If you’ve been eagerly awaiting your chance to make the most out of your yard, now’s your time to shine! Summer is the best season for outdoor get-togethers and relaxing in the sun—make your home the go-to party destination with these tips!
1. Build a Deck or Patio
Picture yourself on a Sunday morning, coaxed awake by the sun shining in through your window. You go into the kitchen to make yourself some tea or coffee to start the day and head out to your deck, where you can feel the sun on your skin and hear a symphony of birdsong. Sounds dreamy, right?
Possibly the best way to start your backyard makeover is by creating a deck or patio—not only does it create more living space, but it’s also cheap and low-maintenance. Decks and patios are great for people who love spending time in their backyards but don’t want to invite dirt and debris back into their homes. With the addition of a furnished deck or patio, your backyard will look a lot more polished and inviting.
The best part is you’ll be the go-to host for summer parties! Whether you love hosting barbeques or prefer a low-key hang out with some friends and some drinks, you’ll get plenty of use out of a deck or patio. Plus, it’s relatively cheap to build on your own!
2. Add Furniture for Lounging
It’s easier to spend time in your backyard when you create a comfy space for yourself and your friends—that’s why adding seating is a key part of maximizing your yard’s potential. No matter how you like to wind down, your seating choice is instrumental in creating a more inviting atmosphere and a place you can retreat to after a long day.
The challenging part is choosing the seating that’s right for you. If you plan to sunbathe, for example, you might consider adjustable lounge chairs. If your main goal is to entertain guests, you may opt for couches and chairs—a rattan sectional is perfect if you have the room for it! For something a little simpler, Adirondack chairs are classic, sturdy, and can even be inexpensive. It all depends on your aesthetic and practical preferences!
3. Add Some Greenery
If you’re looking for an easy way to add some natural beauty to your backyard, you can’t go wrong with planting flowers! Perennials are a great choice—with proper care, they’ll bloom every year, which is much easier than planting brand new flowers every spring. If you want to attract wildlife like butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden, you might choose to plant pollinator-friendly flowers. These pollinators will even deter pest bugs that can damage your new foliage! Talk about a double-whammy.
Aside from flowers, you can always try your hand at planting veggies, herbs, and fruits! Not only can growing your own produce save you money, but it’s also much more rewarding. Homegrown tomatoes in particular taste amazing in the summer—perfect to add to your burger or put in a Caprese salad. If you don’t have a ton of space, fruits like strawberries do well in small containers. Herbs are surprisingly easy to grow, and some may need to be contained in herb boxes. Rosemary and oregano are just a few of the herbs that will grow much faster than you’ll be able to use them!
4. Add a Fire Pit
A fire pit makes a great centerpiece for an outdoor space! Plus, it’s relatively cheap to build yourself. Fire pits are perfect for outdoor parties and barbeques, especially on chilly nights. It’s functional and adds to the cozy ambiance of your backyard. You can snuggle up around the fire with your friends and family, talking into the early hours.
If you don’t have a barbecue grill, just pop a grill plate on top of your fire pit to use it for cooking! Or keep it simple and use it to roast marshmallows. Either way, fire pits provide aesthetic appeal and added functionality to your backyard, even beyond the spring and summer months.
5. Light it up!
If you’re looking to add even more functionality to your outdoor space, consider what lighting you want to use. Incorporating lights into your new backyard design will add ambiance AND make your yard safer and more secure. After all, no party should have to end just because the sun sets, especially in the summer!
There are a number of inexpensive landscape lighting solutions—the choice is yours! Solar lights are energy-efficient, so you won’t need to worry about adding to your electric bill; spotlighting is great for illuminating paths; string lights create a homey atmosphere with varying levels of brightness. Of course, you can mix and match different lighting methods as you see fit.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to leveling up your outdoor space in the summer! You can add a variety of features, many of which are relatively inexpensive to buy or build yourself. It’s the best way to take advantage of the summer sunshine!
If your current backyard just isn’t cutting it for you, it might be time to consider your next move—it could be closer than you think! Contact the experts at your local Total Mortgage branch to get started with the home-buying process!
Source: totalmortgage.com