The 4 Most Important Outdoor Living Trends in Austin, TX

You didn’t buy a house in Austin to stay inside. Getting outdoors is in the DNA of every Austinite. And you deserve outdoor living solutions that address real local issues — not surface-level topics.

We’re Allied Outdoor Solutions, and we deliver custom, hand-crafted outdoor living spaces to Austin residents. We asked our research team to look at the last 5 years of our ATX design-build projects. 

Then, we had them identify the trends and challenges that matter the most to real Austinites. The 4 answers we discovered are the backbone of this article.

Want an elevated outdoor living space in ATX? Trust our dedicated Austin design-build team for thoughtful, personalized solutions that fit your space, your needs and your personality.

Getting Outdoors is Fundamental to Living in Austin

Mother Nature built this city to be best enjoyed outdoors. Austin sees 300 days of sunshine every year, and it feels like summer lasts forever — we average 71°F in November.

Local government is fully invested in the outdoor lifestyle. By 2050, Austin’s tree canopy will cover 50% or more of the city. By that time, roughly 1/5th of ATX will be dedicated green space.

Homeowners like you want a front yard and backyard space that reflect Austin’s vibrant outdoor personality. You can’t hike McKinney Falls or visit Deep Eddy Pool every day — so why not develop an outdoor lifestyle on your own property?

Austin Outdoor Living Spaces Must Be Custom Built

North Austin bungalows. Queen Annes and Craftsman homes in Central ATX. Limestone and treated lumber in Hill Country. These homes (and their homeowners) couldn’t be more different — this level of diversity and eclectic design is what makes Austin weird and wonderful.

That’s why “one size fits all” Austin outdoor living spaces don’t work. We create patios, pergolas, pool decks and covered porches that reflect your property and your personality. 

Each project is managed by a dedicated team that includes a Construction Coordinator and a Construction Supervisor, ensuring clear communication, efficient scheduling, and consistent quality control throughout the entire process.

You’re guaranteed a thoughtfully crafted space that amplifies the way you love to live outside.

The 4 Outdoor Living Trends That Matter Most to ATX

Our research team used 5 years’ of service data to determine the 4 outdoor living trends that matter most in Austin, Texas:

1. Outdoor spaces designed for year-round use.
2. Thoughtful zoning to define outdoor entertainment areas.
3. Ways to mitigate Hill Country soil erosion.
4. Pest control solutions for indoor/outdoor living spaces.

We really like this list — it indicates that ATX homeowners are making thoughtful, long-lasting decisions about their outdoor spaces. Sure, they want style. But they’re equally concerned with function, durability and sustainable design.

Austin Outdoor Living Spaces Must Provide Year-Round Use

Almost 85% of Austin’s days are sunny ones. It’s no wonder that local homeowners want outdoor spaces they can use throughout the year.

Year-round functionality is #1 on Austinites’ wish list for their outdoor living spaces. You want to use your outdoor kitchen in November, host backyard game night in February, and an excuse to get in the pool as early as possible.

Best Solutions for Year-Round Outdoor Spaces

Shade structures throughout outdoor spaces in Austin provide more than protection against the sun — they help battle moisture, hail and unplanned storms. Heat and moisture resistant flooring and decking materials provide a great second line of support.

Covered Patio

Patio covers extend the lifespan of your outdoor living area, providing 24/7 protection from heat, rain, UV radiation and hail damage. Solid patio roofs are best for Austin — consider attached structures, or a gabled patio cover for classic ranch and bungalow homes.

Patio covers also do a great job paying themselves off over time. The average covered patio adds 8-10% to your property value.

Pergola With Roof Structure

Louvered pergola covers offer a ton of style and control to ATX homeowners. Let the sunshine in on clear days, and close the slats to prevent storm damage.

If you install a louvered pergola roof, consider a smart ceiling fan to improve ventilation and airflow.

Heat and Moisture Resistant Materials

Modified concrete and porcelain tile are excellent patio flooring and pool decking materials that stay cool underfoot and resist damage from prolonged moisture exposure.

Refinishing or resurfacing your pool? Use blue quartz plaster, glass tile and porcelain tile to provide ideal protection from the elements.

Clearly Defined Outdoor Zones Are Important to Austinites

You don’t want the kids playing near the custom fire pit, or pool water splashing onto your new stainless steel grill.

Today’s best outdoor living designers help define your outdoor living spaces with zoning. Use a combination of furniture, lighting, landscaping and hardscaping to separate areas for different uses.

Smart zoning doesn’t just define areas for play, relaxation, dining and entertainment. It maximizes your outdoor spaces and optimizes them for functionality.

Best Solutions for Patio Zoning

Hardscaping, fire features and versatile furniture are simple, visually appealing solutions to create a well-zoned outdoor living space.

Create Hardscaping Dividers

Use hardscaping to divide outdoor spaces along clean, distinct lines. Walkways and pathway stones create a natural flow from zone to zone.

A uniquely-colored strip of hardscaping creates visual distinction between outdoor areas. 

Fire Features as Gathering Areas

Fire features naturally attract guests to gather, chat and relax. Outdoor fireplaces and custom fire pits create warm, inviting spaces — and opportunities to zone your patio or pool space.

Consider a tabletop custom fire feature for a visually striking lounge space.

Modular Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor furniture with individual components and modules adapt to fit changing seating arrangements and guest-based needs.

Managing Shifting Soil is a Big Hill Country Challenge

We were surprised to see Austin residents list soil management as an outdoor design trend. The fight against shifting clay soil has raged on since the city was founded in 1839. 

Our homes and outdoor spaces are built on expansive clay-rich soil. This soil composition retains moisture easily, and cracks quickly when it dries out. 

Smart Austin outdoor living design requires informed strategies to stabilize and mitigate the damage caused by our shifting soil.

Best Solutions for Stabilizing Soil

Clay soil stability starts with expert foundation strategies under your outdoor living spaces. A smart combination of retaining walls and terraces provides added support against erosion.

Stabilizing Outdoor Construction Materials

Choose outdoor materials that provide extra stability and support in clay-rich yards. Add rebar to concrete foundations to reinforce their strength.

Modified concrete overlay like Carvestone is a smart choice for patio flooring and pool decking. They’re formulated with limestone and crushed quartz aggregate to withstand soil movement and up to 6,000 PSI of pressure.

Compact Foundation Sub-base

Establish a strong sub-base — a layer of material that's placed between the existing soil (the subgrade) and the your patio surface layer (pavers, concrete, etc.).

The focus of a quality sub-base is strong soil compaction. Your contractor should bring tools like a plate compactor to compress the subgrade soil after excavation is complete.

Terraces and Retaining Walls

Make sure the ground under your outdoor spaces is level and properly graded. Utilize retaining walls and terraces to level your yard — this creates a flat, even surface to create sturdy foundations for your patio, pool deck or pergola.

These features don’t just keep your property level. They even out sloped yards to retain soil against natural downhill erosion.

Pests Crash Way Too Many Austin Backyard Parties

It’s easy to say all creatures are beautiful, until scorpions break up your barbecue or spider mites invade your outdoor sofa.

Pests are just built differently in Austin. Other people complain about mosquitos, wasps or fire ants — we have all three. (We can’t imagine how they’d deal with scorpions and flying roaches.)

You’re investing in a fun, functional and elevated outdoor living space for your family and friends. You need to make sure the bugs aren’t invited.

Best Solutions for Austin Patio Pests

Anyone can tell you about sealing cracks or spraying essential oils. Here are some smart outdoor design solutions to reduce pests on your ATX patio, pergola and pool deck:

Improved Outdoor Lighting

Scorpions are nocturnal animals. Bright LED lights keep them off your porch and patio and away from your doors and windows. 

Integrate smart lighting in your covered patio ceiling, along walkways and under awnings. If you don’t want bright lights on all evening, yellow lights are also known to deter pests.

Smart Surface Drainage

Keep standing water off your patio and pool deck, and you’ll keep mosquitos and other insects from gathering. Keep insects away, and the scorpions who feed on them won’t show up either.

Drain channels and perforated drain pipes allow drainage away from your patio flooring during heavy storms. Point your downspouts away from your hardscaping.

Patio Fans

Install ceiling fans on your covered patio or underneath your pergola roof. You won’t just improve airflow in the space, you’ll literally blow the bugs away.

You Deserve A Truly Elevated Austin Outdoor Living Space

You’re not like anyone else in Austin — and neither is your outdoor space. While you deserve custom, thoughtful design solutions for your patio, pergola or pool deck, there are unifying outdoor living needs for every ATX home.

Hire Allied Outdoor Solutions to create year-round usable outdoor spaces with clearly defined zones and high functionality. Work with your team to manage shifting clay soil, prevent erosion, and keep ATX’s nasty pests and scorpions off your patio and out of your pool.

We’ve delivered hand-crafted solutions to thousands of Austinites. Now, it’s your turn. Talk to us about innovative, custom outdoor living designs that reflect your home and your lifestyle.