We can’t deny that it’s a luxury to have any kind of private outdoor space. But if your garden is currently nothing more than a square of sad-looking grass, it’s time to rethink your backyard design.
Expanding your property’s liveable space out into your backyard doesn’t just allow you to enjoy your home more. It can also increase the value of your home and make it a more attractive option for potential buyers. The good news is, you don’t even have to spend a fortune installing a new pool or getting a landscaping company in for a complete backyard overhaul. In fact, improving outdoor living spaces can be as simple as adding string lights and a few throw cushions.
Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to help your backyard reach its full potential.
1. Outdoor Living Room
With the addition of wooden decking or concrete pavers, a boring backyard can soon become the kind of place that you’ll all want to hang out in. What’s more, if you already have a patio area outside, these kinds of outdoor living spaces are a great way to increase the usable square footage of your home without spending a lot.
Of course, you’ll need furniture to complete the outdoor room, which you might choose to use for relaxation, entertaining, or a combination of the two. Reclining loungers work well if you want to use the space for both, while small foldable tables are often more economical and more practical than large outdoor coffee tables.
If you want to go all out, adding expensive yet eye-catching features such as a fire pit, water feature, or barbecue can help you get more enjoyment and activity out of outdoor living spaces.
2. Pergola
Outdoor living spaces offer the perfect spot for enjoying cocktails under the stars on a warm summer’s night. But the blazing daytime heat can make it uncomfortable to sit outside during the peak summer months without some kind of shade or patio covering.
But what’s the best kind of cover for my patio? Outdoor living spaces next to the main building are perfectly placed for a roofed patio cover extending from the house. Or, you could install a simple awning, or curtains hung from wooden beams. Freestanding roofed patio covers, however, can be expensive and complicated to install without the help of a contractor or landscaping company.
Pergolas, which can be freestanding or extended from a building, offer a practical and attractive compromise. For some homeowners, installing a pergola could even be a fairly simple DIY project, although others might need the help of a carpenter for a more professional look. You can then add winding plants for a romantic look, or curtains for more privacy.
3. Water Feature
If you have the space and love spending time in the water, a private swimming pool is the ultimate backyard upgrade.
That said, if splashing out on a pool is out of the question or you’re not a big fan of swimming, you can add the luxurious and tranquil element of water to your backyard in other ways.
A water fountain evokes the glamour of a Parisian square or a Tuscan villa, while a small pond offers the perfect setting for koi carp, bringing the beauty of a Japanese garden to your backyard. Or, if you’re more interested in a water feature you can enjoy rather than something pretty to look at, a hot tub offers hours of relaxation and plenty of opportunities for parties and entertaining.
4. Garden Pathway
Adding a garden pathway or several interconnecting paths is perfect for giving your backyard a focal point and added coherence.
With stepping stones or a solid path made from stone pavers, your eye is drawn down the length of the garden, creating a pleasing aesthetic. What’s more, a garden pathway can help bring separate outdoor living spaces, gardens, and patios together. This then makes it easier to access and explore the various areas of your backyard, and invites guests to do the same.
If you’re not sure where to begin, a landscaping company can complete the entire project, or you just pay for their design and install the garden pathway yourself.
5. Built-In Barbecue
Outdoor living spaces complete with a full kitchen are nice, but this kind of project is time-consuming and expensive.
If you’re looking for a more economical option that won’t take more than a weekend from start to finish, a simple built-in barbecue is the perfect compromise.
Hiring a professional is the best way to go, although, if you’re skilled in this area, you’ll find everything you need at your local home improvement store. Either way, you and all those hungry future guests will be grateful for this delicious backyard enhancement!
6. Landscape Lighting
In the same way that layered lighting can bring new life to your interiors, adding different kinds of lighting around your backyard can really elevate your outdoor living spaces.
Solar landscape lighting is the best way to go as it’s easy to install and won’t increase your electricity bill. This lighting could be in the form of walkway lights, lanterns, or string lights hanging from trees or a pergola. Whichever you choose, you’ll soon see how much more intimate dinner parties and other social gatherings feel with the right lighting to set the tone.
Backyard Design Enhancements
With ideas to inspire you, it should be a lot easier to plan out the kind of backyard design enhancements you want to make.
But remember, whatever additions you go for, your main aim should always be to create an outdoor space that works for you and your lifestyle.
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