What’s hot in Texas, besides the weather?
Outdoor living trends. Whether you’re cooking up a feast of spicy barbeque wings for football game night or hosting 20 kids for a neighborhood pool party, one thing most North Texans share is a love of entertaining. That often means having a functional yet gorgeous outdoor living space that captures the heart of the homeowner.
From eco-friendly materials in outdoor furniture to all-purpose patios with functional kitchens, built-in spaces are best when designed for both ease and luxury. No one knows this better than Casey Laughlin, owner of Texas Outdoor Oasis, who brings more than 20 years of experience to the Rockwall community in landscaping, irrigation, exterior construction, masonry, professional design, and pools.
“We've definitely seen an uptick in 2024. While our core focus remains new pool construction, remodels, outdoor living, and landscaping projects, we will continue to develop our pool leak detection and repair, as well as irrigation repair services.”
So, are you ready to harness your inner host or hostess? Maybe you are, but you're overwhelmed by the numerous design choices or simply don’t know how to vet contractors. At Texas Outdoor Oasis, a staff of seven designers and five project managers, along with landscape crew specialists and office support, uniquely position the company as a one-stop shop. Bundling their talents together allows the company to meet a wide range of customer requests.
These requests run the gamut of design trends, including backyard expansions with screen rooms and all-season rooms. In fact, Casey has witnessed a 200% rise in demand for screen rooms, which use screens as walls rather than windows, as well as increased use of motorized screens. These screens help keep bugs out in the summer months—a major concern for outdoor living in Texas—and circulate cooler air within the room via fans.
Advancements in technology and modern, clean-lined designs are reshaping outdoor living across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. “While some of these trends are inspired by families moving to Texas from Florida, New York, and California, there is still a lot of traditional architecture being blended in, using cedar as well as painted patio structures, fireplaces, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and pools,” Casey says.
Other hallmarks of outdoor living include:
- Pool remodeling services – A pool is often the centerpiece of a remodeled outdoor space.
- Patio covers – Protection from the forces of Mother Nature.
- Arbors and pergolas – Provide shelter, privacy, and designated garden areas.
- Landscaping – Design, installation, outdoor lighting, and green spaces.
- Irrigation repair – Professionally maintaining sprinkler systems.
- Stonework – Patios, grills, masonry fireplaces, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and natural stone walkways.
- Outdoor flooring – Decorative concrete, travertine, paver, and turf options.
- Outdoor kitchen options – Built-in heaters and high-end appliances that can boost home value.
Texas Outdoor Oasis also partners with Big Green Egg, modeled after the clay cooking vessels first seen during China’s Qin Dynasty; Infratech Heaters, which offer infrared heating systems for various properties; Ledge Loungers, featuring outdoor and in-pool furniture; and Pentair Pool Equipment.
When it comes to outdoor living, the sky’s the limit.
“We see more big patio farmhouse-style outdoor kitchens being requested, with special inserts and wood-stamped concrete flooring used as an extension of the house,” says Courtney Daugherty, a designer at Texas Outdoor Oasis. “An outdoor kitchen can be as elaborate as you want, with full-fledged appliances and sinks, grills, griddles, fridges, storage spaces, wood-fire pizza ovens, accent lights, and bar tops for seating.”
Flat-top griddles are particularly popular, as are 30-inch pellet smokers, which combine the dual functionality of a smoker and a grill. Texas Outdoor Oasis is an official supplier of Blaze appliances, which provides high-quality stainless steel and cast stainless steel burners, so customers don’t have to source their appliances themselves—saving homeowners precious time.
“However, while providing the right amenities is vital to a homeowner’s outdoor space, at the end of the day, it’s the personal relationship a company builds with its clients that brings the most value,” Courtney notes.
Ready to launch your dream outdoor living space? Call Texas Outdoor Oasis at 940-291-3976 or request a free estimate at www.texasoutdooroasis.com/contact-us.
“Advancements in technology, as well as contemporary, modern clean lines, are revolutionizing the outdoor living explosion in the DFW area."