The average American homeowner spends thousands of dollars perfecting their indoor living spaces, but many overlook the potential gold mine sitting right outside their back door. With the right planning, design and investment, any backyard can become a personal retreat.

“The name ‘Living Spaces’ is a play on words,” said Kimberly Leja Martinez, director of design and project development at Living Spaces Outdoors. “How do you envision yourself living in these spaces? Will you be enjoying time with family, or hanging out with a small group of people in an informal setting?”

Martinez said everything grows from that initial conversation about lifestyle. She looks at homeowners’ interior spaces to understand their style preferences, then translates those elements to outdoor environments. If clients have modern interiors, they often want the same contemporary look outside.

Today’s backyard transformations reflect broader lifestyle shifts toward sustainability and extended outdoor living. Martinez said she’s seeing increased integration of vegetable gardens and fruiting shrubs and trees, along with meadowscape designs that attract butterflies, birds and bees.

Hardscaping trends have evolved toward more creative combinations of textures and colors through mosaic designs and inlays. Martinez said these custom elements really define people's individual styles and make properties unique.

The most popular feature nationwide remains the fire pit, which appears in most designs either as a built-in element or stand-alone structure. Covered outdoor structures have gained popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing homeowners to use their spaces longer throughout the year.

“It allows them to be outside longer, and in the shade,” Martinez said. Large, covered structures accommodate outdoor lighting, fans and heaters, extending usability even in colder months. Retractable screens that block wind and retain heat can make spaces comfortable in cooler temperatures.

Creating a backyard paradise requires careful planning and realistic expectations. Martinez starts with phone consultations before scheduling property visits to ensure clients understand project timelines and scope.

During initial meetings, she walks the property with clients to discuss immediate wants and long-term goals. If homeowners want a patio and fire pit now but envision adding a pool later, she plans the initial design to accommodate future expansion.

“We want to design something that's realistic to the space and how much they're wanting to invest into that space, both short-term and long-term,” Martinez said.

She avoids discussing budgets, instead focusing on investment levels clients want to make. Design and estimate turnaround typically takes three to five weeks, with extensive collaboration to refine numbers and meet client expectations.

Installation timelines vary dramatically by project scope. Smaller projects with standard installations typically require six to eight weeks to complete. Complex projects involving pools or custom carpentry can take up to three months, with the largest projects potentially requiring six to nine months from start to finish.

“A lot of projects now are complex — $300,000, $400,000, $500,000 — and those take a lot of time,” Martinez said.

Backyard transformations can deliver significant value, but costs accumulate quickly. Martinez said breaking expenses down per piece seems manageable until totaled, often overwhelming homeowners. “It adds up very, very fast,” Martinez said.

She encourages initial conversations with professionals about realistic cost expectations before commissioning designs. Understanding feature costs up front helps determine whether desired elements exceed intended investment levels.

Her company provides detailed estimates broken down by yard sections, clearly describing included and excluded elements. The final design reflects these estimates, minimizing surprises during construction.

Changes during construction present challenges, especially if installed components require removal. Martinez said such extreme situations rarely occur, though clients sometimes add landscaping elements they initially planned to install later.

Underground surprises represent the most common source of project delays and complications. Property lines, utility easements and unmarked private lines can significantly impact designs and timelines.

“You never know what's under the ground,” Martinez said. “You don't know what's there until you start digging, and sometimes you do find surprises.”

In one project, excavation revealed a water mainline pipe just six inches below ground and three feet from the main house, requiring elevation adjustments for the entire design. Private sewer lines and downspouts often aren't marked by utility location services, necessitating repairs and workarounds.

Martinez's company handles permits and engineering requirements, though she noted that not all landscaping companies provide these services. Homeowners should verify responsibility for regulatory compliance before signing contracts.

Choosing appropriate materials requires balancing aesthetics, durability and local climate considerations. Martinez said her company explains the advantages and disadvantages of different manufacturers and materials, acknowledging that no perfect products exist.

Concrete offers cost advantages but creates permeable surface issues requiring additional permitting and runoff management. Some clients prefer concrete over pavers despite these limitations due to personal preferences and budget constraints.

Two features consistently surprise homeowners with their impact: lighting and outdoor audio systems. Martinez said lighting options have expanded dramatically over the past five years, moving beyond basic illumination to create aesthetic visual effects and scenes.

“When you start showing people photos of outdoor lighting, they start getting really excited,” Martinez said.

For pest control, some companies offer mosquito spray treatments, while environmentally conscious homeowners can install bat houses. Bats consume thousands of mosquitoes nightly and enjoy federal protection, meaning bat houses can be installed anywhere without removal requirements.

Selecting appropriate contractors becomes crucial for large projects requiring monthslong collaboration. Martinez emphasized the importance of comfortable working relationships, given the extended timelines involved in complex installations.

Homeowner involvement throughout the design process is essential for successful outcomes. Martinez said her greatest fear involves completing expensive projects only to have clients express regret about design decisions weeks later.

The investment in professional design and installation can transform any backyard into a personal paradise, but success requires realistic expectations, careful planning and strong communication between homeowners and contractors. With proper execution, Martinez said outdoor spaces can provide years of enjoyment and significantly enhance property values while creating lasting memories for families and friends.