In 2026, the landscape design-build sector anticipates a profound shift from purely decorative design aesthetics to a more performative approach. Clients demand more than just beautiful outdoor spaces. Instead, they desire living areas engineered as seamless, tech-integrated and sustainably minded extensions of their home environment.
Design-build professionals first noted this shift during the pandemic with the advent of the “COVID backyard.” However, in 2026, experts suggest this trend has matured, reflecting a broader consumer demand for environments that encompass the entire outdoor experience rather than isolated design features.
“It’s no longer enough to offer people a static environment,” says J. Wickham Zimmerman, CEO of Anaheim, Calif.-based Outside the Lines, a design-build landscape construction firm specializing in rockwork, water features and themed environments. “Visitors now expect a reason to linger, whether they’re seeking passive rejuvenation of running water or a high-energy spectacle like a choreographed light and water show.”
Sustainable water use
In the 2026 design-build market, sustainability is no longer a passing trend but a permanent industry fixture, particularly for water features in arid regions such as California and Texas, Zimmerman says. While water conservation remains a priority, Zimmerman notes that a high-efficiency water feature consumes very little water.
“If they’re designed, built and maintained properly, there should be no leakage,” he says.
Additionally, Zimmerman expects future projects to move toward closed-loop designs that prioritize innovative water harvesting. Beyond standard rainwater harvesting, he advocates using air-conditioning condensate to offset evaporative losses in a water feature. Perhaps the most advanced application of this trend is the integration of water features directly into HVAC systems.
Advanced automation
Central to 2026 trends is the integration of advanced automation, allowing homeowners to manage their outdoor environments with unparalleled ease, design-build experts say. Automation enables remote control of lighting and water features, serving both aesthetic and security purposes by projecting a lived-in feel while residents are away.
A major development in this sector, according to Kevin Minton, national sales manager at Moorestown, N.J.-based Coastal Source, is the rise of human-centric lighting. This innovation enables outdoor lighting to sync with clients’ natural circadian rhythms, allowing users to transition through a host of natural lighting tones.
“So, if you want a bright daylight application in your home, you can have that, and you can just dial it in,” Minton explains.
Lessening the carbon footprint
According to Eric Gilbey of Columbia, Md.-based design-technology firm Vectorworks, the 2026 landscape design-build market is being shaped by a shift toward environmental accountability, where sustainability has evolved from a buzzword into a more rigorous design metric for consumers.
Gilbey notes that clients expect designers to evaluate the carbon costs of the transportation, installation and long-term operation and maintenance of their outdoor spaces.
“The goal isn’t just beautiful,” he says. “It’s one that actively participates in carbon sequestration.”
Gilbey foresees the continued rise of specialized construction material brokers selling sustainably sourced and harvested, reclaimed hardscape materials rather than freshly quarried stone or virgin concrete.
“Reused materials are no longer seen as a compromise,” he adds. “Cleverly carved reclaimed concrete and salvaged stone are becoming high-end aesthetic choices.”
