If you have an outdoor space where you love to relax, prepare food, or entertain friends and family, it is important to make this area of your property as inviting as possible. You can add some design elements and features to the outdoor space that will make your yard comfortable and welcoming, whether you want to take some time to read your favorite book, listen to a playlist, work out, or have an outdoor celebration. These upgrades will keep your outside living space looking its best after the summer as well. Here are a few suggestions to try.
Add a Heat Source
The summer is filled with warm, sunshine-filled days and slightly cooler nights. While summer evenings are still relatively warm, you may live in an area where the nights are windy and the temperature drops significantly. Adding a fire or heat source to your outdoor space will make the area more comfortable if you have friends or loved ones over for a party or get-together. Consider adding a firepit to the center of your yard, or talk to a contractor about building an outdoor fireplace. You can also find an outdoor heating to warm up the air and make the area especially cozy if you want to stay outside for extended periods of time in the summer. Of course, these heating features can help you make the most of your outdoor space in the fall or winter as well.
Add Lighting
You will get lots of daytime into the evening during the summer, so you won’t need lighting in your yard until well into the light. However, you may still want path markers and spotlights in various areas around the space that will automatically come in once the sun starts going down. As the weather cools down, you can add patio string lights. String lights can also serve you well at parties, since it illuminates the area where you’re serving food or beverages. You can also add lights with a tinge of color to add unique design to your outdoor space. For instance, blue lights are especially calming if you utilize your yard to read or do yoga, and red lights are great for backyard parties. Any of these options can easily be found in a local store or online.
Create a Garden
You can make your outdoor living space more welcoming by growing seasonal fruits, vegetables and flowers in your yard. You will add visual appeal to the area and many of these plants have a pleasant fragrance as well. Maintaining your lawn is important as well. You can hire a professional for lawn care in Charlottesville or your particular locale to keep your grass healthy and green and tend to the shrubs and flowers in your yard. It is important to have consistent maintenance for your yard in order to keep it looking great.
Bring a Hot Tub Into the Space
If you want to relax in the water but don’t have a pool in your outdoor living space, consider adding a hot tub. The warm water can relax tired muscles and help prepare your body for sleep. The hot tub is also an appealing backyard feature during the fall if you want to have an impromptu get-together with loved ones or want to spend some time in the hot tub listening to your favorite music and unwinding from the stress of the day. Talk to your contractor about adding design features to the hot tub that match the rest of the decor in your yard.
Weatherproof the Furniture
If you want to enjoy your outdoor space or patio even during summer rain, cooler nights, and summer storms, it’s important that your garden furniture is weather-resistant. Choose chairs, tables and loveseat made from teak, polyresin wicker and powder coated steel to extend the life of your furniture and keep it from being ruined in bad weather. It’s also important to remove the cushions and cover the furniture as you enter into the fall and winter seasons.
Add an Outdoor Kitchen/Maintain the Grilling Space
If you love having dinner outside during the summer or your friends are constantly asking you to barbecue, you can enhance your outdoor entertainment area by getting a state-of-the-art grill. Add seating a safe distance from the grill and set up a table for beverages and appetizers to keep your loved ones occupied while you prepare the main course. You can also talk to your contractor about creating an outdoor kitchen that includes a mini fridge, cooking surface, and shelf space so you can prepare delicious meals without having to use your indoor kitchen.
These are just a few of the ways you can keep your outdoor space looking its best. Once you add some upgrades, you will likely want to spend just as much time outdoors as you do inside. Your family and friends will enjoy a beautiful and relaxing outdoor living space.
