Outdoor Living
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!
If you’re considering a design-build outdoor project and want clarity on scope, timeline, budget, and next steps:
- Property evaluation and design possibilities discussion
- Preliminary budget guidance
- Timeline and process overview
- Next steps if we're a mutual fit!
Trending: The Experience Behind a Luxury Outdoor Living Space
The Process for Your Outdoor Living Space
In 2026 a unique trend is coming to light, this trend affects nearly every industry in the country and is causing shifts in consumer trends. Consumers are looking for experiences over just investing in material objects or services. When you think about experiences, you may think of sporting events, vacations, etc however, these experiences can also come from high quality service providers.
At Arborvine Landscaping, our mission has always been to provide the best experience for homeowners looking to create their dream outdoor spaces. Our clear process & legendary experience is one that has set Arborvine apart and forged our reputation as the most sought after design build firm in New Castle County, DE & Southeastern Chester County, PA.
An outdoor living space can be a big decision & investment, our dedicated team curated a custom process to make this journey effortlessly enjoyable.
A Thoughtful, Client-Centered Design Process
Starting from the initial design meeting, our creative design consultants will listen to our clients lifestyle preferences, visions & goals to create a space that suits their needs while also respecting the site conditions and style of the 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!
Bringing Your Vision to Life Through Design
From here, our process really comes to life as we create a design that allows our clients to digitally interact with the outdoor space. Our clients will feel like they are living in their space thanks to the quality of our design renderings.
This allows plenty of time to refine details, discuss phasing and select materials. Each design detail is thoughtful & intentional to reflect each client’s unique vision.
We will provide material samples and carefully review each selection to compliment the space with the finest available products to ensure a luxurious & durable outdoor space. Each earth derived natural stone selection is complimented beautifully by luscious plantings & even lighting or sound systems to create vibrant outdoor spaces.
This period of collaboration ends with a clear & detailed proposal outlining the scope of work, material selection and creating a clear blueprint to turn this vision to reality!
From Planning to Construction Excellence
Each Arborvine backyard is clearly planned before a shovel hits the ground. The Arbovine experience continues to impress as we move from planning to construction.
Our production managers will procure materials, handle permits & align our expert crews perfectly. After careful planning & coordination, a pre construction meeting kicks off the build. This is where our seasoned craftsmen will seamlessly integrate with the design team to fully understand the vision and start to bring it to life.
Each project built by Arbovine comes with a level of quality that is sure to exceed expectations.
A Stress-Free Build Experience
Construction can be stressful, but not when you choose Arborvine. Clean & safe jobsites, constant communication & attention to detail that is unmatched in our industry.
This stage of the process will leave you relaxed & informed, not worried about managing the project or stressing over the details. This step is where the importance of the design & planning process shine. The time spent with our consultants reviewing the design & carefully selecting the materials all pays off when it’s time to build.
At this point there is nothing left for you to do but enjoy the journey & cherish this design & build experience curated by Arborvine.
Many of our clients are sad to see our crews go. While they are ecstatic about their new personal paradise, they slightly miss the joyful daily bustle and positive vibes of our crew members & project managers. The true pride we take in our craft shows each and every day through our smiles, laughs & productive harmony as we proudly bring these visions to life.
Completion, Care, and Long-Term Confidence
On completion, our experts will proudly walk you through the space answering questions and guiding you through the key steps of care & maintenance. We will customize maintenance plans to suit clients needs and protect their investments.
There is no better feeling than the pride & confidence that comes with an Arborvine built backyard. From reminiscing on an experience that makes you smile, to the peace of mind that comes with our industry leading warranties and most importantly, the memories created in your space that you will cherish for life.
Our clients are forever members of the Arborvine family!
Build With Arborvine
If you are a homeowner who values a high quality experience as much as a high quality & long lasting outdoor space, build with Arborvine.
Our perfectly orchestrated process is the only choice when looking to enhance the enjoyment of your home through a custom outdoor space or landscape. While consumers valuing experiences may be a new trend, Arborvine stayed true to our roots, beat the curve by a decade & has been providing a top notch experience since the very beginning.
Join our rapidly growing family of happy clients who are actively creating memories in their dream backyard, proudly built by Arborvine!
If you’re considering a design-build outdoor project and want clarity on scope, timeline, budget, and next steps:
- Property evaluation and design possibilities discussion
- Preliminary budget guidance
- Timeline and process overview
- Next steps if we're a mutual fit!
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Testimonials
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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 RockwellSpringfield, PA -
We are very pleased with the quality of work that was performed on our drainage problem. They redid our front yard with a stone border and added a lot of new plants. They also take care of our mowing and yard fertilizing. Greg always keeps us informed with the progress of the jobs and responses to our texts and/or phone calls. We highly recommend them for all your landscaping projects!!
Sheila MoranWilmington, DE -
Great to work with and really captured the look we wanted. Reliable and always available for questions. Along with landscaping they installed pathway lighting and they did a great job.
Carol AruffoChadds Ford, PA -
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 TealWest Chester PA -
I was very happy with my experience with Arbovine from the initial consultation through the completion of the job. They were very professional and did an excellent job! The work at our house included several things including new sod, new shrubs, and a lot of work with rock in the front and back of the yard with landscape edging. It all turned out great and I would certainly use them again for the next time we need work done!
Patrick HanleyWilmington, DE -
We had Arborvine remove overgrown bushes and plant smaller ones. They worked quickly and efficiently. We appreciate their professionalism.
Nicole MacturkNewark, DE -
Arborvine Landscaping does great work. This fall Angel came to aerate and over-seed my property. He hand seeded around my gardens and made sure to hit every inch of the yard. It really boosted my lawn!
Gregory VigloittaWilmington, DE -
Great company, we have been using them for a few years now on a few different projects along with your typical mulching and yard clean ups. The owner Greg was very easy to work with and the office staff is great. On our most recent project we had the pleasure of working with the foreman by the name of Alex who was great and took great pride in his work. We would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a landscaping company in the future.
Richard LubickyWilmington, DE -
From my initial meeting with Greg, it was always a very efficient process which took much of the stress of home projects off my shoulders. Greg and his entire crew were always punctual, professional, and truly a pleasure to work with. I would recommend to anyone in need of home improvements in many different areas including but not limited to hardscaping, landscaping, drainage issues, and so much more. They do a great job and take immense pride in customer satisfaction!
Sarah RyanWilmington, DE -
Arborvine just completed a hardscaping project at my home that involved the installation of a new brick walkway and lighted pillars. The owner, Greg, was very responsive and easy to work with. His crew was excellent — hardworking, detailed and collaborative. Everyone at Arborvine wanted to make sure we were happy. We are thrilled with the result and have received so many compliments from our neighbors.
Kate SullivanGreenville, DE