Canadian homebuyers and homeowners today envisage their outdoor spaces – however big or small they might be – as extensions of their home’s interiors.
Be they backyards, decks, smaller side areas or elaborate water frontages, these spaces are seen as a retreat, an oasis, a refuge and comfort zone.
The COVID-19 pandemic, with its restrictions and inside-the-home cocooning, acted as an emotional accelerant that created a strong desire for people to enjoy the freedom of being outside.
One result is the rapid evolution of the traditional backyard tool shed outbuildings to purpose-designed structures serving as home offices, artist’s studios, writing and hobby retreats, mini-gyms and outdoor poolside refreshment bars.
Adapting “bunkies” to various purposes can be relatively cost-effective compared with renovating inside the home. Indoor amenities are morphing into outside possibilities.
Backyard kitchens and outdoor living rooms are part of this transformation. According to a report by KVB Research, the outdoor kitchen market is expected to grow in North America by 7.3 per cent compound annual growth rate in the 2022 to 2028 period, and in Canada by 9.5 per cent in the same period.
It’s a burgeoning market for kitchen cooking-related appliances, cabinetry and living room furniture and accessories made with weather and insect-resistant materials and construction techniques.
Another development is backyard “dining rooms” featuring moisture and insect-resistant furniture and accessories.
Traditional decks and patios are evolving into significant structural platforms to host these new applications at grade or above-grade levels.
In backyard landscape design, having a water feature as a focal point is trending up. A pond, waterfall, fountain or other decorative water feature can enhance the backyard’s retreat atmosphere. These can be designed to be natural-looking, environmentally friendly and requiring minimum maintenance.
Looking at the overall market, the trend toward homeowners wanting backyards to have similar comforts to the home’s interior is on an upward trajectory.
Canadian homeowners are making significant financial investments in backyard improvements. And buyers value backyard amenities and are willing to pay for them.
Let’s take a look at a selection of these features, products and finishes that can help you cater to your clients’ evolving demands.
Time spent by homeowners with a backyard on various activities
58% gardening, yard work
53% lounging or relaxing
52% cooking and dining
32% entertaining
13% studying or working
Source: Outdoor Power Equipment Institute of Canada
Outdoor kitchen equipment
Outdoor Kitchen Supplies features a wide variety of outdoor kitchen equipment, including pizza ovens, gas grills, charcoal grills, accessories and parts.
outdoorkitchensupplies.ca
Column styles
Multiple styles are available for all columns from Superior Aluminum. Each can be customized to any desired diameter, length and finish – no matter if you call them columns, pillars, posts or poles.
superioraluminum.com
Outdoor kitchens
A contemporary outdoor kitchen concept/design by Outeriors includes cooking appliances/cabinetry, outdoor furniture and accessories, seating area and a fire pit.
outeriors.com
Backyard or poolside structures
For those looking to add complementary structures to pool or yard spaces, the appropriately named Backyard Escape Studios has it all – everything from pool houses, fitness studios, recreation studios, recording spaces, bunkies and more.
backyardescapestudios.ca
Multi-purpose outbuildings
Bunkies are often a great solution to outdoors space needs, whether for cottage or home, and provide 99 to 220 sq. ft. of extra living space. This Hideaway bunkie, for example, is available in 159 or 199 sq. ft. models.
bunkielife.com
Deck lighting
Trex Outdoor Deck Lighting offers a variety of energy-efficient and easy-to-install LED lighting options for outdoor decks. These include post cap lights, deck rail lights, and stair riser lights.
trexrainescape.com
The investment potential of backyards
Homebuyers recognize that backyards with contemporary amenities come at a price. And they know that investing in the backyard will pay off when they want to sell.
