ASLA Survey IDs Top Outdoor Living Trends for 2013

Across all six outdoor living categories, 97 percent of respondents rated fire pits and fireplaces as "somewhat or very in-demand" for 2013, followed by grills (96.3 percent), seating and dining areas (96.3 percent), and lighting (95.1 percent).

The ASLA asked landscape architects who specialize in residential design to rate what outdoor residential elements in six categories they anticipate will be "somewhat or very popular" this year in the residential design realm. The survey was fielded January 28 through February 12, with 166 LAs responding.

The top elements in each category:

Outdoor Design Elements
Outdoor living spaces (kitchens, entertainment areas): 94.5%
Gardens/landscaped spaces: 94.4%

Outdoor Living Features
Fire pits/fireplaces: 97%
Grills: 96.3%
Seating/dining areas: 96.3%
Lighting: 95.1%
Installed seating (benches, seat walls, ledges, steps, boulders): 90.3%

Outdoor Recreation Amenities
Decorative water elements, e.g., ornamental pools, splash pools, waterfalls, grottos, water runnels or bubblers: 90.9%
Spa features (hot tubs, Jacuzzis, whirlpools, indoor/outdoor saunas): 81.5%

Landscape/Garden Elements
Low-maintenance landscapes: 93.9%
Native plants: 86.6%

Sustainable Design Elements
Native/adapted drought-tolerant plants: 83%
Drip/water-efficient irrigation: 82.5%

Outdoor Structures
Terraces/patios/decks: 97.6%
Fencing (includes gates): 89.6%
For the complete breakdown within each of these six categories, visit www.asla.org/NewsReleaseDetails.aspx?id=38451.