Time to light up the grill, load up on SPF, and grab your favorite noodle. Tis the season for outdoor living bliss. A space that was once considered a nice to have, has now become a true extension of living rooms for homeowners nationwide.

"People are reinvesting in their home, and in their backyards particularly, with the hopes of creating a space where everyone in the family can relax and spend time together," said Amanda Gorman, Internet Marketing Coordinator for System Pavers. "Homeowners view their homes as their own personal escape, so re-purposing their backyard into a vacation-like oasis helps to give the getaway illusion."

If you're contemplating creating your own backyard oasis, Gorman shares essentials like paving stones, artificial turf, outdoor lighting, fire pits, and water features are a must.

"More and more homes are incorporating these elements into their yards and making better use of their typically unused space. They're features that can be enjoyed all year long, for generations to come." said Gorman.

Linnzy Foster, Marketing Manager for Presidential Pools & Spas, says contemporary smart pools are on the rise.

"We've seen an increase in demand for the use of technology added to homeowner's pools. LED lighting and smart phone interfaces that control pool functionality are popular," said Foster. "A cool new product we have been installing are LED deck laminars. These jets of water are a nice addition to any pool wanting a water feature that is not the normal rock waterfall or sheer decent. The lights on the deck jets can be changed to sync with your LED light in the pool and looks great at night."

Also trending with homeowners, incorporating unique tiles for pools and their general outdoor spaces.

"Homeowners are loving travertine tiles and using them to create beautiful deck spaces. The stone comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns giving a cool marble look around your pool or spa," said Foster.

Michelle Sparks, Marketing Director for Pool Environments, Inc., echoes unique tiles are hot among homeowners.

"Many of our clients are steering away from the typically used pool tile. Although glass mosaic tiles remain popular, we are doing a lot more "custom mix" glass tile. Mostly we're using custom mixes of elongated tiles as well such as 2 x 24 and 6 x 24 lengths instead of the traditional 6 x 6." Sparks shares.

Pool Environments is also seeing demand for sleeker, modern, resort like designs.

by: Graham Hobart

"Our clients are looking to create their own personal retreat," said Sparks. "One client in particular requested an outdoor spa large enough for their whole family to enjoy. To them, it was a vital element of their pool and outdoor space. To give it a resort feel, we surrounded the spa space at the pool level with massive Leuder limestone stepper pads. It created a floating wet deck. We added sleeves for drainage and irrigation so large pots could add a pop of color. An outdoor fireplace was also included in the space."

Whatever elements you choose to incorporate into your dream outdoor space, be sure they highlight your personal interests and flare.

"We recently transformed a small yard into a full-blown outdoor playground for a family of four," Gorman said. "They wanted a low maintenance putting turf, basketball court, stone patio, a pergola, and a custom deck for their new Jacuzzi. It's now become a place that the entire family can enjoy. Revamping your backyard into a cherished part of your home can become a reality."