Ready to tap into the vast amount of potential your outdoor space has? So are we. Take a look at these 10 up-and-coming outdoor living trends for 2022. Some of these are outdoor living and furniture trends 2021 offered that we know and love; others are newcomers that we predict will gain momentum in 2022.

1. Sustainability is Here to Stay

We’re more informed than ever before. We not only want to create stylish outdoor spaces but also sustainable ones. You can expect recycled plastic outdoor furniture, eco-friendly decor, and natural materials for building projects like reclaimed wood and bamboo to remain popular and widely available on the market as more brands embrace sustainable practices.

Bring enduring style to your home by selecting furniture designs made from ocean-bound and landfill-bound plastic materials for your outdoor living area. A quick online search will help you find businesses that sell upcycled and eco-friendly décor as well as sustainable building materials.

2. Calm, Cool Colors

All of the major paint companies have named their 2022 paint colors of the year, and the consensus is that soft, earthy shades of green will be the go-to colors, followed by relaxing blues and chill neutrals. 

These colorways point to tranquility and renewal being significant themes for 2022, so if you want to try this trend, choose patio furniture in calm colors that’s easy on the eyes as well as the mind, and look for coordinating décor offering clean, fresh hues.

3. Outdoor Climate Control

Bad weather isn’t keeping us inside anymore. Treat your home to this up-and-coming trend in 2022, and you’ll be relaxing on your patio all year long.

When it’s cold, hang overhead heating lamps in your outdoor dining area, or style a fire pit table on your deck with coordinating lounge chairs. In the summer months, install ceiling fans on your covered porch. If you want to get fancy, look into energy-efficient outdoor evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers.

4. Bohemian Haven

Bohemian style is back! This fun, eclectic style is a fantastic way to find joy in your surroundings and express yourself.

Bring luxe-boho vibes to your outdoor space by mixing and matching, layering, and exploring the colors, textures, and motifs of the world around you. Experiment with patterned outdoor rugs and pillows, display unique items you’ve collected on your travels, invest in plants of varying heights and colors, and choose comfortable weatherproof outdoor furniture you can relax on wherever the mood strikes.

5. A Plethora of Plants

Plants of all kinds fill homes across the country. These living decorations are the perfect at-home hobby because they keep us busy, but not so much that they cause unnecessary stress.

Perennials are great ideas because you only need to plant them once, and they come back year after year. Think hostas and lady’s mantle lining the pathway to your outdoor garden — both boast the soft greens that are the 2022 color picks mentioned above. Durable side and coffee tables are excellent outdoor furniture ideas for places to display potted succulents. You can also tie in the bohemian trend and hang macramé planters filled with colorful fuchsia around your patio.

6. Straight Up Vertical Gardening

Vertical gardens are outdoor living ideas growing (pun intended) in popularity. Gardens that grow up and not out save space, and they add to the aesthetic of any outdoor living area. 

Let cucumber vines twine up a trellis or hang colorful wall planters filled with fresh basil and flat-leaf parsley for edible vertical gardens. If you want a vertical garden featuring foliage (for that popular green theme), try suspended pots of succulents and ferns, or let potted philodendron climb up your balcony railing.

7. Outdoor Living Rooms

We want to relax in the fresh air while still having creature comforts within reach, so outdoor living rooms are coming to life in our backyards. Outdoor living rooms are welcoming, easy to move through, and have strategically-placed modern conveniences — just like the living rooms inside our homes.

To create an outdoor living room:

1. Think about how you want the space to work for you and start designing from there. 
2. Choose a shaded area like a covered patio and style it with a weatherproof outdoor furniture set. 
3. Mount an outdoor TV on the wall and outdoor fans on the ceiling, select a few hanging or potted plants for natural ambiance and pick out coordinating blankets and pillows for added comfort and color.

8. Outdoor Kitchens

There’s nothing better than alfresco dining, and it looks like 2022 will be seeing a surge in outdoor kitchens. 

To build the ideal outdoor kitchen: 

1. Make a layout that handles the local climate. Connect a pergola or similar covering to your house (for convenience and added weather protection), then bring in tall bushes for wind barriers, wall-mounted heaters, and ceiling fans to circulate air. 
2. Fill your outdoor kitchen with all the appliances you want, such as a mini fridge, charcoal grill, or portable outdoor pizza oven. 

Add comfortable recycled plastic outdoor furniture your family can relax on, such as a dining table and coordinating chairs.

9. Privacy, Please

As our time outside increases, so does our desire for privacy. Whatever your reasons are for creating an intimate outdoor area, we support your decision to keep your space cozy.

Use outdoor fences and privacy screens as enclosures, or look to nature for help by adding tall bushes and vertical gardens around the edges of your property. 

10. Work From Home Spaces

The working from home trend is expected to continue into 2022 as we adjust to our new normal. Those of us who work remotely are transforming our patios, balconies, and terraces into outdoor offices. 

To make an outdoor workspace, you’ll need access to a strong wifi connection and a quiet spot. Fill this space with comfortable weatherproof outdoor furniture and an outdoor umbrella for shade. Go for accessories that help you stay relaxed and focused, such as subtle water features or wireless weather-resistant speakers that play soft music while you work.