Top 5 Outdoor Living Upgrades to Maximize Value & Enjoyment

If you are looking to enhance your curb appeal or outdoor living space in 2026 without a total revamp, here are the top 5 upgrades that will make a huge impact & change your outdoor space!

Use this guide & consider which upgrades you would enjoy the most. Each of these simple enhancements will increase the value & enjoyment you receive from your home!

1. Fire Pits

Fire pits create an experience in your outdoor space. They serve as the focal point, the spot where everyone wants to be. Priceless memories are made around the fire! Whether you are roasting marshmallows with your family or exchanging stories with friends, this is the place to be. With countless ways to customize fire features, they are an instant fun & value booster for your home!

We look at inspiration clients may have and collaborate with our expertise and skill to overcome design or terrain challenges and achieve the desired results regardless of the complexity of the property. Steep slopes, tight spaces, or a flat open canvas, we handle it all!

2. Patios

If you have a backyard where there is no place to set a table or even a few chairs, a small patio can totally change the exterior of your home, adding enjoyment & customization. Adding a patio creates a defined space to gather & enjoy the outdoors. Making this simple addition will leave you wondering how you lived without it! Building this space will create an extension of your home where outdoor living can be a dream come true, a simple space where priceless memories will be made & cherished!

3. Walkways

Walkways are great for enhancing your curb appeal or cohesively connecting key areas of your outdoor living space! Whether you need an intentional pathway leading guests to your front door or a discreet, turf-set stepping stone path leading to a secret garden retreat, this upgrade will make a huge difference. Investment levels are customizable with endless options ranging from custom pavers to timeless flagstone!

4. Landscaping

Installing a new landscape at your home is sure to turn heads! From subtle pops of perennial color to elegant evergreens & specimen flowering trees, a professionally designed landscape will create an environment that is warm, inviting, and unique to your style & vision. Incorporating seasonal interest will have guests & neighbors anxiously awaiting the next season to see what colors will pop at your home. Expertly installed landscapes bring your property to life and allow your home to stand out!

5. Landscape Lighting

Lighting is hands down the best way to improve the usability of your home after dark, capture its beauty all night, and even enhance your home’s security. Want to keep that backyard cookout going after the sun sets? Or impress your neighbors as your home glows through the night? Lighting is the answer! With color-changing options, the possibilities are endless with a custom outdoor lighting system!

Ready to Start Planning Your Outdoor Living Space?

If you’re considering a design-build outdoor project and want clarity on scope, timeline, budget, and next steps:

Consultations Include:

Testimonials

A truly beautiful job!! We will be using Arborvine for our next project!

Susan Murray

Wilmington, DE
Greg was extremely prompt with all communications and gave us a great plan for our new flower beds. The team completed the job right on schedule – we love the new look!

Lou Camaratta

Wilmington, DE
Punctual, professional, quick and thorough. Greg was great to work with and Angel and crew did a fantastic job. Would recommend Arborvine for any landscaping project!

Abby Hughes

Wilmington, DE
Love the workmanship, professionalism , design, and outcome of our outdoor project. Always on time, friendly, beautiful workmanship, cleaned up every day and on final day. Would highly recommend Arborvine for anyone. Thank you for an amazing outcome!

Karen Rockwell

Springfield, PA
The whole team was professional, thorough, communicative, and did great work. No complaints.

John Cohn

Wilmington, DE
Working with Arborvine was great and we really could not be happier. All of the work was completed in the time estimated and the same workers were here each day from morning until evening focused on the job. The work itself exceeded our expectations. We knew we wanted a paved area outside for a patio, but really had no idea beyond that and were expecting something plain. They laid beautiful stone, redid the garden area, and made a retaining wall that is the perfect place for a fire pit. It was all designed by them. We have gotten so many compliments and even other contractors have been impressed. Would definitely work with them again and highly recommend!

Steve Hague

Wilmington, DE
Greg and the Arborvine crew did an excellent job on a design-build project for us late last year. We had steps added from our raised patio to our backyard. They added a planting area near the driveway, bluestone steps, boulders, shrubs on the side, river rock borders, smaller river rock under the patio (which looks great now instead of a mud hole), and made it all look perfect. What really impressed me was the response time on questions and changes before any money changed hands, AND the ease at which changes were accommodated during and near the end of the project. I’ve seen some contractors take a week or more to return email/calls, but Greg was nearly immediate! Highly recommended and I’d use Arborvine again in a heartbeat – without getting other quotes!

Dave Teal

West Chester PA
We contracted with Greg and his team to replace about 200′ of backyard drainage piping. His pricing was competitive and they didn’t try to upsell us, or redesign the project parameters, as some of his competitors did. He installed exactly what we requested and the resultant project was a success. We no longer have a lake in our backyard and water is being diverted away from our foundation. I found Arborvine Landscaping to be very professional in the way they operated and will definitely have no issues working with them in the future. Thanks Greg.

Rick Fraatz

Wilmington, DE
We worked with Greg and he was very responsive and helpful as we iterated over several different designs for our outdoor space. I was very impressed with the quality of workmanship during the project, and when an issue did arise Greg work with us to adjust the design as needed, I would highly recommend Greg and Arborvine and plan to use them again for my next project.

Robert Curl

Wilmington, DE
Greg and his crew did an amazing job in our backyard today. They pulled out some dead bushes, relocated other bushes, and cleaned up all my flower beds. Added sod and shrunk some beds to lessen my weeding. I will be having him back for more work and highly recommend Arborvine Landscaping to everyone.

Diane Phillips

Hockessin, DE