With spring just around the corner, it’s time to sweep off the patio and re-season the charcoal grill—but what if you want something new? Something different? Upgrading your backyard will allow you to enjoy your outdoor space to its fullest potential because you can entertain more guests and offer a better experience. Plus, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg! An outdoor upgrade is one of the most affordable and least intrusive ways of adding something special to your home. You can turn your backyard space into a lovely deck. If you’re worried about the cost and maintenance a quality wooden deck will incur, you can always swap the material with durable composite deck boards. It gives your deck the same attractive wood-grain finish minus the hefty expense and high maintenance, granting you the best open area your family and guests can enjoy.
From cookouts to late-night conversations over the fire pit to an early morning cup of joe, upgrading your backyard and here are a few ways to do it!
Lay it Down: Create a Stone Path
Connect different parts of your outdoor area by making a unique walkway that you can build in a weekend without breaking the bank (or your back). This is especially great if you have a fruitful garden of produced or flowers you’d like to show off! Put down materials like mulch, bricks, or stones to create a clear path from your house to the pool or playhouse in your backyard.
Grow Your Own Food: Add a Garden
You can do many things to spruce up your backyard, such as adding a garden, putting in a new patio, or growing your own mushroom. You don’t need to spend much money on these projects, either.
You can buy seedlings and plant them in the ground or in a small, raised bed. If you are willing to spend some money on your garden, you can buy an organic starter kit that will include everything you need.
If you live in a city or don’t have a lot of land, getting your honeybees can be a great way to grow your food. You can also save money and eat healthier by making your honey at home. Most people think that honey is just a sweetener, but it’s also a vital food source for some animals & humans. In fact, bees are responsible for pollinating about one-third of the world’s food supply.
Add a Water: Make a Pond
The sight of a water elements instantly brings a sense of tranquility to your outdoor living space. Start by cutting and assembling a few cedar boards with waterproof polyurethane glue, then paint the inside of the box with rubberized sealant or install a pond liner. Don’t forget to drill a few holes in the base for drainage for the plants. Lastly, fill the garden compartment with potting mix, your choice of plants and add the water.
Lounge Around: Seating Areas
Depending upon the patio furniture you choose, you can enjoy a lovely dinner under the stars with a bench and table set, or pop open a beer and relax in a lounger recliner. If you want an outdoor living “room,” then choose a sofa, chairs, and a coffee table. If chairs and lounges don’t come with cushions, you can always get those separately. Just be sure to choose or use good-quality outdoor fabric that’s fade- and mildew-resistant.
Get Toasty: Outdoor Heater
The idea of sitting in the backyard among family and friends is more comfortable when you have a constant heat source— and depending on your general climate, chilly mornings or cool evenings might make it a necessity! Patio heaters come in a variety of selections from natural gas, propane, and electric. Consider your space as well: standing heaters are tall and usually can be moved as needed to accommodate your setup, while tabletop heaters are ideal for dining tables and smaller areas.
Let it Glow: Lighting
Enjoy a charming evening, lit by string lights. Installing patio string lights is one of the best and easiest additions you can do for your backyard. They can be hung across the pergola, fence, and even trees can help to create a living area you can enjoy after the sun goes down and a backyard your neighbors will adore. Just make sure to get waterproof string lights, designed for outdoor use.