Latest Trends for Outdoor Living Spaces

Outdoor living has evolved from simple patios into fully realized extensions of the home. As homeowners prioritize experiences, functionality, and longevity, custom brick and stonework has become central to creating outdoor rooms that are both beautiful and durable.

Design Trends Driving Outdoor Transformations

Contemporary outdoor design favors layered spaces that accommodate cooking, lounging, dining, and entertainment while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic. Hardscape frameworks—patios, terraces, retaining walls, and outdoor kitchens—are increasingly constructed from custom brick and natural stone to provide visual warmth, texture, and permanence. Designers pair these durable materials with refined architectural lines: clean-edged stone pavers, integrated hearths, and low-profile seating walls that double as planters or windbreaks.

The result is outdoor architecture that reads like interior design carried outdoors, with careful attention to proportion, sightlines, and circulation. Landscape lighting, discreet audio systems, and weather-resistant textiles complete the picture, allowing these spaces to function comfortably from morning through evening.

Material Choices and Longevity

Natural stone and artisan brick are favored for their ability to age gracefully and require minimal invasive upkeep when properly installed. Color palettes trend toward earthy neutrals—smoky charcoals, warm tans, and soft greiges—that complement planting schemes and adapt to changing tastes. Mortar color and joint width are treated as design variables: contrasting joints create crisp geometry, while sand-colored mortars yield a softer, more organic look.

Surface finishes are selected to balance slip resistance and refinement; honed stone offers a contemporary feel, while textured finishes provide durability in high-traffic areas. Integrated lighting and low-voltage systems are embedded into masonry and steps to highlight textures and improve safety without visual clutter. Because professional installation affects long-term performance, many clients invest in expert masons to avoid common mistakes that can lead to higher repair costs over time.

Key Functional Features Shaping Outdoor Spaces

• Outdoor Kitchens and Pizza Ovens: Custom brick-and-stone kitchens remain a top request, featuring built-in grills, stone countertops, durable prep surfaces, and wood-fired pizza ovens that serve as focal points for gatherings and seasonal entertaining.

• Fire Features and Hearths: Linear fireplaces, sunken fire pits, and built-in benches with masonry surrounds create intimate zones for year-round use and serve as anchors for hardscape layouts that encourage social interaction.

• Multi-Level Terraces: Split-level designs and terraced stone retaining walls maximize sloped yards, create privacy pockets, and establish distinct activity areas connected by short runs of steps or wide landings to preserve flow.

• Seamless Transitions: Threshold treatments—stone steps, matched brick aprons, or coordinating pavers—are used to visually and physically connect interior flooring to exterior patios for a cohesive indoor-outdoor flow that expands usable living space.

• Sustainable Drainage and Permeable Paving: Permeable stone systems, gravel-set pavers, and strategically placed drainage channels integrate stormwater management without sacrificing aesthetics, preserve landscape health, and reduce long-term maintenance.

• Integrated Storage and Seating: Masonry benches with concealed storage, niche shelving in retaining walls, and custom planters provide functional elements that feel built-in rather than add-on, optimizing small yards and simplifying maintenance.

• Texture Layering and Accent Details: Mixing finishes—tumbled vs. honed stone, sawn-edge vs. hand-chiseled brick—adds depth and visual interest while allowing focal areas to stand out with contrasting materials or inlaid motifs.

• Universal Accessibility and Safety: Wider steps, gentle ramps, level surfaces, and low-profile transitions are incorporated to ensure outdoor spaces are welcoming to people of all ages and mobility levels while meeting current codes and best practices.

For clients seeking longevity and a high-end finish, custom brick and stone remain foundational to contemporary outdoor living. Thoughtful material selection, expert craftsmanship, and design strategies that emphasize layered use and seamless flow produce outdoor spaces that function as true extensions of the home. When executed well, these projects increase usability, curb appeal, and long-term value—making them a wise investment for homeowners who want outdoor environments designed to last while supporting everyday life and memorable gatherings.

Are You Interested in Building an Outdoor Living Space in Chicagoland, Northwest INDIANA, or Southwest MICHIGAN?

If you’ve been considering building a new outdoor living space in New Buffalo, MI; Orland Park, IL; Saint John, IN; or Crown Point, IN, contact us at Custom Brick & Stone. We have more than 20 years of experience with outdoor spaces, including which trends endure and which fade quickly. We work on residential and commercial outdoor spaces in Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana, and Southwest Michigan, so bar and restaurant owners looking to revamp their beer gardens before the season begins should contact us right away!