The Top 5 Most Requested Features in Million‑Dollar Utah Landscapes
The Top 5 Most Requested Features in Million‑Dollar Utah Landscapes
When someone drops a million (or close) on a home here in Utah and yes, that often means Park City, the Wasatch Front, Draper, Salt Lake, or hidden canyons they expect the yard to do more than just survive the snow and drought. Homeowners want luxury, utility, and wow factor. Based on interviews with landscapers, design firms, and trend reports, here are the features that keep coming up. I’ve ranked them but order depends on site, views, and budget.
When someone drops a million (or close) on a home here in Utah and yes, that often means Park City, the Wasatch Front, Draper, Salt Lake, or hidden canyons they expect the yard to do more than just survive the snow and drought. Homeowners want luxury, utility, and wow factor. Based on interviews with landscapers, design firms, and trend reports, here are the features that keep coming up. I’ve ranked them but order depends on site, views, and budget.
Smart & Water‑Efficient Irrigation / Drought Resilience
Utah is dry. Million‑dollar homes are expected to look lush without being water hogs. Smart irrigation systems that react to weather, soil moisture sensors, drip irrigation, and minimizing lawn areas are big. Xeriscaping + native or drought tolerant plants are essential.
Sources:
UV Landscaping’s “Landscaping Trends Utah: 15+ Sustainable Design Ideas”
Aspire Fine Homes notes water‑saving irrigation in luxury designs
Hardscaping + Terracing + Retaining Walls
For beauty and slope management. Many luxury lots are not flat. Retaining walls, terraces, grand staircases, stone paved patios, pathways, seamless transitions from house to yard these add structure, curb appeal, and keep erosion under control. Utah’s elevation changes make this a must.
Sources:
Pendleton Landscape highlights retaining walls and detailed architecture too
Outdoor Living Spaces: Kitchens, Fireplaces, Pergolas & Shade Structures
If you’re paying a million, your yard isn’t “just plants” it’s an extension of your indoor living. Outdoor kitchens, built‑in grills or pizza ovens, fire pits/fireplaces, pergolas (for shade + ambiance), seating areas, sometimes even outdoor “rooms.” Utah’s climate allows for a lot of outdoor season.
Sources:
UV Landscaping also highlights patios, shade structures, grilling & dining outdoors
Lighting & Night‑Ambience
Million‑dollar landscapes aren’t only about the view in daylight. The way downlighting, path lighting, uplighting of trees or architectural features, water feature lighting, accent LED color effects, etc., transforms the space by night is hugely requested. Users want safety + drama.
Water Features & Pools / Spa Features
Swimming pools, spas, reflecting pools, water walls, fountains these are the showstoppers. Particularly when paired with elegant materials (stone, glass, steel) and clever design (infinity edges, vanishing edges, naturalistic or clean modern). Also ponds or babbling streams in high‐end mountain homes. The sound of water = instant luxury.
Sources:
OutdoorMakeover lists modern water features as a predicted luxury landscaping trend.
Overnight Digs calls out “fire and water combos” around pools/spas.
Smart & Water‑Efficient Irrigation / Drought Resilience
Utah is dry. Million‑dollar homes are expected to look lush without being water hogs. Smart irrigation systems that react to weather, soil moisture sensors, drip irrigation, and minimizing lawn areas are big. Xeriscaping + native or drought tolerant plants are essential.
Sources:
UV Landscaping’s “Landscaping Trends Utah: 15+ Sustainable Design Ideas”
Aspire Fine Homes notes water‑saving irrigation in luxury designs
Hardscaping + Terracing + Retaining Walls
For beauty and slope management. Many luxury lots are not flat. Retaining walls, terraces, grand staircases, stone paved patios, pathways, seamless transitions from house to yard these add structure, curb appeal, and keep erosion under control. Utah’s elevation changes make this a must.
Sources:
Pendleton Landscape highlights retaining walls and detailed architecture too
Outdoor Living Spaces: Kitchens, Fireplaces, Pergolas & Shade Structures
If you’re paying a million, your yard isn’t “just plants” it’s an extension of your indoor living. Outdoor kitchens, built‑in grills or pizza ovens, fire pits/fireplaces, pergolas (for shade + ambiance), seating areas, sometimes even outdoor “rooms.” Utah’s climate allows for a lot of outdoor season.
Sources:
UV Landscaping also highlights patios, shade structures, grilling & dining outdoors
Lighting & Night‑Ambience
Million‑dollar landscapes aren’t only about the view in daylight. The way downlighting, path lighting, uplighting of trees or architectural features, water feature lighting, accent LED color effects, etc., transforms the space by night is hugely requested. Users want safety + drama.
Water Features & Pools / Spa Features
Swimming pools, spas, reflecting pools, water walls, fountains these are the showstoppers. Particularly when paired with elegant materials (stone, glass, steel) and clever design (infinity edges, vanishing edges, naturalistic or clean modern). Also ponds or babbling streams in high‐end mountain homes. The sound of water = instant luxury.
Sources:
OutdoorMakeover lists modern water features as a predicted luxury landscaping trend.
Overnight Digs calls out “fire and water combos” around pools/spas.
Bonus: What Buyers Are Letting Go Of / Avoiding
Since I have an interior‑design backbone too, here are what million‑dollar homeowners increasingly don’t ask for or quietly remove from wish‑lists:
Huge expanses of bluegrass lawn. Too high maintenance, too thirsty, too fragile under Utah’s extremes.
Overly ornate or traditional formal gardens unless they match the home’s style. Some prefer modern simplicity or naturalistic looks.
Materials that degrade quickly under freeze‑thaw cycles or intense UV. (Cheap wood, low quality stone or pavers tend to crack or fade.)
Overcomplicated maintenance regimes unless you have the staff. Even wealthy people often want “hands‑off luxury” where possible.
Bonus: What Buyers Are Letting Go Of / Avoiding
Since I have an interior‑design backbone too, here are what million‑dollar homeowners increasingly don’t ask for or quietly remove from wish‑lists:
Huge expanses of bluegrass lawn. Too high maintenance, too thirsty, too fragile under Utah’s extremes.
Overly ornate or traditional formal gardens unless they match the home’s style. Some prefer modern simplicity or naturalistic looks.
Materials that degrade quickly under freeze‑thaw cycles or intense UV. (Cheap wood, low quality stone or pavers tend to crack or fade.)
Overcomplicated maintenance regimes unless you have the staff. Even wealthy people often want “hands‑off luxury” where possible.
Trend Data & Context
According to Freedonia Group, residential demand for landscaping products in the U.S. is forecast to keep growing, with hardscaping, lighting, outdoor structures (pergolas etc), smart lighting all being growth areas.
From This Old House / Houzz, in their outdoor living trends data: lighting, native plants, low‑maintenance shrubs, upgrading beds/borders are among top homeowner priorities.
Utah landscaping firms consistently note that sustainable design ideas xeriscaping, native plants, soil health are not just trendy but increasingly mandated by local ordinance, water district incentive programs, HOA/city guidelines.
Trend Data & Context
According to Freedonia Group, residential demand for landscaping products in the U.S. is forecast to keep growing, with hardscaping, lighting, outdoor structures (pergolas etc), smart lighting all being growth areas.
From This Old House / Houzz, in their outdoor living trends data: lighting, native plants, low‑maintenance shrubs, upgrading beds/borders are among top homeowner priorities.
Utah landscaping firms consistently note that sustainable design ideas xeriscaping, native plants, soil health are not just trendy but increasingly mandated by local ordinance, water district incentive programs, HOA/city guidelines.
What This Means for Design & Interior Synergy
Because I also know interior design, I see a few crossovers:
The landscape palette (plants, stone, wood) is being selected to complement interior finishes e.g. stone that matches fireplace masonry, or colors of woodwork or trim.
Lighting outdoors is designed with interior lighting in mind, so views at night are curated: you want the view from the living room to be magical.
Materials used outside are often the same aesthetic family as indoors: clean metals, natural stone, wood, minimalism vs ornate etc. The idea is continuity.
Furniture/fixtures outdoors now mimic indoor luxury: weather‑resistant, high‑end cushions & fabrics, built‑in appliances.
What This Means for Design & Interior Synergy
Because I also know interior design, I see a few crossovers:
The landscape palette (plants, stone, wood) is being selected to complement interior finishes e.g. stone that matches fireplace masonry, or colors of woodwork or trim.
Lighting outdoors is designed with interior lighting in mind, so views at night are curated: you want the view from the living room to be magical.
Materials used outside are often the same aesthetic family as indoors: clean metals, natural stone, wood, minimalism vs ornate etc. The idea is continuity.
Furniture/fixtures outdoors now mimic indoor luxury: weather‑resistant, high‑end cushions & fabrics, built‑in appliances.
Final Thoughts
The backyard is no longer just a lawn and patio it’s the heart of the home. These trends represent a shift in how we live, relax, entertain, and connect with nature. Whether you’re building a custom home, designing for a client, or just dreaming, let these ideas inspire your next big project.
✨ See more photos and videos of each trend in action on our Instagram
Final Thoughts
The backyard is no longer just a lawn and patio it’s the heart of the home. These trends represent a shift in how we live, relax, entertain, and connect with nature. Whether you’re building a custom home, designing for a client, or just dreaming, let these ideas inspire your next big project.
✨ See more photos and videos of each trend in action on our Instagram
Want help bringing your dream backyard to life? Our team specializes in foam-based pool and retaining wall builds that reduce cost, speed up construction, and look incredible. DM us on Instagram to get started, or use the contact form below to contact us directly! We respond usually within 24 hours.
Want help bringing your dream backyard to life? Our team specializes in foam-based pool and retaining wall builds that reduce cost, speed up construction, and look incredible. DM us on Instagram to get started, or use the contact form below to contact us directly! We respond usually within 24 hours.
