Your outdoor living space is a crucial part of your home, especially now that the temperatures are getting warmer and the days are getting longer. Be it a patio or a garden sitting area, ensuring your space is in optimal shape is crucial to enjoying the outdoors. If it isn’t, it’s time to consider a makeover for the outdoor area. But don’t worry! We’ll share some of the most effective ways to help you achieve that.
When designing your outdoor space, consider it an extension of your living space, only that it’s outdoors. First, you must decide what purpose the area will serve. Do you want it to be an extended dining area, an outdoor bar where you can host parties, or a peaceful retreat to enjoy the breeze and marvel at the surroundings?
How you design the space will largely depend on the size of the area and your budget. Most importantly, you should consider your style and personal preferences before settling for a particular design. Here are some backyard makeover ideas that you can try.
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1. Create a Fire Pit Conversation Area
When people think about a conversation and socializing area, a patio is the first idea that comes to mind, but this doesn’t always have to be the case. Adding a firepit can also make a great socializing area in your backyard.
When going for such a design, it’s important to remember that the placement of the firepit plays a crucial part in the rest of the design. Choosing an ideal location with ample sitting space and enough room for movement could make or break the layout. In such a design, it’s advisable to use portable seating solutions so that you and your guests can adjust how far or close you’d like to be from the fire—but not too far away since you might decide to roast some marshmallows as you share hearty conversations!
If you have the budget, you can either build your own fire pit or buy a commercial propane-powered fire pit. If you choose to build your own fire pit, you can use an old steel barrel or go for a brick-and-mortar design if you have the DIY skills. Don’t forget to be creative with the design so you can make your fire pit unique and add a meaningful and personal touch to your outdoor space.
2. Add Creative Accents and a Personal Touch
Practical and functional additions to your space are essential, but the accents and finishing touches you add are even more critical. There are several creative ways to change the outlook of your space and complete the makeover with accents.
Add creative additions such as a water fountain, a waterfall, a bird feeder, or even a sculpture to improve your space’s visual appeal. Ensure you consider factors such as balance and symmetry when adding these accents.
You can also go for one-of-a-kind décor pieces that add personal style. Such pieces can even be DIY projects you can create by spending little or no money. Not only do well-thought-out accent pieces make your space aesthetically appealing, but they can also be a conversation starter.
3. Play Around with Lighting
Lighting isn’t only a crucial element when designing indoor spaces; it can also make a significant difference in your outdoor space. A well-lit outdoor space can be used during the day or late at night, ensuring the area isn’t limited to just a certain part of the day.
One ideal lighting solution is string lights. These lights instantly create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your space, not to mention the ambiance they add. What’s even more interesting is that all this can be achieved with minimal effort and very little impact on your budget. Be it a pergola, trees, or a fence; there are many areas where you can place string lights to liven up your outdoor space at night.
Another effective lighting solution for your space is portable rechargeable lights such as lanterns. These lights are especially practical if you lack outlets where you can connect string lights. Since they are portable, you can place them just about anywhere, starting from lighting pathways leading to a patio or patio steps, using hooks to hang them around your pergola, making them a centerpiece for your dining or sitting area, or placing them in any other location where you could use an extra glow.
4. Focus on Little Details
As the famous saying goes, “It’s the little things that matter,” the same applies to your outdoor design. You may be tempted to focus on the large details like the outdoor furniture or your patio design, but small details will also largely influence how the final design looks. Consider what decor you want to include in the space to make it feel more personal and homely. Just like indoor spaces, the design should be practical and reflect your personality.
For the furniture, ensure you go with pieces that can survive different types of weather and the wear and tear they will be exposed to outdoors. If you already have outdoor furniture, then you can shift your attention to how to accessorize the space and freshen up the look. The good thing about focusing on small details is that they aren’t as costly as big additions but can significantly impact your space and completely change the visual appeal.
Consider additions such as art pieces that can withstand outdoor weather and cushions and throw pillows with the same characteristics. Most importantly, don’t forget to add some color and texture to the space. Unlike what most people think, outdoor spaces don’t always have to use neutral colors.
5. Use Pathways to Create Intimate Appeal
While adding lighting to your pathways may elevate your outdoor space to a new level, you need to design them before adding the lighting. A well-thought-out pathway has a functional value to a space and can tremendously improve the area’s aesthetic appeal. Pathways can be created with various materials, from simple gravel to concrete or even ceramic tiles.
Before beginning the design process, consider what role you want the pathway to play. Do you want a path from the house to the patio? How about a pathway along the side of the backyard? Or even a path from the patio to the garden shed?
To effectively create pathways, you need extensive planning to ensure the makeover is just how you want it. However, if you get it right, it’ll be all worth the effort, and it’s one of the most aesthetically appealing and easy designs to implement.
6. Define an Outdoor Living Area with a Rug
Rugs shouldn’t just be reserved for indoor spaces; you can also use them to define your outdoor living area. Adding a rug to your space personalizes it and makes the whole space feel complete and tied together.
When purchasing an outdoor rug, ensure you go for qualities such as a weatherproof and stain-resistant one that suits the outdoor area. Such a rug can withstand extreme weather conditions such as rain, wind, scorching sun, and occasional spills.
The rug size will be determined by the area you want to cover. The bigger the rug, the better since you can tuck it under outdoor furniture. Additionally, a more oversized rug may create the illusion of a bigger space, making the space appear more luxurious.
7. Create Sections
Your outdoor space can have various uses, from hosting friends and family to being an outdoor play area for your young ones. The best way to ensure it can serve the various uses meant for it is to section it. For example, you can designate an outdoor dining area with a dining table and chairs to host those outdoor parties.
You can also set up an outdoor workout area with yoga mats and weights to ensure that you keep fit. For a play area, you can add a toy storage cabinet and create swings or slides so your kids can participate in the outdoor fun.
There are plenty of options for creating sections for your outdoors, but don’t get overwhelmed with the possibilities. The best way to do this is to tackle one area at a time. First, decide on the sections you want to include in the space. Secondly, create a focal point you’ll often use. This can be a firepit, a water feature, a conversation area, or a patio, basically any space that’ll encourage you to relax and enjoy the outdoor environment.
Once you’ve created the central region, you can add other sections around the space according to your needs.
8. Don’t Forget About Landscaping
An outdoor space is simply incomplete without proper landscaping. Whether you choose a garden, vertical garden, trees, shrubs, or opted plants, adding a touch of greenery to your space will improve its visual appeal and bring you in touch with nature, which can be relaxing. If you have a yard, ensure it’s well-manicured. You can also use sculptural planters in different sizes and place them in clusters to add some intrigue to the area.
