What Women Really Want: The Surprising Shift Toward Outdoor Living
Take a guess on this: Do women want a bigger house or are they more interested in outside space? Conventional wisdom used to peg women to the indoors. Take for example the popular saying, "A woman's place is in the house." Well, looks like a lot of women are saying, "not so fast".
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The Shift: Bigger Yards Over Bigger Homes
A new study just released asked men and women if they preferred a bigger home and smaller yard or vice versa. The results surprised many industry experts: Sixty-two percent of women prefer bigger yards and smaller homes, compared to only 52% of men who said bigger yards are more preferable.
This isn't just a minor preference—it represents a fundamental shift in how Americans think about home value and quality of life. The age of mega-mansions on small lots may have had their day pass, as overall both men and women are trending toward wanting bigger yards and smaller homes.
Why the change? Several factors converge:
- Remote Work Revolution: With 32.6 million Americans working from home, outdoor spaces provide respite from screen time and home offices
- Post-Pandemic Lifestyle: COVID-19 made outdoor entertaining and personal outdoor space essential, not optional
- Health & Wellness Focus: Outdoor space supports exercise, gardening, mental health, and vitamin D exposure
- Maintenance Reality: Large homes require more cleaning, heating, cooling, and upkeep—smaller homes with great yards offer better lifestyle ROI
- Entertaining Evolution: Outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and covered patios have become the new entertaining hubs
Women, who influence 85% of home purchasing decisions according to NAR data, are driving this trend. Their priorities increasingly focus on functional outdoor living rather than impressive but underutilized indoor square footage.
Why Outdoor Space Increases Resale Value
Why should you care? Two words: resale value. As greater numbers of people are moving more of their lives to their outdoor spaces, creating a turnkey environment where potential buyers can land on a ready-to-relax outdoor space can lead to quicker sales with better prices.
The Numbers Don't Lie:
- Quality landscaping adds 10-15% to home value ($40,000-$60,000 on a $400,000 home)
- Homes with well-designed outdoor spaces sell 20% faster than comparable properties
- Outdoor kitchens recover 70-100% of costs in warm-weather markets
- Covered patios add $5,000-$15,000 to appraised value immediately
- Professional landscaping returns 100-200% ROI (best of any home improvement)
The key insight: buyers pay premium prices for move-in-ready outdoor living spaces. A well-designed backyard with defined entertaining areas, professional landscaping, and functional outdoor rooms eliminates the buyer's need to invest time and money post-purchase. This convenience translates directly into higher offers and faster sales.
High-Impact Outdoor Upgrades
What kinds of additions could you make to enjoy your outside space more and at the same time make your home more attractive to homebuyers? Here are the most impactful investments:
Outdoor Living Rooms
Covered patios with ceiling fans, lighting, and comfortable seating create true outdoor living rooms. Retractable floor-to-ceiling walls that open to outdoors blur the line between indoor and outdoor, making homes feel significantly larger. Budget $15,000-$40,000 for covered structures; $8,000-$15,000 for quality outdoor furniture and accessories.
Outdoor Kitchens & Dining
Outdoor kitchens continue to gain popularity, especially outdoor pizza ovens which have become Instagram-worthy status symbols. A basic outdoor kitchen (grill, countertops, small fridge) costs $5,000-$15,000. Upscale versions with pizza ovens, smokers, and full appliances run $25,000-$50,000. ROI: 70-100% in warm climates, 50-70% in cold-weather markets.
Fire Features
Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits extend the usable season and create natural gathering spots. Gas fire pits ($2,000-$5,000) offer convenience; wood-burning options ($1,000-$3,000) provide ambiance. Outdoor fireplaces ($3,000-$10,000) make dramatic focal points. These features typically recover 60-75% of costs at resale.
Edible Landscaping
Fruit trees and vegetable gardens are making a big comeback. Raised garden beds ($500-$2,000), dwarf fruit trees ($100-$300 each), and herb gardens add both functionality and visual appeal. Millennials and Gen Z buyers particularly value sustainable, organic food production capabilities.
Pools & Water Features
Conventional pool displays are still popular, but buyers still want additional space to mingle outdoors outside of the pool, so be cognizant of that. Don't sacrifice all yard space for a pool—maintain 30-40% of yard for non-pool activities. In-ground pools cost $40,000-$100,000+ and typically recover 30-50% at resale (80%+ in Florida/Arizona). More affordable: water features like fountains ($1,000-$5,000) add ambiance without ongoing maintenance.
Smart Landscaping
Professional landscaping with native plants, mulched beds, and defined borders provides the foundation for all other improvements. Budget $5,000-$15,000 for comprehensive landscaping on a typical lot. Focus on low-maintenance options—buyers want beauty without constant upkeep. Drip irrigation systems ($1,500-$3,500) ensure longevity while reducing water bills.
Financing Your Outdoor Renovation
Many homeowners don't realize outdoor improvements can be financed through home equity solutions that often increase property value more than the loan amount:
Cash-Out Refinance Example:
- Current mortgage: $300,000 at 7.5%
- Home value: $450,000
- Refinance to: $350,000 at 6.5% (rates have dropped)
- Cash out: $50,000 for outdoor renovations
- Result: Lower monthly payment + comprehensive outdoor upgrades
- New home value: $480,000-$500,000 (immediate equity gain)
This strategy lets you improve lifestyle quality while building wealth—the outdoor improvements often add more value than they cost, creating instant equity.
The Bottom Line: Outdoor Space Sells
In short, it is an exciting time for community building as homeowners and homebuyers are doing everything they can to maximize their time in their homes. Making the outdoors like an extension of the house rather than a separate space is the current crazily popular trend.
Whether you're improving your home for personal enjoyment or preparing to sell, investing in outdoor living spaces delivers returns in both quality of life and resale value. The data is clear: buyers—especially women who drive purchasing decisions—prioritize functional outdoor space over unnecessary indoor square footage.
Focus on creating turnkey outdoor environments that potential buyers can immediately enjoy. Professional landscaping, defined entertaining areas, and low-maintenance features consistently deliver the highest ROI of any home improvement category.
