Despite the fact that we’re now in the midst of fall, it won’t be long until spring is knocking on the door once more, meaning that summer will be right around the corner.
For many, one of the best things about the summertime is getting to spend prolonged periods of time outdoors in the garden. Whether you’re enjoying a BBQ with friends, a pool party, or are simply reading a good book in the shade, backyards and garden spaces offer the perfect opportunity to get outside and relax.
The problem with some outdoor spaces is that they’re just that – spaces. Instead of serving as an afterthought, why not transform your backyard into an outdoor living space that adds both comfort and value to your home?
From minimalist spaces on a budget, to complete garden transformations, here are several ideas for outdoor living spaces that add value and comfort to your home.
Take Your Cookoffs to the Next Level with an Outdoor Kitchen
Grilling, barbequing, smoking, pizza-making, and dining al-fresco are just some of the many culinary pleasures that summertime and warm weather provides for us.
The problem for many is that our backyards aren’t exactly equipped with the necessary cookware and furniture needed for the ultimate outdoor dining experience. This is where an outdoor kitchen would prove so popular.
In recent years, outdoor kitchens have proved enormously popular, and best of all is the fact that they can be built on a budget. All you need is a frame, a gazebo, some countertops, a table, a seating area, a BBQ or grill, and a pizza oven, and you can build an outdoor kitchen that’s both practical and aesthetic.
Some people go for a more rustic dining area, whereas others prefer a more modern and contemporary design. You can opt for UPVC countertops, tiled, granite, metal, or as we saw last year in particular, polished concrete.
Add some lighting and a few personal touches here and there and you’ll have yourself the ultimate outdoor dining space.
Get Your Smoke on with a Smoke Shack
For times when propane grilling or barbequing over hot coals just won’t cut it, how about going low and slow with a smoker instead?
Smokers are now just as popular as barbeques and they come in a variety of different designs. Whether you’re whipping up some juicy pulled pork, or a melt-in-the-mouth brisket, a smoker is the ultimate piece of kit to have.
Of course, if you want to do some smoking, you’re going to need a smoke shack. Smoke shacks featuring treated timber, corrugated metal sheets, reclaimed metal and other items of furniture are great rustic spaces to get back to nature and cook the old-fashioned way.
Along with countertops and cupboards, you’re going to need a space to store your logs, as well as your smoker/smokers. To make life easier, you could always use a pellet grill, though just be aware that this will need a power supply.
Add some finishing touches such as bull horns, skulls, hunting trophies (real or fake), antlers, and old gas station signs and you’re all set.
Let There be Light
Even though it tends to stay lighter for longer during the warmer months of the year, that doesn’t mean that an outdoor living space doesn’t need lighting.
Lighting can transform any living space, outdoors or otherwise, into a relaxing, comforting, inviting space. When installing lighting, it’s important to be practical. Not only will you want bright lighting so that you can see, but you’ll also want soft, warm, and relaxing lighting so everybody can relax, perhaps around a patio table with a glass of wine and a Caesar salad.
Solar lighting is a great option if you get plenty of sun, otherwise consider mains lighting in softer hues. Perhaps you could add path lighting on the ground so people can see where they’re walking, or overhead lanterns or twinkling fairy lights to give your garden a more magical feel?
Choose All-Season Furniture
Despite the fact that we keep talking about summertime, some people want to enjoy their gardens all year long. If this applies to you, all-season furniture is simply a must.
Rather than fabric cushions and upholstered furniture, go with tables and chairs made from weatherproof materials that are easy to clean and maintain. Treated timber such as teak is great as is barely weathers, requires little maintenance, and is almost solely waterproof. This is why it’s the wood of choice on luxury yachts and boats.
Stone, rattan-effect UPVC, or even glass is also a great choice here, as it is weatherproof and easy to clean down. Simply find somewhere warm, dry, and airy to store the cushions, textiles, and other pieces of upholstery and that’s all you need.
Patio and Decking
One of the most important aspects of any outdoor living space is having a designated area for people to sit down and socialize. As great as standing on the grass can be, it’s not so fun when it’s damp, muddy, and crawling with bugs. This is where having a patio or decking area will be so useful.
If you opt for a patio, you can choose from a variety of different designs, layouts, and materials, including sandstone or granite. You could even opt for a stone resin patio. If you decide you’d rather go with wood, decking is a great choice. Again, teak would work best here as it’s so weatherproof and low maintenance, but it can also be costly.
You can source cheaper materials, but, just be aware that most types of timber will need to be oiled, treated, and stained regularly to keep them weatherproof, free of rot, and aesthetic.
Draw People’s Attention to a Focal Point
To really make any outdoor living space that little bit more welcoming and inviting, you’re going to want a focal point.
This could be a large and extravagant table and chairs, a firepit, or even a seating area, complete with a pergola. Pergolas are great as you can equip them with lights, flowers, and other accessories and use them to create separate seating areas in the garden.
Add Some Greenery
Finally, to give your garden more of a homely feel, you may wish to go ahead and add more plants, flowers, shrubs, bushes, and other forms of greenery.
Flowering plants and other types of greenery not only look and smell wonderful, but they also add heaps of color and are essential for bees and other insects and living creatures vital for life on Earth.
You could go for a “wild” garden and let nature take over, or you could grow exotic, bright, and vibrant flowers and take care of the weeding yourself. Of course, if you want a low-maintenance garden there are plenty of species of greenery that require little maintenance at all. Simply plant them, water them occasionally (or let the rain do that for you) and Mother Nature will do the rest.
