Spending time outdoors in nature can benefit your mental and physical health in diverse ways. Not only do you feel more relaxed, focused, and calmer after spending time outdoors, but you also feel happier and more energized.
Spending time outdoors can be more enjoyable, especially during the summer, fall, and spring months when the weather is more favorable. That’s why you need to make your outdoor living areas more functional, comfortable, and inviting.
While outdoor living areas are often overlooked during home renovations, sprucing up your outdoors can make a good impression on your guests and neighbors and make spending time outside more enjoyable. However, not every outdoor upgrade can boost your home’s aesthetics and value.
You should work with a professional contractor to help you make the right changes and improvements for your location and unique style to transform your outdoor living space into your personal paradise. Read on to learn some of the top upgrades that you can make in your backyard to make the space cozier and more inviting:
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1. Add a Fireplace or Fire Pit
Adding an element of fire to your outdoors can help make the space more inviting and warmer. Depending on your budget, you can install a sophisticated fireplace like a marble gas-fueled fireplace or a cheaper and more basic fire pit. A portable fire pit can also be a great option, especially if you live in an urban setting.
No matter what you choose, adding a fireplace to your backyard can add warmth to the space and make spending time outdoors more enjoyable, especially during the winter and cool summer nights. Before installing a fireplace or fire pit in your backyard, check the local fire codes to ensure it’s allowed to add an open fire.
2. Deck It Out
Another popular upgrade that you can make to your backyard is adding a deck. Not only does installing a deck increase functional spaces, but it also enhances your home’s curb appeal and value.
As an extension of your home, your deck should be nicely designed to create a welcoming and comfortable outdoor living space where you can enjoy cool breezes and fresh air. You can create the perfect deck by attaching a gazebo, defining activity zones using pergolas, harbors, and trellises, and adding artistic elements to the space.
You may also want to add the right furnishings to your deck for comfort.
3. Put in Pavers
Besides adding a fireplace and a deck, another great backyard addition that could enhance your outdoor living space is adding pavers. Installing pavers can help create a pathway from your home backdoor to your shed or patio.
This can also be a great way to enhance the beauty of your yard. The best thing about pavers is that they’re inexpensive, attractive, and durable enough to withstand heavy traffic and harsh weather elements.
4. Add an Outdoor Kitchen
Another backyard addition you should consider is an outdoor kitchen area. An outdoor kitchen makes a perfect spot for spending quality time with family and friends. Depending on the available space, make your outdoor kitchen as functional as possible by adding a grill and a sink.
You can even add everything you would expect a full kitchen to have, including plenty of counter space for party supplies and prepping food. You can even leave some space to mount a television for watching sports events with friends and family.
Enlisting the help of a professional landscape designer can assist you with designing and building the perfect outdoor kitchen for your space.
5. Install a Pergola
Spending time outdoors in your beautiful backyard can be difficult when exposed to the sun during the hot summer months. Adding a pergola with retractable shades over your outdoor living space can help keep the space cool and breezy, allowing you to enjoy more time outdoors. You can even retract the shade of your pergola at night to see the stars.
Your pergola can be attached to your house or freestanding. Besides providing shade, a pergola can add some privacy to your outdoor living space without compromising the scenic view or fresh air. Instead of pergolas, you can add charm to your backyard using a gazebo with a closed roof.
Add a dining area with a few seats beneath the structure and decorate it with plants, flowers, and string lights to add a touch of style.
6. Build a Privacy Fence
Your home’s backyard should be a peaceful and safe place to enjoy the intimate time, unwind, and relax without your nosy neighbors watching you. Installing a fence around your backyard can add privacy to the space blocking your nosy neighbors and passers-by.
Installing a backyard fence allows you to spend more intimate and solitary time outdoors while having a romantic dinner or enjoying morning tea in your bathrobe. If your budget can’t allow you to install a full-length fence in your backyard, opt for alternative screening solutions like using greenery.
Adding potted plants, planting vines, and other climbing plants over your pergola can add privacy and color to your backyard. Trellises and plants can provide much-needed privacy even if you have a balcony.
Another decorative fencing you should consider is creating layers of privacy, which includes a combination of fabrics and wrought iron, wood, and stone.
7. Plant a Container Garden
Besides putting up a privacy fence, planting a container garden is another great backyard addition that can add a touch of color to your outdoor structure, making the space look more appealing and inviting. This will make you want to spend more time outdoors.
Consider using different sizes, styles, and shapes of containers. For instance, you could mix buckets, wash tubs, and crates to add whimsical flair. Consider arranging your potted plants in layers. At the front, you can put medium-height bloomers, and evergreens along the base of your deck, and along the border, add lower-growing plants.
Endnote
The above backyard additions can add immense value and curb appeal to your yard and home. They’ll also make your yard more inviting and comfortable, making spending time outdoors with friends and family more enjoyable.
