(BPT) - There's nothing quite like spending time in your outdoor space. You can enjoy fresh air and sunshine - or evening breezes - while basking in the comfort of being at home. This year, transform your outdoor space into an ideal oasis for socializing with friends and family, or simply finding your own inner peace in a tranquil setting.

The outdoor design experts at Belgard^® share insights on ways to enhance your outdoor living experience.

1. Maximize your front yard

In 2025, outdoor design will focus on enhancing the functionality and aesthetic of front yards, especially as lot sizes continue to shrink, and ways to make them more versatile and low-maintenance. Homeowners are getting creative, turning front yards into multi-use spaces blending relaxation, entertainment and environmental responsibility.

You can design inviting spaces for socializing in your front yard using small paver patios and comfortable seating. Families with young children may want to create play areas with turf or low-maintenance grass, while others might prefer plantings combined with hardscapes. Fences can also help create safety and privacy.

To create inviting social spaces and make functional use of sloped areas, consider adding retaining walls. They not only help level uneven terrain but also create defined gathering spaces perfect for entertaining. A retaining wall can easily be converted into built-in seating to create a more functional space and ensure there's ample seating for all your guests. Consider Belgard's new Diamond Pro^® Air - in a variety of sizes and face styles to fit the look and feel of any project.

No matter which specific elements you use, well-designed front yards improve curb appeal, delivering a strong return on your investment (ROI). Front yard space is one of the top three priorities for homebuyers today, adding 7% ROI to new or remodeled home sales.

2. Increase sustainability

Another important consideration for front and back yard spaces is their environmental impact. A growing trend to address this concern is xeriscaping, which uses drought-tolerant native plants, decorative gravel and artificial turf to offer low-maintenance, eco-friendly landscaping options that conserve water.

Permeable pavers are also becoming more popular for this reason, as they allow rainwater to permeate the ground, reducing stormwater runoff and supporting sustainable landscapes. Learn more about how they work and view available options here.

3. Explore color and texture

As homeowners and designers explore new ideas for outdoor spaces, color and texture are playing a bigger role. Monochromatic color schemes are falling out of favor, and instead, homeowners are embracing vibrant and layered palettes that add depth and dimension to front and back yards.

Great options for adding color and texture are: Belgard's Papyrus paver, which offers an organic textural experience, and November, Belgard's newest performance line of porcelain pavers. November provides the ultimate versatile option to create a trend-forward aesthetic. Both products allow homeowners to create a unique outdoor design while providing durability and low maintenance options.

4. Mix materials for maximum impact

Just as with color, design trends for outdoor spaces are moving away from using a single material for the whole space, inspiring a more dynamic, customized approach to landscaping and hardscape design. By blending different textures, hues and materials, you can create a more visually engaging and personalized outdoor space that feels rich and multi-dimensional.

By mixing materials like stone, concrete, porcelain, wood, metal, fabric - and living walls or containers full of growing plants - you'll make your own unique statement in your front or back yard.

5. Plan a focal point

Design experts suggest creating a single focal point in your yard that catches the eye and becomes the center of your entire outdoor design. That focal point could be a fire pit or fireplace, a garden, water feature or cozy seating area, depending on the amount of space you have and how you want to use it.

To create an outdoor kitchen or fire pit to center your design around, check out the possibilities at Belgard Elements Home. You can also use Belgard Artforms, a large-format modular panel system, to help you create the exact look you want for walls, seating areas, planters, outdoor kitchens and more.

For help imagining your outdoor space, try the Belgard Room Planner, where you can identify your design style and use technology to visualize your ideal front or back yard oasis.