Houzz study: homeowners boost outdoor spending

Houzz said on June 2 that U.S. homeowners are putting more money into outdoor renovations as they turn backyards, patios and gardens into spaces for gathering, dining and daily use. The company’s 2026 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study said homeowners are prioritizing comfort and function over resale in outdoor planning. The survey covered 1,191 U.S. homeowners on Houzz who were in the midst of, planning or had recently completed an outdoor renovation. Houzz fielded the online survey between April 25 and May 6, 2026. ### How much of the shift is about living outside rather than resale? Houzz said more than 4 in 5 renovating homeowners created lounge or seating areas, making them the most common outdoor feature in the study. The company said homeowners were increasingly treating outdoor areas as functional extensions of the home rather than projects aimed mainly at future listing value. Julie Noble, writing for Houzz Pro on July 9, said homeowners were transforming backyards into places for “gathering, unwinding and enjoying the outdoors,” with personal enjoyment taking priority over resale considerations for many projects. Stacker’s Wednesday distribution of the findings echoed that framing in local-news republications. (houzz.com) ### Which outdoor features are getting the most attention? Houzz said lounge and seating areas were the top outdoor addition, while dining zones, quiet retreats and outdoor kitchens also played a central role in renovation plans. The company’s June trends coverage said new projects were being organized into multiple zones so one yard could support eating, relaxing and entertaining. (pro.houzz.com) Outdoor kitchens were also becoming more elaborate, according to Houzz’s trend write-up and later trade coverage citing the same study. Kitchen and bath industry coverage in late July said the report pointed to an expanded scope for outdoor kitchens as homeowners added more features and treated them as part of regular home use. (houzz.com) ### Why are more homeowners bringing in professionals? Houzz said professional involvement in outdoor renovations reached 71% in 2026, up from 65% in 2024. The company described that as a new high in its press release, indicating that homeowners were relying more on contractors, designers and other specialists as projects became broader in scope. (pro.houzz.com) The same release said upgrades to outdoor systems such as lighting and irrigation rose to 36% of projects, overtaking decorating-focused updates at 34%. That mix suggests homeowners were spending not only on furniture and finishes, but also on infrastructure that often requires installation expertise. (houzz.com) ### What is pushing homeowners to spend in the first place? Houzz said deteriorated or broken outdoor elements remained the leading trigger for renovation, cited by 41% of respondents. The company also said 25% of homeowners were motivated by a desire to make spaces more accommodating, up 3 percentage points from 2024. (houzz.com) Marine Sargsyan, Houzz’s staff economist, told Forbes in a July 27 article focused on exterior trends that homeowners were balancing inviting design with durability and long-term performance. That description was tied to the broader outdoor study and its findings on function-led spending. (kbbonline.com) ### Where can readers see the underlying data? Houzz published the full 2026 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study on its website on June 2, along with a press release and follow-up articles in July that break out outdoor living and exterior remodeling patterns. The report page says the findings are based on responses from 1,191 U.S. homeowners surveyed between April 25 and May 6, 2026. (houzz.com) (forbes.com)