Top 5 Most Popular Landscape Design Elements from 2020 

I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see how 2021 continues to unfold!  Who would have thought that the year 2020 would have ever provided us with the “new norm”?  With so much uncertainty in the world, landscape design professionals across the board are seeing a trend of homeowners getting back to the basics. That trend was definitely seen in our list of the top five most popular landscape design elements from 2020!

As landscape design professionals, we found ourselves addressing this “back-to-basics” trend with multiple projects throughout the last year. With our industry focus on nature, we look at landscaping as an extension of the home or commercial building – creating “open-air rooms” with natural and flowing areas as a part of every design. 

This year has provided home and business owners with a desire to incorporate natural spaces that encourage relaxation, comfort and inspiration around their properties. While many of the items on our list are not new in the industry, you may not have considered some of these top 2020 trends until spending the majority of 2020 at home.

If you have any questions or need help with the design elements below contact our landscaping experts in Wichita, Kansas City, St. Louis, Tulsa, or Springfield, MO.

1. Installing a French  Drain System 

In the middle of your Zoom Meeting, you hear your sump pump continuously running and it has not rained for days. You go outside and notice grass suddenly does not seem to grow on one side of your house, and it is very muddy. If this is the case, it may be time for you to consider a French drain system. These drainage systems are designed to relocate the water being shed from your roof and channel the majority of the water underground to areas where it will be used more efficiently on your property. 

2. Creating Outdoor Living Spaces  

Ahh, vacations!  Remember the feeling you get when you are in a beautiful place that allows you to unwind, relax and enjoy your family and friends?  Now you can enjoy that same feeling from the comfort of your own backyard oasis!  Hardscaping elements like outdoor kitchens, fire and water features, hot tubs and pools, beautiful and low-maintenance plantings, efficient and well-placed urban gardens — we built “private resorts” large and small for customers who were ready to escape at a moment’s notice without leaving home!  

3. Improving Curb Appeal

When was the last time you noticed your home before you pulled into the garage?  In the current real estate market, have you ever wondered just how much you could get for your home? With walks around the neighborhood being a prime form of entertainment in 2020, we helped many clients give their neighbors and potential buyers a great first impression that set the tone for the rest of their home. Homeowners were looking to create a welcoming feeling even before opening their front door. Customers favored low-maintenance landscape design elements with native and hybrid plants, butterfly gardens, living and structural privacy screens, artfully placed boulders, and water features from the many possible ideas we offered.

4. Adding Outdoor Lighting

Have you ever come home at night and realized you forgot to leave your house lights on? Are you interested in the additional security and safety that outdoor lighting offers? Whether for beauty, practicality, or safety and security, customers who didn’t have outdoor lighting already chose to install various lighting elements on their property. We helped clients navigate the plethora of outdoor lighting solutions on the market and many chose a type of low-voltage, ambient outdoor lighting. Clients loved working with our brands that offered long-term warranties as well as plenty of options from fixture colors and materials to zone dimming and color options. And many added maintenance packages to help keep their lighting operating at its best. Lighting that synced with smart apps were super popular as well. 

5. Installing Smart Irrigation

Speaking of smart technology, irrigation systems allowed customers to transform their watering strategy for energy savings and water efficiency. Customers are over the days when their irrigation system would run while it was raining or freezing outside! They took a serious look at today’s low-maintenance irrigation systems that allow a smart controller to do their watering for them. Smart irrigation controllers are user friendly and can easily be adjusted from a smartphone. They work in conjunction with local weather stations and monitor the weather so you can concentrate on more important things.

I expect to see these same trends for 2021; however, we are already seeing a couple of new trends starting to form for this year — pools and detached at-home offices! 

Contact Your Ryan Lawn Landscape Design Professional Today!

If you are looking for a team of experts to support you, Ryan Lawn & Tree is here to partner with you. Ryan offers a multitude of services for your convenience, such as Design, Plant Health, Turf Care, Tree Service, Irrigation, Landscape Beds, Drainage, Hardscape, Water Features, Landscape Lighting, & Pest Control. Contact us for a quote to get started on your project! We look forward to working with you and your unique outdoor spaces.