If there’s one good thing the pandemic has left us with is a newfound appreciation of outdoor spaces – a must, in the time of social distancing – and that is shifting residential trends. Canadians don’t just want to hang out in parks and other public places, although those have skyrocketed in popularity since COVID-19. They want privacy, but outside.

A place to cook, eat, exercise and hang out. And with travel down because of the pandemic, people are spending more time in their homes which fuels their desire the make it a pleasant pace to be.

A recent study by Fixer interviewed 48 top experts in the home construction industry. Eighty-five percent of them said that homeowners are more willing to invest in outdoor living spaces than before the pandemic.

Personal, private outdoor spaces like yards and patios are IN right now. Here are some of the hottest trends for outdoor living spaces.

Outdoor kitchens are the most desired addition to outdoor living spaces in 2021. COVID-19 brought a renewed interest to both cooking and outdoor spaces, which is why purchases like barbeques have shot up. For those chefs really invested in a backyard kitchen, the options are endless from islands to countertops to topnotch grill set-ups.

Fire pits follow in close second for the most popular trends of 2021. They make a great focal point of a gathering, bringing warmth and light on those slightly chillier nights, and create a cozy atmosphere. Options range from gas or propone fueled, electric, or wood burning.

Covered patios are the third most popular choice this summer, according to the experts interviewed. That’s because it’s versatile, protecting the inhabitants from both the harsh sun and rainy, damp days.

In terms of design, having both a patio and a porch is the most popular set-up right now. Almost half of the experts interviewed listed this as the perfect combination compared to other options like a patio and a deck, or just a deck, or just a patio. That’s because with a patio and a porch, you get both curb appeal and privacy.

And, finally, three quarters of those surveyed said that the best way to connect indoor and outdoor spaces is with a sliding or folding door. It gives the illusion of more space from inside your home and creates a seamless experience between the two locations.

Jamieson Place is in the west of Edmonton, bounded to the north by Callingwood Road, to the east by 184th Street, and to the southeast by Lessard Road. It’s a relatively new area with construction beginning a few decades ago in the early 1980s and steadily continuing since then. Jamieson Place was named after Frederick Charles Jamieson (1875–1966), a prominent lawyer and politician who arrived in the Edmonton area in 1895.

Nearly 95% of the residential units here are single-detached homes, with a series of loops and cul-de-sacs linking it all together. Almost all of those units are owner-occupied, with only about 3% being rental units. It’s a lovely place to settle down and raise a family.

When you are busy packing and planning for your holiday, burglars are preparing for one of their busiest seasons, too: the long summer months when residents leave their homes empty for extended periods of time while on vacation.

Don’t be the next target. And don’t do these tell-tale things that signal to burglars that your home is empty.

• Don't draw all the curtains tightly closed. Instead, leave your home looking natural and as it would usually on a summer afternoon. If you live on a ground floor and are concerned about burglars peering in, consider using privacy curtains instead of full blinds.
• Mow the lawn and have someone collect your mail. In the same vein, don’t let an overgrown garden or pile of mail on the porch indicate that no one has been around in days.
• Don't leave extra keys outside. Anywhere that you hide an extra key, a burglar can find it. Every year in Canada, thousands of burglaries happen because the thief has easy access to a home from a spare key. Leave it with a neighbour, if you must have a spare.
• Fix weak doors and windows. Replace or reinforce any entrances that are easy to break in through – like a weak door or an unsecure window – to make sure that a desperate burglar can’t easily enter.
• Set up an alarm system. If you have an alarm system, make sure you set it before you leave. If you don’t yet have one, now is a good time to get a system. A quality alarm system is one of the best defenses against burglaries.
• Be cautious with social media. Don’t post about your holiday plans and updates until you are back. If you must share daily photos of your trip, do so only with a select group of family and friends that you trust. Save the public photos for later.

The biggest take-away is to make sure your home is secured, with no easy ways to break in, and that you have not announced to the world that you’re not home. Rest easy on your vacation without worrying about what’s happening at home!