Outdoor Living Space Trends in Oklahoma
The outdoor living market in Broken Arrow and Tulsa has evolved substantially over the past several years. Homeowners are investing more, expecting more, and being more intentional about design than at any previous point. Here are the trends we’re seeing most frequently in our conversations with Oklahoma homeowners and in the projects we’re building.
Trend 1: Complete Outdoor Rooms, Not Just Kitchens
The most significant shift in the market is the move from “outdoor kitchen” as an isolated element to “outdoor room” as a complete, designed environment. Homeowners are increasingly asking us to design the entire outdoor space — not just the kitchen — with defined zones for cooking, dining, gathering, and fire that flow naturally together.
This means outdoor kitchens are now typically designed alongside covered structures, fire features, and patio layouts from the start, rather than as stand-alone additions.
Trend 2: Motorized Louvered Pergolas
Louvered aluminum pergola systems — where the roof slats rotate open or closed with a remote or app — have become one of the most requested premium additions we discuss with Broken Arrow homeowners. The appeal is obvious: on a perfect Oklahoma evening, the louvers open to the sky; when a storm approaches or the afternoon sun beats down, they close in seconds.
Systems from Struxure, Vergola, and similar manufacturers are now competitively priced relative to full patio covers, and the motorized function makes them genuinely more versatile.
Trend 3: Serious Outdoor Cooking — Pizza Ovens and Smokers
The pandemic-era cooking boom didn’t fully recede. Oklahoma homeowners who got serious about outdoor cooking during extended time at home are now investing in built-in outdoor cooking appliances beyond the standard grill: wood-fired or gas pizza ovens, built-in outdoor griddles (flat-top cooking surfaces), and — increasingly — built-in outdoor smokers.
We’re building more pizza oven integrations than at any previous point, and the demand for Coyote’s Asado Smoker and similar built-in smoker products has grown noticeably in our conversations with clients.
Trend 4: Outdoor Bars and Entertainment-First Design
Not every outdoor kitchen buyer is primarily a cook — and the designs are starting to reflect that. We’re seeing more homeowners who want an outdoor bar with bar seating, excellent beverage storage, and a smaller cooking setup, rather than a large grill station with minimal bar seating. The outdoor bar as the primary feature, with an optional grill as a supporting element.
Trend 5: Natural Stone Dominates
Stone veneer finishes continue to dominate over stucco in our Broken Arrow and Tulsa projects, particularly as more homeowners have seen what happens to engineered quartz countertops installed by less careful contractors. Natural stone — both as countertop material (granite, quartzite) and as exterior finish (ledgestone, ashlar) — is the clear preference among homeowners investing at the mid-to-premium tier.
Trend 6: Outdoor Televisions and AV Integration
Weatherproof outdoor televisions and full outdoor AV systems have become a common addition to outdoor kitchen builds — particularly for homeowners who entertain for sports events. SunBrite outdoor televisions (purpose-built for direct sun exposure with 700+ nit brightness) are the standard for outdoor installations in Oklahoma’s sunny climate.
Trend 7: Warm Tones and Natural Textures
The cool-gray contemporary palette that dominated outdoor design for several years is giving way to warmer tones — creamy limestone, warm sandstone, amber-toned granite, and warm-white stucco with wood accents. This aligns with broader interior design trends and gives outdoor living spaces a more approachable, inviting character.
What These Trends Mean for Your Project
The best outdoor living space isn’t the one that follows the latest trend — it’s the one that fits how you actually live and what you’ll consistently use and enjoy. Our role in every project is to help you sort through the options and design something that’s genuinely suited to your household and your yard.
Call VistaScapes Design at (918) 779-1317 to schedule your free outdoor living consultation in Broken Arrow or Tulsa. We’ll bring design ideas informed by current work we’re building and help you find the right direction for your project.
VistaScapes Design — 413 N Walnut Ave Suite A, Broken Arrow, OK 74012 — (918) 779-1317
