Outdoor living spaces aren’t just a trend—they’ve become a staple lifestyle upgrade for many people. At the same time, they have changed how much consumers are willing to spend and manufacturers’ market response. From full outdoor kitchens to cozy backyard lounges, today’s homeowners want outdoor areas that feel like an extension of their home. That’s great news for make-to-order manufacturers.
If you build custom products, the outdoor entertaining boom provides new opportunities for your company to expand product lines and capture your share of the ever-growing market.
Outdoor Living Spaces = Higher Demand for Custom Products
Homeowners are thinking bigger when it comes to backyards and patios. What used to include a few wobbly lawn chairs or a simple lanai has evolved into full entertainment spaces. They now feature outdoor kitchens, built-in furniture, and even motorized blinds and expansive sliding doors that connect interior and exterior spaces. These projects often call for products made to order, since sizing, materials, and finishes need to be tailored to each home’s layout and style.
This level of customization makes outdoor living spaces a natural fit for make-to-order manufacturers who thrive on product flexibility, detailed design options, and delivering personalized results. The demand is strong—and growing across several categories.
Furniture: Weather-Resistant Comfort That Sells Year-Round
Dealers can create the ultimate outdoor living spaces for clients using Frontier ERP with built-in CPQ software. Then they can seal the deal with 3D visualization tools to show the customer the finalized product before production.
Outdoor furniture is no longer an afterthought—it’s now a major design feature with strong seasonal demand. Cushttps://friedmancorp.com/blog/how-cpq-improves-materials-management/tomers are seeking seating, dining, and lounge options that reflect their style, while also standing up to the weather. This means more interest in durable woods like teak, lightweight metals like aluminum, and marine-grade performance fabrics that don’t fade or mildew.
Furniture manufacturers also see more orders for personalized cushion colors, finishes, and modular layouts, all of which are ideally suited to make-to-order production. While demand peaks in spring and summer, year-round sunbelt markets keep production schedules busy throughout the year, making it more important than ever to manage materials, lead times, and shipping schedules with precision.
Cabinetry: Outdoor Kitchens Spark a Design Revolution
As outdoor kitchens grow more popular, cabinet manufacturers are stepping into a new design frontier. Homeowners want built-in outdoor storage, prep stations, and integrated appliances—all protected against sun, rain, and temperature swings. This means manufacturers are exploring new materials like stainless steel, powder-coated aluminum, and weatherproof polymers, which require different fabrication techniques than traditional indoor cabinetry.
Each outdoor kitchen layout is unique, often designed around grills, sinks, fridges, and pizza ovens. These projects rely heavily on customization, and managing them efficiently requires production control tools and accurate quoting. Manufacturers who can integrate outdoor cabinetry into their product catalog and order management system gain a competitive edge in this high-growth, make-to-order segment.
Blinds and Shades: Comfort, Privacy, and Automation Outdoors
With the rise of covered patios and pergolas, the market for outdoor-rated window treatments has expanded rapidly. Homeowners are looking for ways to increase privacy and block the sun during peak hours, especially in outdoor entertaining, dining, or lounge areas. Many are also interested in convenience, opting for motorized shades that can be controlled by remote or integrated into smart home systems.
Unlike interior blinds, outdoor models need to resist moisture, wind, and sun damage. Each installation is highly specific to the structure’s dimensions and layout, which means make-to-order blinds are a must. Manufacturers must be able to manage thousands of possible product combinations while ensuring fast, accurate order processing and dependable delivery.
Custom Doors: Blurring the Line Between Indoors and Out
Whether you manufacture doors, windows, or entire shed structures, Frontier ERP’s automated processes will help you increase the number of on-time deliveries, resulting in higher customer satisfaction.
Modern outdoor living design focuses on seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, and that means larger, more complex door systems are in demand. Homeowners are choosing oversized sliding, folding, and stacking glass doors to create wide openings and maximize natural light.
To meet this demand, door manufacturers are producing more custom sizes and offering expanded finish and hardware options to match both interior decor and exterior materials. Energy efficiency, durability, and security are top priorities. Make-to-order production gives manufacturers the ability to tailor each system to the customer’s specific needs. However, production must be supported by robust ERP product configuration tools that can handle variation without slowing production.
She-Sheds: A Niche Market with Big Customization Potential
The rise of the She-Shed—a personal backyard retreat designed for relaxation, creativity, or work—is another strong driver for custom outdoor products. Much like the man-cave, the She-Shed has evolved from a simple garden shed into a stylish, livable space. They are often complete with power, insulation, and interior design details that reflect the homeowner’s personality.
Each She-Shed is different, and that’s what makes it a perfect fit for make-to-order manufacturing. Homeowners are investing in custom furniture like compact sofas or writing desks, weather-rated cabinetry for art supplies or gardening tools, blinds or shades for privacy and sun control, and exterior doors that offer both security and aesthetic appeal. In some cases, She-Sheds are built from scratch, while others are converted from existing sheds or prefab structures, requiring precise measurements and tailored products.
This trend offers manufacturers a high-margin opportunity to serve a lifestyle-driven market. The need for made-to-order products that align with unique style preferences and functional needs makes strong configuration tools and flexible production capabilities essential. Manufacturers who can respond quickly to these one-of-a-kind orders will gain a competitive advantage as She-Sheds and other personalized outdoor structures become even more mainstream.
ERP Tools Make It Possible to Scale with Custom Demand
The rise of outdoor living spaces brings more complexity to the manufacturing process, but also more opportunity. With longer lead times, more product variations, and tighter coordination with dealers or installers, manufacturers need technology that can keep up.
From initial quote to final delivery, Frontier ERP takes sales order management to the next level.
With a system like Frontier ERP, manufacturers can streamline quoting through CPQ tools and manage scheduling for custom products. They can also track weather-resistant material inventory in real time and coordinate with supply chain partners more efficiently. Centralized data and production tracking help reduce delays, eliminate errors, and improve the customer experience, making it easier to scale operations alongside market growth.
Outdoor Living Isn’t a Trend—It’s the New Standard
What started as a luxury has become an expected part of modern home design. Whether it’s a cozy patio upgrade or a high-end outdoor kitchen, the desire for beautiful, functional outdoor living spaces is shaping how people design, furnish, and use their homes. If your business serves the furniture, cabinetry, blinds, or door markets, adapting to this outdoor lifestyle is key to long-term growth and success.
Let Frontier ERP Help You Build Smarter for the Outdoors
Frontier ERP is built to support the flexibility and precision that make-to-order manufacturers need—especially when custom outdoor products are on the rise. From real-time quoting and inventory to dealer support and automated scheduling, we help you stay ahead of demand.
To learn more about Frontier ERP, contact us below or see us at AWFS® Fair 2025 in July!
