It’s patio season and spending time in your outdoor space shouldn’t result in a mental checklist of ways to improve your home’s exterior. If you’ve spent a bit of time in your outdoor space this summer and not been thrilled with your experience, there’s still time this year to give it a makeover. 

Outdoor design in 2025 is about more than curb appeal. Landscapes are being treated as extensions of the home and are central to how people live, entertain, and unwind. Staying on top of emerging trends can help you make the most of your outdoor space (and the resources used to craft it).

Here are the most influential landscaping trends of 2025:

1. Architectural Structures 

Outdoor living doesn’t need to be contingent on temperamental Indiana weather. Architectural structures play a central role in transforming a landscape into a livable and versatile environment. They can offer a covered and shaded area that anchors patios and gardens while designating a clear hangout spot. Here’s a few examples to consider:

Pergolas

• Blends aesthetics and functionality to provide a shaded and private area.    

Arbors

• Offers architectural and vertical interest to your landscape. 
• Serves as a focal point that adds character and charm.

Detached living space 

• Think tiny house, she- shed, man cave, etc.; the possibilities are endless with a multi-use backyard building. 
• Ideal for guests, workspaces, retreats, hobbies, or quiet escapes.

Outdoor kitchens 

• Move the home’s heart into the backyard with a fully equipped cooking setup perfect for hosting backyard BBQs for the family and neighborhood friends.

When paired with quality materials and custom design, these elements bring architectural depth to your outdoor environment, creating a comfortable and inviting space for relaxation, dining, or entertaining.

2. Sustainable landscaping

Now more than ever, shifts toward environmentally responsible landscaping have become a priority. The goal is to create landscapes that are resource efficient and thrive with minimal input by reducing water use, avoiding harmful chemicals, and encouraging biodiversity. This includes incorporating:

Native plants

• Chosen for their adaptability and low-maintenance requirements: 
  • Less irrigation
  • Increased resistance to pests and disease
  • Support pollinators and local ecosystems

Water conservation

• Rain gardens 
• Drip irrigation
• Rain barrels
• Permeable paving and patios

Lawn and soil management

• Minimize mowing, watering, and chemical use by replacing large turf sections with:
  • Planting beds
  • Ground covers
  • Low-mow native grasses

• The following practices help to maintain nutrient-rich, living soils that support healthy plants.
  • Compost systems 
  • Organic mulching
  • Minimal tilling

Low-impact materials

• Reduces your project’s environmental footprint by using locally sourced or natural materials: 
  • Indiana limestone 
  • Flagstone
  • Untreated wood

Sustainable landscaping not only benefits the environment, it also creates beautiful, resilient spaces that require less maintenance and remain in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem.

3. Natural Landscaping

One of the strongest themes of 2025 is creating spaces that are thoughtfully designed to feel organic and immersive. Designers find ways to work with the property as it is and connect people to the land beneath their feet. 

• Winding paths guide visitors through diverse plantings and varied terrain.
• Mixing grasses, flowering natives, and shrubs introduces other textures. 
• Boulders and stone groupings define edges and can create informal seating areas.
• Water features, like pondless waterfalls and contemporary fountains, add a lively additional element of interest.

• Natural stone fire features, from custom fire pits to fireplaces, make outdoor gatherings into year-round ritual.

The elements can bring ambience, comfort, and sensory richness. When combined, they provide a visually interesting and dynamic landscape that promotes exploration and connection.

4. Landscape Lighting

Landscape lighting, though a simple aspect, can completely elevate a space by: 

• Creating ambiance. 
• Enhancing safety.
• Allowing for enjoyment to extend past sunset.

Path lights, accent lights, uplighting, and downlighting can highlight architectural features, plants, and outdoor living areas. Having programmable lighting controls invites a custom adjustment to suit different occasions and moods.

5. Sanctuary Gardens

A perfect way to transform an outdoor space into a personal retreat is to create a sanctuary garden away from today’s fast-paced lifestyle.

• Think privacy. 
  • Use fencing, lush plantings, and vertical greenery to cocoon the area. 
• Introduce sensory details. 
  • A gentle water feature
  • Fragrant blooms or herbs
  • Sculptural foliage. 
• Zone for purpose 
  • Carve out distinct areas to maintain calm and intention. 
    • A shaded reading corner. 
    • Meditation nook. 
    • A spa-like vault or shed.  
    • A calming deck overlook.

As these 2025 trends show, the modern landscape is less about manicured lawns and more about personalized outdoor experiences. Whether it’s a pergola-covered retreat or a limestone path winding through native gardens, today’s landscapes are designed not only to complement the surrounding environment, but to be functional, lived-in spaces that reflect the needs and preferences of those who use them.

About Heath Outdoor

Heath Outdoor, a premier, local, family-owned landscaping company established in 2009, proudly serves the vibrant communities of Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Strategically located in the heart of Indianapolis, we extend our expert landscaping and hardscaping services to both commercial and residential customers in Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Geist, Noblesville, Zionsville, Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, McCordsville, Greenwood and beyond. 

Design and build services include:

Custom gardens and landscapes, paver patios and walkways, water features and recreation ponds, custom outdoor fire pits and fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, pool and spa vaults, tiny houses, storage sheds, pergolas and decks, retaining walls, fencing and playgrounds. 

Commercial and residential property maintenance services include: 

Mowing, mulching, planting and watering service, irrigation and drainage system installation and repairs, seasonal property clean-ups, and snow and ice management. In 2024, Heath Outdoor added eco-focused private gardening and garden coaching to our property maintenance services through a partnership with Spotts Garden Service. 

Custom event decor services: 

Planning a wedding or other celebratory event and looking to create an extraordinary backdrop? Let the event design team at Heath Outdoor transform your space with rental plants, lighting and custom structures. We’ll work with your event designer to bring the vision for your event to life and create an experience your guests will never forget. 

Why Heath Outdoor?

We’re not just in the business of landscaping—we’re in the business of finding solutions and bringing dreams to life. Whether it’s crafting breathtaking commercial outdoor spaces or creating custom outdoor living areas from scratch, we’ve got the passion, expertise, creativity and team to make it happen. 

At Heath Outdoor, we’re also committed to giving back to the community, through our Juneteenth service project, annual participation in the Indy Pride parade, Butter Art Fair and Feast of Lanterns sponsorship and neighborhood beautification efforts. 

The Hurst Brothers family of companies

Heath Outdoor is a Hurst Brothers company. Other brands in the Hurst Brothers family of companies include: Indy Insulation and Spray Company and Spotts Garden Service.

Ready to transform your outdoor space?