5 Outdoor Upgrades for North Texas and Oklahoma Backyards in 2026

Outdoor spaces continue to play a prominent role in residential design. In the American Institute of Architects’ Q2 2025 Home Design Trends Survey, outdoor living spaces—including covered patios, decks, and other outdoor rooms—recorded the highest net popularity score among exterior features, at 55% in the first quarter of 2025, compared with 60% in the first quarter of 2024. The score represents the percentage of architects reporting increased popularity minus the percentage reporting a decline.

And the 2026 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study, based on a survey of about 2,000 U.S. homeowners fielded during the spring, found that 83% of renovated outdoor spaces include a lounge or seating area. 

In North Texas and Oklahoma, outdoor designs also need to account for summer heat, afternoon sun, rainfall, soil, and drainage. Here are five ways to update a backyard in the region this year.

1. Smaller Pools with a Specific Purpose

Plunge pools and other compact designs offer an alternative for homeowners who want a place to cool off without allowing a large pool to dominate the yard. They can work particularly well where preserving room for a patio, garden, or outdoor dining area is part of the plan.

The 2026 Houzz research found that plunge pools appeared in 2% of projects involving homeowners who were upgrading outdoor structures, an increase from the 2024 study. Cold plunge pools were also among the leading wellness features identified by design professionals in Fixr’s 2025 Outdoor Living Trends Report.

The right format depends on how the pool will be used. A shallow pool intended primarily for cooling and conversation requires a different layout than one used for exercise or hydrotherapy. Sun exposure, access, drainage, mechanical equipment, safety requirements, and municipal approvals should be considered before its dimensions are finalized.

2. Permanent Shade Where It Matters Most

In a region where direct sunlight can make a patio difficult to use for much of the day, shade is often more consequential than additional furniture or decoration. Houzz found that 35% of homeowners upgrading outdoor structures incorporated shade, up 15 percentage points from the 2024 study. 

A roof extension, pavilion, pergola, or adjustable louvered structure can provide coverage over dining and seating areas. Placement should respond to the property’s orientation, with particular attention given to patios exposed to western afternoon sunlight. Shade can also help protect the home itself. Trees require a longer timeline than a covered structure, but the two approaches can be incorporated into the same plan.

Ceiling fans, retractable screens, and integrated lighting can make a covered area more comfortable, while materials should be selected with prolonged sunlight, wind, hail, and temperature fluctuations in mind.

3. Outdoor Kitchens Planned Around Everyday Use

Outdoor kitchens remain one of the more established additions to residential backyards. In AIA’s kitchen design survey, which used data from the fourth quarter of 2024 and compared it with the fourth quarter of 2023, outdoor kitchens recorded a net popularity score of 41%. Houzz’s 2026 study found that many new outdoor kitchens are also becoming more complete, with homeowners adding permanent utilities, appliances, storage, and weather coverage.

A useful kitchen does not have to include every available appliance. For some households, a built-in grill, preparation surface, and enclosed storage will be sufficient. Others may regularly use refrigeration, a sink, a cooktop, or a separate beverage area.

The layout should keep hot cooking surfaces away from gathering areas while limiting trips between the indoor and outdoor kitchens. Partial coverage can provide relief from sun and passing rain, but grills and other heat-producing appliances still require appropriate clearances and ventilation. Weather-rated cabinetry and durable work surfaces generally deserve priority over features that may be used only occasionally.

4. Lighting for Paths, Cooking, and Gathering

Lighting is helping homeowners use outdoor spaces later into the evening. In the 2026 Houzz study, 66% of renovated outdoor lounge areas included lighting. Rather than relying on one bright fixture, a backyard can use several restrained layers: illumination along paths and steps, task lighting near cooking surfaces, and accent lighting around selected architectural or landscape features.

Separately controlled zones provide additional flexibility. Cooking areas can remain well lit while seating and garden areas use softer illumination once dinner is finished.

5. Landscaping Chosen for the Immediate Region

Landscaping should be approached differently in North Texas and Oklahoma rather than relying on a single plant palette for both. Even within the same state, soil, winter temperatures, drainage, and exposure can vary considerably from one property to another.

June 2026 guidance from the Texas Water Resources Institute highlights options such as Turk’s cap, lantana, salvias, yaupon, cedar elm, and native muhly grasses. It also recommends grouping plants according to their water and light requirements, a practice known as hydrozoning. In areas with dense North Texas clay, compost can help improve soil structure and water retention.

For Oklahoma properties, Oklahoma State University’s April 2020 drought-tolerant plant guide identifies plants selected for their ability to handle heat and limited rainfall. Its recommendations include red yucca, prairie blazing star, autumn sage, blanket flower, and other options suited to different levels of sunlight and soil moisture.

Drought tolerance does not eliminate the need for watering, particularly while plants establish their root systems. Mulch, appropriate irrigation zones, and careful placement remain important. A local extension office, nursery, or landscape professional can help narrow the selections to the property’s particular conditions.

Planning the Backyard as One Space

The most effective projects connect these improvements rather than treating them as unrelated additions. Shade can cover an outdoor kitchen and dining area, lighting can establish safe routes between the house and pool, and planting can soften hardscaping while directing views and adding privacy.

The starting point should be how the backyard is currently used—and what prevents it from being used more often. On one property, shade may make the largest difference. On another, a compact pool, better evening lighting, or a landscape designed around local conditions may be the more meaningful investment.