Keep a lid on it. Putting a roof over an outdoor living space provides plenty of advantages, including extending the time you can spend outside. On hot days, you have shade. On wet days, you have protection. Plus you can add a ceiling fan, recessed lighting, or a feature wall.

Appliances. Grills are everyone’s go-to for summer cooking and entertaining. But the newest trend is for entire outdoor kitchens. Grills, smokers and pizza ovens are joining exterior-grade appliances such as refrigerators, sinks, ice machines, and beer taps. Throw in some exterior grade cabinetry and your outdoor kitchen is complete!

Light it up. Outdoor lighting isn’t new, but the technology behind it is better and more efficient. Outdoor lighting extends the time you can spend outside, creates drama when the sun goes down, and act as a safety feature. LED lighting is hot right now. It gives a truer color, has longer lasting bulbs, and saves electricity. LED fixtures are available in landscape lighting, as well as masonry, deck and patio applications.

Go high tech. A-V technology is heading outdoors. Integrating Wi-Fi controls in your outdoor audio-video system lets you enjoy music without having to go inside to control the volume or channel. There are outdoor lighting systems, fire features, and water features that can be controlled by a smart phone with the opening of an app.