Our real estate agents are on top of the hottest landscaping trends for the Empire City of the South in 2020. Word is some of the most popular trends are tracking from previous years—they're just too good to let go. But we're also watching some newer outdoor styles, making their way from coast to coast and evolving to fit Atlanta's unique Southern landscaping scene. 

Still Trending in 2020

1. Indoor Living Moves Outdoors. This concept has been around for a while, but it's still going strong. In Atlanta, it's come to mean finding new ways to enjoy the outdoors longer—through the chill of winter and the hottest days of summer.
   
   For summer: A pergola topped with wisteria, clematis, or climbing blue hydrangea (blue and near blues are cooling colors!) can provide shade, while strategically located fans and misting systems cool off your guests. Trees and shrubs that shade a spot all day create a cooler microclimate, where you can install a garden wall with vining plants for added cooling. Plants give off moisture during transpiration that helps us feel cooler.
   
   For winter: Heat lamps can extend your outdoor enjoyment in cooler months.
   
   
2. Xeriscaping and Minimalist Maintenance. You know about xeriscaping, and it's not going away. Even in our humid climate, we get some dry times, and as the local population continues to grow and stress water resources, xeriscaping—that is, designing a landscape for low water use—will just become more important. Evidence abounds that you can have a beautiful landscape in Atlanta with drought-tolerant plantings, low-maintenance turf, and an efficient irrigation system.
   
   
3. Smart Technology in the Landscape. From remote-controlled irrigation systems to smart outdoor lighting, this technology is finding a place in local landscapes, boosting efficiency and convenience.  

On the Horizon for 2020

1. Cooling Blues. We mentioned some soothing blue flowers above, but just so you know, cool blues top the list of most desirable colors for accents and flowers in 2020. Pantone, the company known for its Pantone Matching System used by graphics and other industries, has chosen classic blue as its color of the year because it is "solid and dependable." Blue is calming, and these days, most of us need a bit of calming when we step into our landscapes.
   
   Add blue accents with a cobalt blue birdbath or sculpture, navy outdoor rugs and patio furniture, or dark blue tiles set in a neutral stone wall. These shades of blue can really pop and get your visitors' attention while cooling things down.
   
   Another great species to plant is a Georgia native, blue mistflower (Conoclinium Coelestinum), which is also a major food source for migrating Monarch butterflies, and which will attract many other species as well.
   
   
2. Geometric Patterns Move Outdoors. This year you're likely to see more geometric design elements, such as basketweave, chevrons, waves, and lattice patterns in backyard entertainment areas and "garden rooms." Porcelain tiles imprinted with these designs are being arranged in eye-catching geometric schemes in garden walls, patios, and walkways.
   
   The geometric elements complement another emerging trend: that of sleek lines and simple designs, resulting in a polished, contemporary look that has emerged in outdoor kitchens, fire and water features, furniture, and sculpture.
   
   
3. Let There Be Lighting. Banish the floodlights. Go for dramatic lighting effects, subtle and sleek, that can enhance the beauty of your outdoor living area.

Our real estate agents can discuss other trends that might impact your Atlanta home for sale. Contact us today.