According to a recent survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), homeowners are still spending on outdoor living, but they are forgoing many of the bells and whistles (think sport courts, showers and outdoor TVs) in favor of focusing on the basics (dining and seating areas, grills, lighting, firepits and fireplaces).

Other outdoor living elements that ranked as popular for 2010, according to ASLA:

Installed seating such as benches, seatwalls, ledges, steps and boulders (90.6 percent)

Weatherized Outdoor Furniture (77 percent)

Counter Space (73.5 percent)

Decorative elements such as ornamental pools, waterfalls, grottos (86 percent)

All projects pictured are by Outdoor Environments. Let us know how we can help you get back to basics, just in time for Spring!