While our front yard is often designed with the public in mind, our backyard is where we can express ourselves and unwind. Whether you prefer a quiet spot to read or a space for outdoor games, the backyard is yours to do with as you please.
- Create A Relaxation Area
Make a relaxing area in the backyard. After all, this is your own private nature retreat. Hang a hammock between two trees or find a shady nook for a lounge chair, then sip an iced tea and take it all in.
- Add A Water Feature
A soft trickle of water is one of the simplest ways to make a space more inviting. The best thing about water is that it attracts birds to the garden. Try self-contained units that don't require any digging to incorporate a water feature onto a patio or back deck.
- Build A Fire Pit
A wood-burning fire pit can recreate the campfire experience while also adding ambiance. While you can purchase an expensive fire feature, a simple ring of rocks will suffice. Remember to check local regulations regarding outdoor fires, as well as weather conditions and burn warnings in your area.
- Create A Rock Garden
A rock garden is perfect when dealing with difficult planting sites. It allows you to stabilize a slope or hillside while also creating a distinct planting environment. Rock gardens in poor soil lift plants out of the native soil, improving drainage. Well-placed rocks add interest to sparsely planted slopes in desert climates.
- Create A Shady Oasis
If you live in an area where the sun shines all year, create a shady oasis where you can escape the heat while still enjoying the outdoors. Use built structures to provide shade when possible, such as placing seating areas on the north or east side of your home, walls, and fences.
- Make Room For Playing
Avoid the "all work and no play" mentality by making time for play in your backyard, and it doesn't have to be excessive. Attach a tire swing to a sturdy tree, buy a jungle gym or trampoline to keep kids entertained, or turn a gravel path along the side yard into a bocce ball court. The goal is to have fun, so imagination is essential.
- Luminize the night
The addition of outdoor lighting to your backyard extends its use into the night and increases its cozy factor significantly. There are numerous outdoor lighting options that can be installed as either temporary or permanent fixtures. Look for solar-powered lighting for the quickest and easiest solutions, and don't overlook spotlights that highlight your yard's best features so you can enjoy them even after the sun goes down.
- Build-in privacy
It's difficult to unwind when you have noisy neighbors, gawking walkers, and uninvited onlookers. You may believe that fencing off your entire backyard is the only way to create a private space to relax, but think small. Make a secluded area in your backyard your sanctuary, then isolate it with outdoor curtains, screens, plants, or even...a fence.
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