Sustainability, space for outdoor fitness activities and the ability to charge mobile devices are key residential landscape trends, according to the 2018 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

Architects were asked to rate the expected popularity of a variety of residential outdoor design elements in 2018. The survey was fielded Feb. 22 through March 8, 2018, with 808 respondents.

ASLA revised the survey this year to include new types of outdoor amenities that appeal to both single-family and multifamily owners and residents. The results are virtually unchanged from the 2017 survey, except for the additions of flexible-use space and charging stations.

Here are the top 10 project types, with the expected highest consumer demand:

• Native plants (83.3 percent);
• Native/adapted drought-tolerant plants (83.0 percent);
• Low-maintenance landscapes (80.0 percent);
• Flexible-use space (for yoga classes, movie night, etc.) (74.2 percent);
• Drip/water-efficient irrigation (72.4 percent);
• Permeable paving (74.0 percent);
• Rain gardens (71.2 percent);
• Reduced lawn area (70.8 percent);
• Food/vegetable gardens (including orchards, vineyards, etc.) (70.5 percent ); and
• Charging stations (mobile devices) (70.0 percent).

The survey also took a look at the expected popularity of various products and features in six categories, including outdoor design elements, outdoor recreation amenities (single-family and multifamily residences), multifamily outdoor amenities, landscape/garden elements, outdoor structures and sustainable elements.

View the rest of the survey results ranked in expected order of popularity for 2018 below.

Outdoor Design Elements

• Fire pits/fireplaces (66.0 percent);
• Lighting (65.4 percent);
• Seating/dining areas (64.0 percent);
• Outdoor furniture (59.1 percent);
• Outdoor kitchens (58.8 percent);
• Decking (i.e., rooftop decking, etc.) (53.6 percent);
• Grills (50.0 percent);
• Movie/TV/video theaters, wireless/internet, stereo systems (48.0 percent);
• Outdoor heaters (40.5 percent);
• Stereo systems (36.9 percent);
• Pools and spa features (hot tubs, Jacuzzis, whirlpools, indoor/outdoor saunas) (36.9 percent);
• Utility storage (32.3 percent);
• Hammocks (29.2 percent);
• Outdoor cooling systems (including fans) (28.5 percent); and
• Showers/baths (22.9 percent).

Outdoor Recreation Amenities (Single-Family and Multifamily Residences)

• Dog-related recreation area (68.0 percent);
• Designated area for other outdoor recreation (61.5 percent);
• Bocce courts (42.5 percent);
• Swimming pools (36.8 percent);
• Pickleball courts (30.0 percent);
• Hot tubs/whirlpools/Jacuzzis (29.3 percent);
• Outdoor gym (28.6);
• Lap pools (27.2 percent);
• Basketball courts (16.6 percent);
• Paddle tennis courts (14.2 percent);
• Lawn croquet (13.9 percent);
• Saunas (11.8 percent); and
• Tennis courts (9.1 percent).

Multifamily Outdoor Amenities

• Flexible-use space (for yoga classes, movie night, etc.) (74.2 percent);
• Charging stations (mobile devices) (70.0 percent);
• Bike storage (69.9 percent);
• Play area for children (57.7 percent);
• Water feature (aesthetic feature, not pool) (46.5 percent);
• Bike repair station (45.9 percent);
• Transit screen (updates on public transit) (39.1 percent);
• Pet spa (32.1 percent); and
• Plunge pool (18.6 percent).

Landscape/Garden Elements

• Native plants (83.3 percent);
• Low-maintenance landscapes (80.0 percent);
• Rain gardens (71.2 percent);
• Food/vegetable gardens (including orchards, vineyards, etc.) (70.6 percent);
• Water-saving xeriscape or dry gardens (65.9);
• Organic gardens (59.6 percent);
• Rooftop gardens (53.4 percent);
• Plant walls/vertical gardens (53.0 percent);
• Planters, sculptures, garden accessories (48.4 percent);
• Decorative water elements (ornamental pools, fountains, splash pools, waterfalls, grottos,
water runnels or bubblers) (42.6 percent);
• Ponds/streams (28.6 percent); and
• Formal gardens (15.2 percent).

Outdoor Structures

• Enhanced railing systems (cable, glass, etc.) (51.0 percent);
• Pergolas (48.3 percent);
• Decks (42.8 percent);
• Fencing (41.5 percent);
• ADA-accessible structures (ramps, bars, shelving, etc.) (39.9 percent);
• Arbors (37.4 percent);
• Play structures (tree houses, swing sets, etc.) (34.1 percent);
• Porches (32.6 percent);
• Pavilions (32.6 percent);
• Utility sheds (tool sheds, garden sheds) (30.0 percent); and
• Gazebos (21.0 percent).

Sustainable Elements

• Native/adapted drought-tolerant plants (83.0 percent);
• Permeable paving (74.0 percent);
• Drip/water-efficient irrigation (72.4 percent);
• Reduced lawn area (70.8 percent);
• Rainwater/graywater harvesting (68.7 percent);
• Recycled materials (63.6 percent);
• Solar-powered lights (60.4 percent);
• Compost bins (47.2 percent); and
• Geothermal heated pools (21.3 percent).

Photos provided by: ASLA, Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture
Photo Credit: Marion Brenner