Let’s face it. Jetting off to the Maldives or the French Riviera each week for some R&R isn’t feasible for the average homeowner. As much as we’d like to be relaxing in the warm waters of the Mediterranean, most of us will have to make do with retreating to our own backyards.
While your backyard may not sound as luxe and appealing as the French Riviera, there is no reason why you can’t make it a rejuvenating space for you and your guests. With the following backyard ideas and tips, you can easily transform your space into the outdoor oasis of your dreams:
- Find Your Patio Personality
Although you might not think so, everyone has an outdoor patio personality. Are you the entertainer who delights in having friends over? Or, do you prefer your outdoor oasis to be more of a relaxing retreat where you can spend hours gardening?
You don’t need to take a quiz to find out what you want in an outdoor living space. Spend 15 minutes in your backyard, analyzing the space and thinking about the function you want it to serve. Will you be most relaxed sitting by a firepit with your friends or reading a book in a single chaise lounge chair?
Once you have a few backyard ideas churning around in your head, consider the interior of your home. While your backyard doesn’t necessarily need to match your interior, you’ll probably lean toward a similar style. Keep this in mind as you begin shopping for outdoor décor and use it as a helpful road map for decisions involving landscaping, outdoor flooring, lighting, and more.
- Revamp Your Outdoor Flooring
Once you’ve figured out your patio personality, you can start searching for the perfect outdoor flooring for your backyard. From gorgeous natural wood decking to eye-catching natural stone tile, the right flooring will instantly enhance the vibe of your outdoor oasis.
- Dreamy and Practical – Stone pavers are a breeze to work with, and you can use them to build a unique and inviting paver patio. You can also use them to add a cozy firepit for late-night marshmallow roasting with friends.
- Warm and Homey – For a warm and natural aesthetic, nothing beats the coziness and timeless beauty of a traditional wood deck. You can also jazz it up with an interesting pattern such as herringbone to give your outdoor space a trendy vibe.
- Nature-Inspired – Natural stone is gorgeous and durable, making it a great choice for outdoor patios. If marble, travertine, or slate are out of your budget range, consider less expensive options that look similar, such as a stone-look porcelain tile installation for your backyard.
When considering outdoor flooring, you’ll also want to keep the climate and maintenance of the flooring material in mind. Although the DIY option is always on the table for savvy homeowners, your best bet is to talk with a flooring expert who can recommend flooring based on your unique situation.
- Set the Mood with Lighting
Although firepits are a nice feature, they aren’t always practical for every outdoor space. Instead, bring your patio into the modern era with attractive lighting.
If you have a gazebo or pergola, hanging string lights from the top of your structure can instantly make the space feel more inviting and relaxing. To create an intimate feel, stick to low-voltage lighting that won’t be annoying to the eyes.
Other backyard ideas to consider include using lighting behind shrubbery to showcase your landscaping or installing deck lighting to enhance your deck’s safety. Again, just make sure that your lighting is soft enough to illuminate without causing a glare.
- Decorate According to Size
Your patio furniture and décor can make or break the vibe of your outdoor oasis. No matter how big or small your space, there are plenty of genius backyard ideas to help you provide cozy seating for you and your guests.
For example, here are a few backyard ideas for small and large spaces:
- Small Backyard – If you’re an urban dweller working with a teeny patio, opt for weather-resistant cushions and a colorful rug to bring warmth and comfort to a small space. Rather than waste precious floor space on potted plants, create a vertical wall garden instead to make your small patio pop with color.
- Large Backyard – Larger decks and patios have the opposite problem. To make a large space feel cozier, fill up the space with a stylish patio conversation set. Adding a firepit or outdoor heater to your patio can also take up space and bring literal warmth to your backyard.
- Add Lush Foliage for Privacy
Unless you enjoy nosy neighbors watching you read a book on your patio, installing some type of privacy structure in your backyard is highly recommended. Why not add some greenery to your space to keep prying eyes away?
Planting lush foliage not only increases your privacy, it can also boost your mood. According to a Stanford study published in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning, being exposed to natural greenscape can enhance mood and improve cognitive function in the brain. This is crucial, considering that feeling calm and at ease in your outdoor space is the entire purpose of backyard oasis.
To maximize your privacy and take advantage of nature’s mood-boosting effects, plant both tall hedges and small plants in your backyard. Arborvitaes are excellent for adding privacy, while flowering plants provide visual contrast and a pleasant aroma.
- Include a Statement Feature
You probably have a couple of statement pieces in your home. Why not add one to your backyard? An outdoor statement piece could be anything, from a gas-lit fireplace with striking fire glass to funky lanterns hanging from your pergola.
For a true outdoor oasis, one of the best statement pieces you can have is a water feature. Whether it’s a gorgeous fountain or a pond you installed yourself, the sound of trickling water is sure to relax you after a long day of work.
Wrapping Up
Remember, you don’t need to build your dream oasis in a day. Small improvements are still progress! Take it slow as your budget allows and, soon enough, you’ll have a stunning outdoor oasis that rejuvenates the mind, body, and soul.
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