One of the great joys of owning your own home is having the space inside and out to live, relax and entertain. That’s why many house hunters yearn for spacious homes with equally spacious backyards. They picture themselves setting up an outdoor barbeque and inviting some friends over.

But why stop there? Recent trends show that for most homeowners, outdoor living means more than just firing up the grill. The ideal outdoor space now looks like an extension of your interior. In fact, a recent landscaping survey found that 88% of homeowners are taking on projects to upgrade their outdoor living areas by adding elements that make spending time outside more comfortable.

Earlier this year, Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design, surveyed a group of U.S. homeowners who are planning, in the middle of, or recently completed a landscaping project. One of the biggest reasons stated for starting a landscaping project was to improve their outdoor living space.

Homeowners are looking to spend more time living and entertaining in their backyards. As such, results show that they are outfitting the outdoors with decor pieces we’re used to seeing inside. For 43% of respondents, that means lounge furniture, while 34% bring in dining furniture. Other outdoor furnishings include string lights, benches, ceiling fans and rugs, all of which make the space look like a cohesive room.

What truly completes the outdoor room are the heating and overhead coverage. Heating sources such as firepits were popular with nearly half of the respondents saying that they installed or were thinking of installing one. Installing outdoor heating and a retractable roof or canopy are valuable. They can extend the season for outdoor entertaining especially in the colder months.

Once those updates are made, 67% of homeowners said they spend more time outside, with most spending their time relaxing. On the other hand, some intended to be more active by taking up gardening while others got straight down to entertaining. Results also show that after the renovations, homeowners are spending more family-time outdoors.

So, when it comes down to it, the outside of the house is just as important as the inside. Homeowners just want to have an outdoor place to unwind. They want a space that is as comfortable, accommodating, and as relaxing as the inside.

How do you spend your time outdoors? Comment below and let us know.