May 13, 2021 •Brian Hogan
Last week’s blog covered the top outdoor living trends for 2021: from satellite kitchens and edible gardens to shade structures and upgraded seating, homeowners are ready to take their backyards to the next level just in time for summer.
We purposefully left one of this year’s biggest outdoor living trends — backyard tech — off the list so we could explore it fully in this week’s blog. That’s because, as people look to spend more time and enjoy more activities in their outdoor spaces, technology is taking center stage.
Here are a few backyard tech trends that are redefining today’s outdoor living spaces:
1. Outdoor Sound System
Whether you’d like to hear your favorite tunes when you’re gardening, relaxing on your patio, hosting an outdoor party, or all the above, an outdoor sound system with top-quality speakers lets you enjoy high-performance sound throughout your space.
Stream your favorite playlist to weatherproof speakers designed to blend in seamlessly with your landscaping, or experience high-fidelity surround sound from your outdoor theater or TV.
2. Outdoor Projector and Screen
Who wouldn’t want to host backyard movie night all summer long? When it comes to choosing the right outdoor projector, you have endless options — look for a high-resolution, portable model with optimal luminosity and Bluetooth connectivity so you can stream movies and TV shows from your phone or computer.
Outdoor screens also come in a range of sizes and styles — there are retractable screens you can mount from the ceiling of your covered patio, screens with grommets that you can hang on the side of your garage, and standing or inflatable screens you can set up in your yard.
3. Outdoor Anti-Glare Television
An outdoor television is the best way to catch your favorite sports team while enjoying a beer on the patio with friends. Completely weatherproof and designed to withstand harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays and extreme temperatures, outdoor TV screens are brighter, sharper, and produce less glare than indoor models.
4. Smart Lighting System
Outdoor lighting that outlines your walkways, frames the patio, and accents your landscaping doesn’t just make your yard safer when it’s dark — it transforms the mood of your space. A smart outdoor lighting system offers a way to customize your exterior lighting with just the tap of a button.
Use your smartphone, tablet, or keypad to turn on outdoor lighting when the sun goes down; you can also use it to dim and brighten on command, change lighting colors as desired, and set a timer that turns them on and off at the same times each day.
5. Retractable “Phantom” Screens
Motorized retractable screens — also known as phantom screens — appear and disappear at the touch of a button. Designed for outdoor spaces like patios, porches, pavilions, and outdoor kitchens, these custom-fitted screens are made from high-tech mesh that provides shade from the sun, protection from insects, and privacy, all without sacrificing fresh air.
6. Retractable Pergola Cover
A pergola’s open-air latticework is perfect for providing sun-dappled shade, but sometimes you need more coverage. Whether you want on-demand shade at high noon or protection from the rain, a motorized retractable canopy gets the job done with the touch of a button.
For fully customizable shade control and weather protection, install a louvered roof system that opens, closes, and adjusts incrementally as desired.
7. Remote Control Fire Pit
Get your outdoor fire pit, fire table, or fireplace going at the touch of a button with a wireless system that allows you to turn your electric or gas fire on and off via your Smartphone, tablet, or remote control.
Wireless fire systems use an app or handheld remote to signal a receiver box, allowing you to turn your backyard fire element on and off with ease. Wireless fire technology also includes important safety features like timer pre-sets and auto-shutoff.
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