How to Enhance Your Backyard for Better Living

Your outdoor property is often overlooked despite its potential for functional and aesthetic uses. Don’t let this valuable part of your home go unappreciated! Turning parts of your yard into areas of relaxation, entertainment, recreation, and more will enhance your backyard for better living and boost the worth of your property overall!

Hardscape Your Patio

Your patio area needs some sort of hard basic surface to support any furniture and frequent foot traffic. There are a variety of materials that work well for this kind of setting. Concrete is one of the most durable and cheap options for patios and is easy to install. Stone slabs or pavers are another durable option that also adds opportunity for unique design to boost your ground’s aesthetic as well. Wooden decks are also popular and create a rustic feel to your outdoor space. Whatever you choose, make sure it can withstand the natural elements it is sure to be exposed to, and that it provides enough solid space for furnishings to be comfortably spaced and subsequently enjoyed.

Landscape Your Yard

Your yard can be a work of art! Landscaping your outdoor space adds variety and visual interest. Of course, you don’t want a bland space of flat surfaces and dull colors or textures. Guide yours and your visitors’ eyes through your yard using the elements of design that do the same for any “artistic” space. Paved or stone walkways create literal paths for you to walk along and enjoy different areas of your yard, sections of stone walls mix up the view and offer some variance in height, and gardens are a fun and productive addition for anyone! Pick things that you know you will enjoy visually and physically, keeping in mind that the maintenance for these things will be a requirement year round!

Add Outdoor Lights

Allow your time spent outside to extend into the evening by creating sufficient lighting around your yard, especially over your patio. Lighting can be a beautiful way to add some unique design to your yard—strings of lights, torches, lanterns and more each provide a soft, charming level of light that makes the space feel a little quieter while keeping the space functional for any outdoor activity. Explore ways you can make your lighting most effective for your intended activities during the darker hours of the day and night.

Install a Pool

Everyone loves a pool! Consider what kind of pool could work for your circumstances—a family may want a larger pool for socializing and enjoying themselves, complete with multiple levels of depth and sufficient space for play, while individuals may just want a jacuzzi to relax in or a narrower lap pool for recreation and sport. The process for installing a pool is complex and requires a good amount of time and funding, but is well worth the result. Plus, the issues that you may believe would prevent you from being able to install a pool are easily overcome with today’s innovative equipment! For example, concrete pump trucks can easily reach over your fence and other obstacles on your property. This means that pouring the foundation for your pool is no issue at all.

Patio Furniture

You want your yard to be a space of relaxation as well as fun. Choose patio furniture that is comfortable enough to really relax in! Cushioned furniture may seem unmanageable for outdoor spaces, but there are materials and textiles that are specially made to stay durable even while exposed to severe weather and natural elements. Plus, putting your furniture on your patio will protect it from a significant amount of those elements. Your furniture is also an opportunity to create an intentional style for your yard, with colors and textures tailoring the space towards a specific mood or theme. Invest in furniture that will last!

Special Features

Make your yard unique with some fun special features! Whether to offer a means of hobby or simply for aesthetic pleasure, special features are a great way to mix up your space and give you a kind of focal point, as well as motivation to enjoy the outdoors more. Fountains, gardens, sport courts, firepits, and even cooking can be taken outdoors and made into a special area of your space! Outdoor cooking especially is a very popular way to get people together, practice a productive and valuable skill, and enjoy fantastic food. There is something for every passion, so look into how you can turn yours into an outdoor activity.

Cool it Down

Give yourself some relief from the harsh sun by creating plenty of shade. Your patio especially is an area you will want to create some sort of means of cooling for. Pergolas, shade sheets, and oversized umbrellas are just a few of the many options available for cover from the sun. Another great way to gain some shade throughout your yard is trees. Although this is an option that requires planning, patience, and investment, your trees are a natural and beautiful way to create shade all over your yard! Finally, for those especially muggy days where even shade doesn’t quite take the edge off the heat, consider putting in fans around your patio to give you a much needed breeze and some valuable airflow for you to feel more comfortable while enjoying the view outside.

Add Some Color

Throw some color onto your landscape! Whether you choose to use flowers, stones, accent features or décor, creating a more colorful and diverse landscape will do so much to entice you outside again and again to admire your yard. Color is proven to boost mood and energy, so you can take a breath of fresh air and actually feel physically and emotionally rejuvenated.

During many months of the year, your backyard can be an extension of your home. Enhance your yard with one or all of these sure-to-please strategies for design and function. You’ll enjoy a variety of fun and opportunities, while taking advantage of all that the great outdoors has to offer.

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