Published: July 18, 2018, 10:17pm | Modified: October 8, 2018, 8:53pm
Design Ideas for a Charming and Relaxing Backyard
If you feel your backyard lacks usefulness or have realised you have very little desire to spend any time there, maybe it’s time for you to spruce it up! After all, what use is all that extra space if you don’t enjoy it? Try the following tips to make the most of your backyard and turn it into a charming, relaxing space:
Install a Special Feature
If your backyard is missing a centrepiece, why not add something that’ll give it some character and provide something nice to look at? Fountains can be particularly pleasing to the eye – and water can be very relaxing to listen to. Alternatively, you might like to create your own fire pit for a cosy winter experience or dig a pond complete with fish (if your environment allows for it) for a tranquil, natural feel.
Photo Credit: Martin Knize via Unsplash under License
Create a Dining Area for BBQs
What better way to spend your time in your backyard than eating and drinking with your favourite people? Creating an outdoor dining area is a great way to ensure that your family and friends will always have a place to relax when they visit, and that you’ll have a place to spend time for those summer BBQs or whenever you want to get out of the house.
Your theme is your choice! You might like to create an outdoor BBQ space with sturdy, heavy furniture, or use lighter, more portable pieces and focus on creating a cozy place to sit and eat. Try your best to choose quality over quantity, especially when it comes to outdoor seating, as with any luck you’ll be spending plenty of time using your new furniture!
Photo Credit: Emiel Molenaar via Unsplash under License
Designate Space to Grow Plants
Tending to your garden is wonderfully relaxing, whether that garden is home to fruit, vegetables, or flowers. If you’re interested in starting your own garden, you’ll need to first dedicate a plot of land to it: what you can grow will depend on your garden’s sun exposure, so if you can, choose a spot that’ll get a lot of sunlight.
There’s no harm in starting small. Once you get the hang of gardening you can branch out a little and add extra plants, but in the beginning, it’s easiest to dedicate all your care to just a few select plants. Consider investing in a good set of gardening tools, as they’ll come in handy – and if you need some help getting started, contact a garden product provider for help. After planning what to grow in your garden, you’ll need to choose a good soil. Plants grow best in loamy soil that is mainly equal parts sand, silt, and clay. You may also want to add plant-specific nutrients to your soil as well, such as rose food or worm castings.
Gardening and simply being around plants and nature is great for human wellbeing. Gardens add a very pleasing aesthetic to your backyard – before long, you’ll want to show it off to all of your friends and family and make them a meal with your homegrown vegetables!
Photo Credit: Esther Tuttle via Unsplash under License
Hang a porch swing or hammock
On long summer evenings, there aren’t many activities more enjoyable than taking a cold beer and a book outside and relaxing in your very own hammock or porch swing to escape the heat of the house. Sometimes, chilling out in your backyard can feel almost like having your own miniature park. It can also be very romantic if you’re inclined to share your space with your significant other!
Often, home owners focus only on furnishing the interior of their home, letting the potential of their backyard go unrealised. Take advantage of your backyard and create a relaxing, charming place to spend your time!
Allison Hail is a freelance writer from Wellington, NZ who enjoys spending lazy Sunday afternoons drinking her favourite cup of hot chocolate in the comfort of her own backyard sanctuary. Find more of Allison’s work here.