer taps.

Mark Biechler, lead designer with Pearson Landscape Services in Austin, Texas, says for some of his clients he is “literally building a small house in the backyard. They want dishwashers and ice makers and outdoor bathrooms that are tied directly into the sewer lines. They have pitched roofs and 30-year shingles. It’s bigger than what they have inside.” These structures also provide an outdoor/indoor area and safe environment where children can hang out with their friends.

Multifunctional Kits

Additions to the home that offer dual usage are on the rise. One example is EP Henry’s Solitaire Kit, which allows customers to convert outdoor fire pits into aquatic gardens or fish ponds during the summer months and then change them back for use as heating and ambiance in the fall and early spring.

Outdoor Kitchens

Gas grills have been the standard for cookouts for years, but why settle for that when you can have a full outdoor kitchen complete with a gas grill, fire pit, or fireplace for entertaining year round? 

Natural-Looking Stone Products

Concrete blocks are a good, dependable building material, but they don’t offer much in the way of aesthetic appeal. This is why many homeowners are gravitating toward using manufactured stone products that have the appearance, color and texture of natural stone. Cast Veneer Stone is a popular favorite for outdoor kitchens, grills and fireplaces. Bristol Stone is ideal for patios and pool surfaces because it does not heat up like natural stone and retains a soft texture that is comfortable for bare feet. Devonstone has the look of bluestone, slate and limestone; it makes attractive flagging, stairs and walkways. 

Of course, some homeowners prefer the real thing and Biechler states that in the Austin area there is so much limestone available that “we just pull it out of the ground here versus manufacturing something.”

Sustainable Products

Water conservation is a major concern across the country today and there are a number of eco-friendly products that help manage this. One of the most effective is Eco Pavers, which help the environment by allowing rainwater to recharge the ground and reduce the amount of storm water runoff into driveways and streets. 

Biechler says rain collection systems are becoming more popular in the southwest. Some homeowners are channeling their stormwater runoff from hardscape surfaces or roof gutters into underground collection tanks, which are tied into bigger irrigation systems. 

In addition to the hardscaping concepts listed above, there are many other options that can bring additional value and enjoyment to the homeowner. Among these are sculpture gardens, coventry borders, seatwalls, new swimming pool decks, and resurfaced driveways. 

Next Up

How to Build a Concrete Block Retaining Wall

Whether you’re wanting to build a retaining wall to prevent erosion, break up a large slope or just enhance your landscape, learn how to plan for and build a concrete wall with cinderblocks or landscape blocks.

How to Build a Timber Retaining and Sitting Wall

Retaining walls are a great way to bring definition to your property and turn unusable space into useful space in the landscape. Find out how to build a retaining wall with this step-by-step.

How to Remove Snow From a Driveway Without a Shovel

Speed up the melting of snow and ice on your driveway with these tips.

How to Pressure Wash Your Driveway

Erase years of wear and tear from your driveway in just a few simple steps with a pressure washer.

How to Build a Privacy Wall With Fence Panels

Instead of putting up an entire fence, build a unique barrier with freestanding wood panels that will add curb appeal and style.

5 Types of Neighbors and How to Handle Them

You may love your house, but getting stuck with bad neighbors may have you thinking about putting up a for-sale sign. Here are some tips on dealing with rude, sloppy or nosy neighbors, and even those mean ones with spite houses.

How to Add Curb Appeal With Colorful Walkway Plantings

Plant an inviting entry to make your house the envy of the whole neighborhood. A mixture of evergreens and annuals will mean an easy-to-maintain walkway that looks great year-round.

Hardscape Design Ideas

Get ready to create the outdoor space of your dreams with these handy hardscape design ideas.

Perfecting Your Path

Check out these helpful tips to incorporating the perfect path into your landscape.

How to Design a Perfect Path

A good path not only tells you where to walk, it sets the mood for your landscape.

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.

On TV

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.