77% of Homeowners Are Upgrading Their Backyard in 2026. Here’s What They’re Doing

So many of the best parts of being at home happen in small moments. Sitting outside with a cup of coffee. Enjoying a moment in relative privacy while the sun and fresh air revive you. Spending time with family and friends in a space big enough for everyone. More homeowners in Lubbock are shaping their backyards around those kinds of moments. Instead of thinking about big, one-time upgrades, the focus is on making the space easier to use on a regular basis. Fortunately, the cost of making your outdoor space more livable doesn't have to be huge. A new study by Alan's Factory Outlet highlighted the most popular backyard improvement projects of 2026. It found that, right now, homeowners are often working within a modest budget, and they're prioritizing comfort and function over how it might look in a listing photo.

Your Backyard Isn't Just a Backyard Anymore

Backyards are becoming part of everyday life. Homeowners are thinking more intentionally about how they use that space and what would make it more enjoyable. What's driving those decisions is simple: how it feels to be out there.

• 62% prioritize relaxation
• 38% want more time with friends and family
• 31% are thinking about home value

There's also a practical lens shaping these upgrades.

• 34% see their backyard as a functional outdoor area
• 31% see it as a place to relax
• 22% see it as an extension of indoor space

Wellness plays a role here, too. Half of the homeowners surveyed say their backyard is "very" or "extremely" important to mental health. For many homeowners, the backyard has become a place to reset, recharge, get exercise, and spend time in a way that feels more natural.

What Homeowners Want Most in 2026

When you look at what people are actually prioritizing, the most popular upgrades are the ones that get used often and improve how the space works.

• 62% prioritize landscaping and aesthetics
• 48% plan to upgrade outdoor seating
• 38% are considering raised garden beds
• 35% are adding firepits
• 19% are upgrading sheds
• 19% are improving storage

Landscaping is often the starting point because it changes how a yard feels right away. Seating areas follow because they give you a place to actually spend time. Garden beds and firepits add both function and personality. Wellness features are also gaining traction, especially for homeowners who want more out of their space.

• 12% plan to add hot tubs or plunge pools
• 5% are considering outdoor saunas

Some upgrades are more specific to lifestyle; 8% of surveyed homeowners are exploring pickleball courts. Outdoor kitchens, backyard gyms or courts, and hobby spaces are also becoming more common, depending on how people want to use their space.

What These Projects Actually Cost

Costs vary, though most homeowners are working within a defined range.

• Median backyard budget: $1,500
• 38% plan to spend under $1,000
• 27% plan to spend between $1,000 and $2,500
• 23% plan to spend more than $5,000

Here's how common upgrades tend to break down:

• Landscaping: $3,517 average
• Seating areas: $1,500 to $10,000+
• Raised garden beds: $300 to $1,500
• Firepits: $200 to $3,000
• Shed upgrades: $2,000 to $15,000+
• Storage: $500 to $3,000
• Hot tubs: $2,000 to $11,000
• Plunge pools: ~$28,000
• Saunas: $3,000 to $10,000+
• Pickleball courts: $20,000 to $50,000

Some trends are also picking up attention online:

• Cold plunge: 1.08M searches, 227K TikTok posts
• Raised garden beds: 1.16M searches

If You Own an Investment Property, the Backyard Pays You Back

If your home in Lubbock is a rental or you're thinking about adding one to your portfolio, the backyard isn't just a personal perk. It's a feature that can move the needle on what tenants are willing to pay, especially with Generation Z. Gen Z is officially the fastest-growing slice of the rental market, and outdoor space is showing up on their priority list in ways landlords can't afford to ignore.

After 2020, the appetite for fresh air and usable outdoor space jumped sharply across every generation, and it hasn't cooled off. Gen Z grew up during that shift, and it shaped what they look for in a place to live.

A few data points worth paying attention to:

• 41% of renters ages 18 to 24 consider a private outdoor space, like a patio, balcony, or yard, a top factor when choosing a rental, according to Apartments.com.
• Roughly 90% of Gen Z and Millennial renters say they'd pay more for a community with green space and walkability, and about one-third say they'd pay "a lot more."
• 18% of Gen Z describe their ideal living environment as a suburban community with green spaces and amenities (RentCafe).
• Industry research from ButterflyMX and Arbor shows that outdoor gathering spaces, fire pits, dog-friendly areas, and seating zones translate directly into higher rental demand, stronger rent prices, and longer-term leases.

The good news for landlords is that the upgrades that make Gen Z tenants tour, apply, and renew are the same modest projects already covered above. Landscaping, a defined seating area, a firepit, raised garden beds, string lights, and a yard that photographs well in listing photos and on social media. You don't need a plunge pool or an outdoor kitchen to capture this. A clean, well-landscaped yard with a comfortable place to hang out creates the "backyard vibe" younger renters are searching for, and that's often what lets you list at the higher end of the comp set instead of the middle.

Pencil it out the way you would any other improvement. If a $2,500 to $5,000 backyard refresh helps you raise rent by even $50 to $100 a month, you're often recovering the investment within the first lease term, and you're typically getting a more engaged tenant who treats the property like home.

How to Decide What's Worth It

With so many options, it helps to keep things simple. The best upgrades are the ones you'll use often. A few questions can help guide your decisions:

• Will I use this every week?
• Does this make my space easier to enjoy?
• Does it fit my budget?

If you're planning to take on some projects yourself, it's worth being realistic about the work involved.

• 9% reported a DIY project that didn't go as planned
• Successful DIY projects averaged $1,928
• Failed DIY projects averaged $818

Starting with the basics tends to make the biggest difference. Landscaping, seating, and layout improvements create a foundation you can build on over time. If you're thinking about hiring a pro to help with a backyard project, I've got a list of vetted service providers in Lubbock that are worth interviewing. Click HERE to download the list and keep it handy so you never have to wonder who to call.

Closing Thoughts

Your backyard doesn't need to be overbuilt to be valuable. What matters is how often you use it and how it fits into your routine in Lubbock. Most homeowners are focusing on simple improvements that make their space more comfortable and easier to enjoy. One upgrade at a time is enough to change how your backyard feels. The best backyard is the one you find yourself using without thinking about it.