Planning your Ideal Outdoor Living Space
When spring and summer hit, there’s no better place to be than outside. Many of us spend too much time indoors, even when the weather is great. For those who like to enjoy the great outdoors in the comfort of their own backyard, planning a beautiful, comfortable outdoor living space can encourage them and their families to experience the benefits of being outside more often.
If you have a small yard or limited income, you might think that you don’t have the resources to improve your landscaping. This simply isn’t true. The internet is full of inspiration for small outdoor spaces, affordable DIY tips, and creative ways to make your money and space go as far as possible.
Water Features
One of the most popular additions to encourage spending time outdoors is a swimming area. Outdoor pools are a great place to congregate, offer relief from the heat, and have great potential for a number of fun games and activities. They can be a great centerpiece for your outdoor space or a small accent to a larger landscaping vision.
Since pools are such a social place, they encourage other outdoor living activities. Those with swimming pools are more likely to invest in outdoor kitchens, bars, and other features. If you want your family to spend more time outside, a pool is a great start. Just be sure to plan pool construction carefully and keep your overall vision for your outdoor space in mind.
If a pool doesn’t suit your family’s needs, it’s still a great idea to add a water feature to your landscaping. Water is a relaxing element and contributes to a stress-free environment. More water in your yard means healthier grass and plants.
Shade
In the summer, the one downside of being outside is the sometimes unbearable heat. Even though vitamin D is essential for mental and physical health, too much direct (or even indirect) exposure to sunlight can increase risk of skin cancer and other conditions. Protecting your family’s skin with sources of shade will ensure you get the most of your time outside, while minimizing the risks.
You can add shade to your landscaping in many ways. Tall trees are great sources, with the benefit of improving the air and providing homes for native wildlife. Gazebos, patios, and canopies are also great options. These can help raise your property value, and give you a chance to increase the architectural impact of your home.
Adding a patio gives you the opportunity to add both seating and storage to your outdoor space. Building from scratch also means you can build-in solutions to protect your patio furniture in the winter months, and even create an enclosed patio that you can enjoy year-round. Outdoor fireplaces, portable heaters, and cushy seating can go a long way into building a comfortable patio your family will love.
Seating
Speaking of seating, comfort is the number one factor that will determine whether your family utilizes your outdoor space or not. Seating is a large part of comfort. Make sure that there are several types of seating and that you either build-in clusters of seating that make socialization easier or make the seating portable so that people can socialize as they please. Porch swings, chairs, and benches can all be incorporated into a comprehensive seating arrangement.
It’s a great idea to have a base amount of seating and then supplement with stackable chairs you can keep on the patio and bring out when you have more guests than usual. Build seating areas both on and near your patio and in the fully outdoor portion of your yard. This allows guests to choose the seating they feel like and customize their experience to their preferences.
You may not need to buy new patio furniture. If your existing frames are good, just replace the cushions or slings.
These are just a few factors that can improve your outdoor living space. Do you have experiences with landscaping and outdoor living? Share in the comments!