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By Debbi Mayster | Contributor
“Backyarding” – the movement of outdoor activities that gained popularity during the pandemic – is expected to remain prevalent and grow in 2022, according to the TurfMutt Foundation, an organization focused on environmental education and encouraging outdoor living and green space care.
“Backyarding is a way of life now,” states Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation and its parent organization, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). “Homeowners have invested substantial time, money, and effort in recent months to enhance their backyards as extensions of their homes for working, cooking, exercising, and even vacationing outdoors. We believe people will continue to engage in ‘backyarding’ well into the future.”
The TurfMutt Foundation forecasts the following backyarding trends for 2022:
Indoors and Outdoors Will Blend More
Doors and windows will open to nature, allowing more people to enjoy meals or evening drinks on their decks. Home decor will increasingly reflect a harmonious merger of indoor and outdoor aesthetics, incorporating colors and designs that facilitate a smooth transition between indoor spaces and backyards.
Outdoor Offices Will Emerge
There will be less reliance on technology for video call backgrounds. The natural beauty of backyards—featuring trees, flowers, and shrubs—will provide the ideal setting for virtual meetings. It’s likely that elements such as privacy screens, electrical outlets, and WiFi extenders will become standard features in backyards.
Maximizing Balconies, Porches, and Patios
Optimizing the use of balconies, porches, and other outdoor spaces will be a priority. Furnishings, flowers, potted plants, and curtains can transform these areas into vibrant retreats for relaxation and social gatherings.
Increased Outdoor Learning for All Ages
Backyards and parks will serve as significant spaces for education. Kids may attend online classes or complete homework in nature, using outdoor environments for STEM learning by observing plants, bugs, and weather patterns. Family vegetable gardens will teach them about food origins, while nesting and bat boxes will foster wildlife observation.
Al Fresco Dining Becomes Standard
Grills, pizza ovens, and outdoor lighting will transform backyards into dining venues for families and friends. Interest in outdoor kitchens, pergolas, and landscaping will enhance the outdoor dining experience.
Backyards as Informal Business Venues
Informal networking and discussions about business will naturally occur while socializing around fire pits or watching kids play. Games like croquet and cornhole may serve as backdrops for professional connections.
The Backyard as a Sanctuary for Relaxation
Features such as yoga spaces, hammocks, reading corners, and tranquil water elements will turn backyards into peaceful retreats. Many will choose plants and colors that promote tranquility and sensory enjoyment.
Evolving Outdoor Entertainment Options
Outdoor movie projectors and sound systems will convert backyards into cinematic spaces under the stars. Expect to see more fire pits and games that enhance outdoor recreational experiences.
Planting with Wildlife in Mind
Homeowners will prioritize creating habitats for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife by selecting plants, trees, and shrubs that support local ecosystems.
Increased Pet Pampering
Amenities such as fencing, digging areas, doghouses, and agility courses for pets will become more popular.
Discovering Personal Backyarding Styles
More individuals will identify their backyarding personalities and design their spaces to align with their outdoor lifestyles. They will take stock of available tools and resources needed to achieve their ideal outdoor areas in the upcoming year.
Editor’s Note: For additional information, subscribe to Mutt Mail, a monthly newsletter containing backyarding tips and updates from the TurfMutt Foundation.
Media contacts
Ami Neiberger-Miller, Four Leaf PR on behalf of the TurfMutt Foundation, 703-887-4877, ami@fourleafpr.com
Four Leaf PR on behalf of the TurfMutt Foundation, 240-988-6243, debbi@fourleafpr.com
Here are a few facts featured in the TurfMutt Foundation’s INTERNATIONAL LIVING LANDSCAPES FACT BOOK:
• Green space and park use was associated with less emotional distress among U.S. college students during the pandemic.
• College-age individuals experience mental health benefits after spending just 10-20 minutes in nature.
• Residents of neighborhoods rich in birds, shrubs, and trees are less likely to struggle with depression, anxiety, and stress.
• Family outings in community parks enhance familial connections and contribute to happiness and self-satisfaction.
• Children show improved physical and mental well-being following outdoor time in nature.
About TurfMutt
TurfMutt was established by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation and has reached over 70 million children, educators, and families since 2009. Through educational materials created in collaboration with Scholastic, TurfMutt instructs students and teachers on the importance of “saving the planet, one yard at a time.” TurfMutt is recognized as an official USGBC® Education Partner and is part of their global LEARNING LAB. It serves as an educational resource for the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series received the Cynopsis Kids Imagination Award for Best Interstitial Series. TurfMutt’s personal, home habitat is showcased in the Wildlife Habitat Council calendars from 2017 to 2020. More information at www.TurfMutt.com.
