North Shore Landscaping Trends Shaping Outdoor Living
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Time to read 6 min
Outdoor spaces across Chicago’s North Shore are changing. Homeowners are looking beyond beautiful planting beds and patios to create landscapes that function as true extensions of the home. At the same time, new technology, sustainable practices, and innovative materials are changing what is possible in residential landscape design.
Today’s North Shore landscaping trends balance beauty with performance. Outdoor kitchens are becoming more sophisticated, pools are becoming more versatile, native plants are gaining ground, and smart technology is making landscapes easier to enjoy and maintain. Here are some of the most significant trends shaping North Shore and Chicagoland landscapes.
Outdoor Kitchens Become True Entertaining Spaces
Outdoor kitchens continue to evolve from simple grill stations into fully designed spaces for cooking, dining, and entertaining.
High-end appliances, built-in grills, refrigeration, storage, durable countertops, comfortable outdoor furniture, and integrated lighting can create an outdoor experience that feels as considered as an indoor kitchen.
The most successful outdoor kitchens are designed as part of the overall landscape rather than added as an isolated feature.
Designing Beyond the Grill
Consider how the kitchen connects with dining areas, patios, gardens, and the home itself. Shade, lighting, circulation, seating, and views all contribute to how comfortably the space functions.
Popular features include:
Built-in grills and cooking appliances
Outdoor refrigeration and storage
Dining and lounge furniture
Integrated landscape and task lighting
Convenient connections to indoor entertaining spaces
Thoughtful planning creates a natural flow from house to garden and makes outdoor entertaining more inviting.
Pools and Swim Spas Offer More Flexibility
Pools remain an important part of luxury landscape design, but homeowners are exploring alternatives to the traditional large swimming pool.
One growing option is the swim spa, which falls somewhere between a pool and a large spa. A compact design, such as approximately 12 by 20 feet, can provide space for recreation while occupying significantly less of the landscape.
Swim spas can also offer greater flexibility during Chicagoland’s colder months. Depending on the system, water can be maintained at a moderate temperature and heated further when spa use is desired.
This allows homeowners to think differently about pools, especially when available yard space is limited.
Pergolas and Outdoor Structures Get Smarter
Pergolas are no longer simply decorative shade structures. New systems can incorporate adjustable louvers, heaters, lighting, and Wi-Fi-connected controls that help homeowners adapt their outdoor spaces to changing conditions. A louvered pergola, for example, can provide sun when desired and greater protection when the weather changes.
These structures can help extend the outdoor season on the North Shore, where cool spring mornings and crisp fall evenings might otherwise send everyone indoors. Local regulations for outdoor structures can vary significantly between North Shore communities, so permitting, setbacks, lot coverage, and other municipal requirements should be considered early in the landscape design process.
Composite and PVC Decking Gain Ground
Traditional cedar remains a beautiful decking material, but homeowners increasingly have additional options. Composite and cellular PVC decking offer long lifespans and significantly reduced maintenance compared with traditional wood.
Composite Decking
Composite decking is typically manufactured using wood fiber combined with polymers or binders. Depending on the product, recycled materials may also be incorporated. Its primary advantages include:
Lower maintenance than traditional wood
Resistance to many common weathering concerns
Long product lifespans
Extensive manufacturer warranties
A growing selection of realistic wood-inspired finishes
Cellular PVC Decking
Cellular PVC decking contains no wood fibers and is engineered for durability, moisture resistance, and lasting appearance. Key benefits include:
Low maintenance compared with natural wood
Excellent moisture resistance for long-term durability
Long-lasting appearance with minimal upkeep
Extended warranties, with premium products covered for several decades
Polished aesthetic well suited to elevated North Shore outdoor living spaces
Sustainable Landscaping Moves Into the Mainstream
One of the most important North Shore landscaping trends is the continued shift toward environmentally responsible landscapes. Native plants, pollinator habitat, reduced lawn areas, responsible stormwater management, and more sustainable maintenance practices are increasingly becoming part of residential landscape design.
This movement is being driven by both homeowners and communities. The Chicago Botanic Garden identifies native plants, pollinator support, meadow gardens, and shrinking traditional lawn areas among its 2026 garden trends. Wilmette also offers programs supporting native habitat and sustainable stormwater improvements.
Native Plants Find a Larger Role
Native plants are increasingly moving from specialized garden areas into the broader residential landscape. When thoughtfully designed, native plants can provide seasonal beauty while supporting birds, pollinators, and other beneficial wildlife.
They can be incorporated into formal and informal North Shore landscapes through perennial borders, rain gardens, pollinator gardens, foundation plantings, and mixed beds. The key is intentional design. Sustainable does not have to mean wild or unstructured.
Lawns Are Being Reconsidered
The traditional lawn is not disappearing, but homeowners are becoming more intentional about where turf is truly needed.
Reducing lawn can create opportunities for more diverse plantings while potentially decreasing mowing, irrigation, and other maintenance requirements. The Chicago Botanic Garden specifically identifies shrinking lawns in favor of wildlife-supporting plantings as a current garden trend.
Alternatives can include sedges, clover lawns, no-mow grasses, native plantings, wildflower mixes, and meadow-inspired gardens.
For many North Shore properties, the goal is not eliminating turf. It is finding the right balance between lawn, garden, outdoor living, and ecological value.
Sustainable Landscape Maintenance Gets Smarter
Sustainable design works best when paired with sustainable maintenance.
New technology is making that easier. Robotic mowers, for example, continue to advance, with newer systems using satellite and GPS-based navigation rather than relying exclusively on buried perimeter wires.
At Chalet Landscape, sustainable maintenance can also incorporate practices designed around plant health, habitat, and responsible landscape stewardship.
The result is a landscape that is not only beautiful, but managed with greater consideration for the larger environment.
Stormwater Management Influences Landscape Design
Water management is becoming a larger consideration when renovating or creating landscapes in Chicagoland.
In Wilmette, for example, new impervious surfaces can trigger requirements for managing stormwater runoff on-site. The Village identifies strategies including rain gardens, dry wells, rain barrels, and permeable pavement as examples of stormwater best management practices. Wilmette also has standards governing lot coverage through its zoning regulations. Requirements vary by municipality, making early planning especially important.
This means stormwater planning increasingly overlaps with landscape design.
Rather than treating drainage as an afterthought, landscape designers can integrate water management into the property through attractive solutions such as:
Rain gardens and planted drainage areas
Permeable hardscape systems
Strategically designed grading and drainage
Reduced impervious surfaces
Native and adapted plantings
These features can solve practical problems while becoming beautiful components of the landscape.
Outdoor Lighting and Audio Extend the Experience
The landscape should not disappear when the sun goes down. Outdoor lighting, audio, and other integrated systems can add the finishing layer to a landscape while increasing the number of hours homeowners can comfortably enjoy it.
Low-voltage landscape lighting can illuminate paths, specimen trees, architecture, entertaining areas, and garden features without overwhelming the space.
Technology Makes Outdoor Systems Easier to Control
Wi-Fi and app-based controls are making outdoor systems increasingly convenient. Depending on the installation, homeowners can manage:
Landscape lighting
Outdoor audio
Timers and schedules
Pergola features
Heating elements
Mosquito control
Other connected outdoor systems
The best technology should not dominate the garden. Instead, it should work quietly in the background to make the landscape more comfortable, functional, and intuitive.
What Do These North Shore Landscaping Trends Have in Common?
The most interesting shift is not any single material or technology. It is the way homeowners are thinking about their entire property. Outdoor kitchens, pools, native plants, lighting, drainage, decks, and technology are increasingly being considered together rather than as separate projects.
Three themes stand out:
More livable: Landscapes are becoming true extensions of the home.
More sustainable: Native plants, stormwater management, reduced lawns, and environmentally responsible maintenance are gaining importance.
More intelligent: New materials and technology are making landscapes easier to use, control, and maintain.
For North Shore homeowners, this creates an opportunity to build outdoor environments that are beautiful today while being thoughtfully designed for the future.
At Chalet Landscape, we believe the best landscapes grow from the intersection of horticultural knowledge, thoughtful design, craftsmanship, and an understanding of how each client wants to live outdoors. As North Shore landscaping trends continue to evolve, the goal remains timeless: creating outdoor spaces that feel connected to the home, the surrounding landscape, and nature.
What are the biggest landscaping trends on the North Shore?
Outdoor living spaces, native plants, sustainable landscape practices, smart technology, reduced lawn areas, sophisticated lighting, and low-maintenance materials are among the most notable trends.
Are native plants becoming more popular in Chicagoland landscapes?
Yes. Native plants and pollinator-supporting gardens continue to gain attention locally, and organizations such as the Chicago Botanic Garden are highlighting increased interest in native plants, biodiversity, and reduced lawns.
Do North Shore landscape projects have stormwater requirements?
Requirements vary by municipality and project. Wilmette, for example, has specific requirements related to new impervious surfaces and on-site stormwater management. Homeowners should review local regulations early in the design process.
Is sustainable landscaping compatible with formal landscape design?
Absolutely. Native plants, stormwater solutions, reduced lawns, and habitat-supporting plants can be incorporated into highly refined landscapes. Plant selection, repetition, structure, and thoughtful maintenance determine the overall aesthetic.
April Braun
Lead Designer
