P eople are spending more time than ever at home. As a result, work-from-home employment is at an all-time high, with most office workers opting for hybrid work schedules allowing them to stay home more and come into the office less.
All this extra time at home has gotten many people thinking. Do you like your home environment? Is your space functioning correctly? Is there anything you would change about your area? These questions, and more, are on the minds of many homeowners.
As a result, they’re rolling up their sleeves, getting their hands dirty, and making things happen in their homes. In fact, 44% of homeowners who embarked on a renovation last year said they did it because they finally had the time.
Outdoor and landscaping projects were among the most popular choices for homeowners last year, with one out of three saying they intended to update their outdoor space. Projects like these were even more popular than remodeling kitchens and bathrooms!
If you’re among the many homeowners who want to transform your backyard space, you’re not alone. But with projects like these, it’s challenging to know what to do. So here are a few ideas to help you discover how to transform your outdoor space.
Build a deck
Adding a deck to your outdoor area is a popular choice for homeowners. They love the extra space afforded by a deck, and with an 82.8% return on investment rate, spending the money on a renovation like this is well worth it.
There are many ways you can configure a deck. For example, you could create a covered, open-air space or screen in your deck to keep the bugs out and fresh air in. Or, for a more modern option, there are unique flush mount decks that blend seamlessly with your lawn without an edge to trip over.
No matter what kind of deck you have in mind, the deck builders in Chadds Ford, PA can help you make the vision for your outdoor space a reality.
Add a patio or hardscape
Patios and hardscapes are core elements of any outdoor area that help to anchor the space and provide usable square footage for dining and entertaining. These elements pair well with decks or can stand on their own just fine; it just depends on your preferences.
One of the great things about hardscapes is the wide variety of materials available. So whether you’re looking for a traditional slate or brick patio or want a maintenance-free stamped concrete option, there’s a hardscape for every style and budget.
Create hangout zones
Whether you add a deck, hardscape, or both, you need to create defined areas in your backyard. A place to eat. A space to hang out. An area to play.
Defining these spaces will give order to your design and help you hone in on how you want to use your space and, more importantly, what elements you want to incorporate to achieve those goals.
You don’t need to create barriers between the areas, but you should look at each as its own room in your backyard. Shifting your perspective to see your outdoor space this way will help you create inviting places where people will want to sit and stay awhile.
Include a fire pit
One space you may want to include in your design is a fire pit. There are lots of ways you can do this. The cheapest is to dig a hole in the ground, add some gravel and sand for drainage, and line the edge with river rock.
But if you want something more substantial, have a professional hardscaper create a fire pit from paver stones, complete with a gas line to start a perfect fire and a patio surround for Adirondack chairs. Whatever you choose, remember that fire pits are for gathering around and should be far from any structures or plants that dry out easily.
Improve your landscaping
Landscaping can make or break your outdoor space. You could have the most beautiful deck, a patio with an outdoor kitchen, and an awesome fire pit, but it will only pop if you have suitable landscaping.
Line your outdoor spaces with various perennial trees, shrubs, and flowering plants. Arrange your plants with the largest in the back and the smallest in the front. And make sure you get a good mix of evergreens and flowering plants so you have some color all year long.
And don’t forget about privacy. Are there any areas in your backyard you want to screen off or shield from neighbors? You can do this effectively with arborvitae, holly, boxwood, and more.
Update your facade
You can add all the beautiful outdoor features you want, but the aesthetic suffers if they’re all up against aluminum siding from the 1980s or cracked stucco from the 1990s. You need an updated facade to match your outdoor design’s style and energy if you truly want to transform your backyard.
And in addition to looking good, exterior updates actually pay off. For example, research shows that adding stone veneer and replacing old siding provides an excellent ROI. These are admittedly expensive upgrades, but you can get a similar payoff by upgrading outdoor lighting, painting your exterior doors, and switching out other outdoor hardware.
Plant a garden
Adding a garden is a wonderful way to transform your outdoor space. Create beds for different things you want to plant, like herbs, veggies, fruits, and flowering plants. Keeping these things separate will help them grow better and improve cultivation.
While creating beds in the ground is always an option, raised beds have grown in popularity in recent years. These are visually appealing and easier to maintain because they keep pests out of your garden, like rabbits and other rodents.
Gardening is great for your backyard, but it’s also great for you. The health benefits of gardening are well-documented and include building self-esteem, reducing stress, improving hand strength, increasing vitamin D intake, and more.
Life’s too short not to get out and enjoy the outdoors, but it’s difficult to be outside as much as you want if you don’t have a great space. So now’s the time to get up, get out and transform your outdoor space.
