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Spending time outside at home is more attractive than ever. As many as 60 percent of homeowners say they have canceled plans so they can stay home and hang out in their own backyard, and more than a quarter say they spend at least 10 hours outside every week, according to a recent survey conducted by Thumbtack and Zillow that explores how homeowners are upgrading their outdoor spaces in 2025.
The research also found that homeowners are prioritizing investments in outdoor living projects to boost their quality of life and curb appeal. One in three homeowners considers their outdoor space their personal sanctuary, and they aren’t afraid to splurge to make it perfect.
Here we’ll look at the most sought-after outdoor living projects, the tradeoffs people are willing to make to get the backyard of their dreams, and some outdoor features to avoid.
Practical Projects
The most popular and affordable outdoor projects, according to the survey, both improve everyday comfort and boost curb appeal and potential home value.
- Patio: Installing a patio helps expand your functional outdoor space for activities like relaxing on a comfy lounge chair, working, and grilling. The national average cost to remodel or install a patio ranges from $2,300 to $9,100, and most homeowners pay around $4,600, according to Thumbtack.
- Fence: A new fence can provide privacy and security while transforming the look and feel of the property. Expect to pay $3,000 to $4,000, on average, for a new fence. Fencing materials like vinyl and aluminum are pricier, so opt for one of the following types of fences to keep the price more affordable: treated pine, chain link, picket, split rail, dog ear, or lattice top.
- Garden: Whether you are looking to create a lived-in garden, a wellness garden where you can grow fresh herbs and produce, or a romantic garden filled with roses, be sure to budget $370 to $1,400.
Splurgy Projects
For the true dreamers—and those who have a more flexible budget—luxurious upgrades make it to the top of the list. If money were no object, homeowners say the number one feature they would add is a resort-style pool with a waterfall, according to the survey. To give you an idea of this type of investment, inground pools cost an average of $65,900, with most homeowners paying between $44,000 and $87,000. To add a waterfall, expect to pay a few thousand dollars for a simple sheet waterfall and up to tens of thousands for elaborate rock formations.
Here are some of the other top choices for high-end outdoor projects based on the survey:
- Climate-controlled greenhouse: For those looking to cultivate year-round produce at home, a greenhouse project is attractive. The cost to add a greenhouse to your property ranges from $500 to $35,000, depending on several factors like the size and materials used.
- Outdoor kitchen with pizza oven: Expect to pay about $15,000 for this feature that expands your living, cooking, and entertaining space. This budget typically includes an inset grill, stainless steel drawers, ice chest, sink, and countertop.
- Guest house: For homeowners looking to host guests but prefer to have healthy separation, building a guest house can be ideal. This project can set you back between $60,000 and $225,000, depending on the size and details.
- Detached garage: This add-on boosts a home’s value, while providing additional storage space in a secure way. The cost of building a detached garage ranges from $16,000 to $40,000, depending on the size, complexity, and location.
Tradeoffs
The survey found that homeowners are so fixated on having a dream backyard that 71 percent said they are even willing to go into debt over it. For those not willing to go that far, many identified specific features inside their home that they would be OK with giving up so they could achieve their vision for their outdoor space.
Here are the top features homeowners would forego to build their ideal outdoor oasis:
- Guest bedroom (28 percent)
- Home office (28 percent)
- Spa-like bathroom (25 percent)
- Kitchen island (21 percent)
- Half of the closet space (21 percent)
Outdoor Features to Avoid
The survey also uncovered a few outdoor features that have fallen out of favor. Inflatable holiday decorations for every season drew the most criticism, with 27 percent of homeowners admitting they are tired of seeing such items. Artificial grass also earned mixed reviews. While faux turf has benefits like less maintenance; better drainage; reduced water costs; and not exposing people, pets, and the environment to pesticides, 21 percent of those surveyed are turned off by the unnatural synthetic look. Finally, large patio televisions were marked as unfavorable by 18 percent of homeowners who prefer watching a colorful sunset to an overwhelming screen in their backyard.
