Last year was the “Year of Home,” as pandemic lockdowns and stay-at-home orders resulted in boom in home-related spending boom. This year will be the “Year of the Yard,” as Americans turn their attention to improve their outdoor spaces, according to a new study by the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA).
Currently, some 88% of Americans are dissatisfied with their outdoor spaces, with 66% finding its style, function (56%) and comfort (45%) lacking. Yet 90% of Americans agree that their outdoor living space is more valuable than ever before.
It’s not like they ignored their outdoor living areas last year, with 78% reporting they upgraded their outdoor living areas in 2020.
But this year, they plan to add more decorative and functional elements to enjoy their time outside more. The number of people who plan to buy new outdoor furniture and accessories has more than doubled from last year, 58% this year compared to 23% in 2020.
In reading the latest study results, Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president of the ICFA, sees a fundamental shift in how Americans are relating to their outdoor living areas.
The patio is not just a place to retreat for an evening cocktail or a Sunday afternoon barbecue. Everything we do inside, we want to do outside and more.
“At the beginning of 2020, we were focused on creating outdoor spaces that complement our homes and lifestyles,” Hirschhaut said. “Today we are creating outdoor spaces that supplement our sense of wellbeing and transform an outdoor area into an outdoor room.”
Cure for Nature Deficit Disorder
Spending more time in our gardens and on our patios is not only desired, but the cure for what ails us. Shockingly, the EPA finds Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, threatening not just our health but also our mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
“As people continue to be overworked and overwrought, they will answer the call of nature,” reports the Global Wellness Summit. “Nature Deficit Disorder has taken hold, and it’s real—this 24/7, digitally dominated, Instagram-able world is depriving humankind of some very basic, very important nourishment that comes from being outdoors.”
Top on the list of planned outdoor purchases this year are firepits (35%), grills (35%), lounges and chaises (34%), lighting (34%), dining tables and chairs (28%), umbrellas (25%) and sofas/sectionals (19%).
Not only will these improvements make their outdoor spaces more enjoyable and functional, they will allow people to live outdoors.
Living in the garden
The pandemic has fundamentally altered our relationship with and expectations of our outdoor spaces, believes Allison Messner, co-founder of Yardzen, an online landscaping and outdoor design…
Read More: 2021 Will Be The ‘Year Of The Yard,’ As More Americans Plan To Improve