Oklahoma’s outdoor living market has matured significantly in the past five years — moving from the “let’s put in a deck” mentality to intentional multi-zone outdoor rooms that function as full extensions of the home’s living space. Here are the design trends VistaScapes is seeing drive the Tulsa and Broken Arrow outdoor living market in 2024.
Trend 1: The Covered Kitchen + Pavilion Package
The single most dominant project in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow market in 2024 is the combination covered structure with full masonry outdoor kitchen — specifically, a hip roof pavilion with tongue-and-groove ceiling over a complete L-shaped or straight-run outdoor kitchen with granite countertops and a full appliance package. This $55,000-$100,000+ project has moved from a premium outlier to the standard high-investment project in Broken Arrow’s established and newer neighborhoods. Homeowners who completed this build pre-COVID at $45,000-$65,000 are watching the same project cost $20,000-$30,000 more today — and choosing to complete it now rather than wait for costs to decrease.
Trend 2: Louvered Pergolas as the Middle Market Sweet Spot
Louvered pergola systems — with motorized aluminum louvers that close for rain protection and open for ventilation — have become the most requested outdoor structure in the $15,000-$35,000 investment range in 2024. They solve Oklahoma’s weather challenge (protection from the state’s frequent rain events) while preserving the open-air character that many homeowners prefer over a fully enclosed covered structure. Louvered pergola adoption in the Tulsa metro has grown significantly as prices have become more accessible and Oklahoma homeowners have seen completed projects at neighbors’ properties.
Trend 3: Natural Stone Surfaces Over Concrete Pavers
Oklahoma limestone, travertine, and precision-cut natural stone are taking market share from concrete pavers in 2024’s premium outdoor living projects in South Tulsa and Broken Arrow. Homeowners completing premium covered kitchen projects are increasingly choosing natural stone to match the overall investment level — and the cooler-underfoot quality of travertine is a practical differentiator that Oklahoma’s summer heat makes tangible. The cost premium for natural stone over quality concrete pavers is real (20-50% more per sq ft), but it’s being accepted as part of premium project packages.
Trend 4: Multi-Zone Outdoor Rooms
The single-patio-with-furniture setup is being replaced by planned multi-zone outdoor environments: a defined kitchen and dining zone, a separate lounge zone, a fire feature gathering area, and transitions between zones handled by grade changes, material changes, or landscaping. This reflects the same interior design logic — distinct room purposes — being applied to outdoor spaces. Multi-zone layouts start appearing at the $60,000+ total investment level and are the standard on $100,000+ projects throughout the Tulsa metro.
VistaScapes & Design is at the forefront of northeastern Oklahoma’s outdoor living market, building the projects that define where the Tulsa metro’s outdoor living standards are heading. Call (918) 779-1317 to discuss your 2024 outdoor living project.
