Homeowners Want More Outdoor Space: Here’s What It Means for the Timber Industry

For many homeowners, the backyard is no longer just a yard. It has become an extension of the home—a place to relax, entertain, exercise, connect with family, and enjoy nature. As homebuyers and homeowners continue investing in their properties, outdoor living spaces have emerged as one of the most desirable and valuable features a home can offer.

A 2026 Global Homeownership Insights | HBS Dealer Study found that outdoor space is now viewed as the most essential area of the home in half of the countries surveyed. The importance of outdoor living was particularly strong in Germany (83%), the United Kingdom (78%), Australia (76%), France (75%), and both the Netherlands and the United States (72%). In many cases, outdoor space ranked ahead of traditionally important areas such as kitchens, living rooms, and home offices. This data reinforces a growing global trend: homeowners increasingly see decks, patios, pergolas, gardens, outdoor kitchens, and backyard gathering spaces as essential extensions of the home rather than optional amenities. As homeowners continue investing in their properties, outdoor living spaces are becoming one of the most valuable opportunities to improve quality of life, increase usable living space, and enhance long-term property value.

Outdoor Living Has Become a Lifestyle

The growing popularity of outdoor spaces is driven by more than aesthetics. Homeowners want environments that support wellness, family time, entertaining, and relaxation. Industry research shows that access to outdoor living areas is strongly connected to physical and mental well-being, with many homeowners using their outdoor spaces multiple times each week.

Whether it’s enjoying a morning coffee on a deck, hosting a weekend barbecue, creating a backyard retreat, or building a dedicated outdoor workspace, homeowners are finding new ways to maximize every square foot of their property.

The result is a significant shift in how homes are designed and improved. Outdoor areas are increasingly being planned with the same attention once reserved exclusively for interior rooms. Covered patios, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and multifunctional decks are becoming standard features in both new construction and remodeling projects.

Outdoor Spaces Increase Home Value

Beyond enjoyment, outdoor living spaces can provide a strong return on investment.

Homeowners recognize that a well-designed outdoor area can improve curb appeal, increase usable living space, and make a property more attractive to future buyers. As competition for homebuyers continues, outdoor features often become key differentiators in the real estate market.

Buyers are increasingly looking for homes that offer seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor living. Large decks, covered gathering spaces, pergolas, privacy features, and professionally designed landscapes help create a more complete living experience.

In many cases, homeowners can add significant functional space without the expense of a traditional room addition simply by enhancing their outdoor environment.

Homeowners Want More Than a Basic Backyard

Today’s outdoor spaces are far more sophisticated than they were just a few years ago.

Current trends include:

Outdoor kitchens and dining areas
Covered patios and pergolas
Fire pits and fireplaces
Multi-level decks
Wellness and meditation spaces
Smart lighting and entertainment systems
Low-maintenance materials
Privacy-focused landscaping and structures

Homeowners are increasingly creating outdoor environments that function like boutique resorts, blending comfort, technology, and style into one cohesive experience.

This trend is helping drive continued growth across the outdoor building materials industry as homeowners invest in projects that make their properties more enjoyable and valuable.

What Makes TimberBase a Smart Choice for Building Materials used to Create Outdoor Spaces

As demand for outdoor living projects continues to grow, sourcing the right materials quickly and efficiently has become more important than ever.

TimberBase is helping transform how lumber and building materials are bought and sold by connecting buyers and suppliers through a modern online sales platform. It provides access to a wide range of lumber and building materials while simplifying the quoting, purchasing, and order-tracking process.

TimberBase offers several advantages for companies involved in supplying materials for outdoor construction projects:

Access to a broad selection of lumber and building materials like composite decking, pressure-treated lumber, and tropical hardwoods like IPE, Cumaru, and Garapa.
Real-time order tracking
Competitive quotes
Streamlined purchasing processes
Global sourcing capabilities
Expert support and live assistance
Increased transparency throughout the transaction process

For those in the business of purchasing materials for decks, pergolas, pavilions, fencing, outdoor structures, or other exterior projects, TimberBase helps reduce the time and complexity often associated with sourcing.

The Future of Outdoor Living Is Bright

The desire for meaningful outdoor spaces shows no signs of slowing down. Homeowners continue to prioritize outdoor living for relaxation, wellness, entertainment, and increased home value. Industry experts expect investment in outdoor living projects to remain strong as homeowners seek ways to maximize the enjoyment and functionality of their properties.

As these projects become larger and more sophisticated, having access to dependable building materials will be critical to success.

That’s where TimberBase can help.

Ready to Simplify Your Lumber and Building Material Sourcing?

Whether you’re building decks, pergolas, pavilions, outdoor structures, or other exterior projects, TimberBase provides a smarter, faster way to connect with trusted suppliers and source the materials you need.

For more information, get in touch with us and learn how TimberBase can help streamline the sourcing of outdoor building products.

Sources

HBSDealer, “Global Homeownership Insights” (June 2026) – Outdoor space ranked as the most essential space in the home across multiple countries. Global Homeownership Insights
Angi International Homeowners Study 2026 – Survey of nearly 5,000 homeowners across 10 countries examining homeowner priorities, renovation habits, and home usage trends.