With the arrival of summer also comes the arrival of a variety of get togethers at your home. Where do these get togethers usual occur? The backyard- on the patio or in the backyard. Being in a place where the cold weather is a good portion of the year, our patios and outdoor spaces take a big hit when it comes to our extreme weather. Since this is the case usually an update or two is needed every occasionally, to spruce of our space. Here are some tips for ways to update these spaces so that you can enjoy them more and add to the value of your home when it is time to sell it.
1- Add a fire pit.
There is nothing like sitting around a fire with your friends and family on a cool summer night, relaxing and having conversation. Fire pits are becoming more popular than ever. It also adds an entirely new look to your backyard while offering your guests a reason to stay later. It also can be used as a centerpiece of an entire event. There are a lot of options for getting a fire pit. Most people just buy them and throw them somewhere in the backyard. Make sure to put them on something more solid than grass or you will have strange yellow circles in the backyard where the grass is now dead. Some people do add permanent fire pits on the patio and in the backyard and Pinterest has hundreds of ideas on how to make them. Good thing is- if you use a more permanent way you can use it in the winter. Don’t forget the smores!
2- Grab some paint.
Painting some of the areas in your yard with bold, contrasting colors help to make the space more seasonal. For example- painting the desk a bold yellow and adding a blue rug helps to contrast your space. This adds to the overall feel that you are in summer mode. Another option is picking a more neutral color which can callow you to add some bold color accessories that you can change as you please. The southern states have recently started painting their patio ceilings ‘haint blue’. Who knows? Maybe this will become popular in the north.
3- Create some art
It’s amazing what a few DIY projects can do for you. Putting some decorative things in the backyard can really help make the space more oriented towards you and who you are. They can be as simple as some painted step stones to the garden to some creative bird houses. One idea to get your kids involved as well is painting some rocks for your garden. Grab some acrylic paint and let them design a few rocks that you can place around your space. This will add some character.
4- Put some light on it!
Adding lights in the backyard can really help when the party keeps going on into the later hours of the night. This can be simple as there are many ways to do this. Adding some string lights along the back fence or over the patio itself help to give it a more celebratory look. Adding some mason jars around the backyard with some simple candles is just as easy as it sounds. One idea we saw was to paint some of your planters with glow in the dark paint. During the day, you cannot even tell that they are painted but at night they can light up the stairs or a walkway to make it easier to navigate
5- Do some planting.
Adding some planters or hanging baskets can really make the outdoor spaces feel like you’re in an outdoor space. Plus, part- they’re pretty to look at. Making a planter is easy and it give you a chance to be creative with it. There are literally hundreds of ways to add some personality to your plants. Another fun project for the kids is getting them to design a pot and teaching them how to plant their favorite flower. It can be a good afternoon activity when they’re home on summer break. Hanging plants are no exception- wire baskets, metal baskets, plastic baskets, etc. Just pick out your favorite flowers and add them to your backyard to increase your appeal. It’s a simple, cheap and easy way to update your outdoor space.
6- Use Pavers!
If you’re looking for a bigger project, one way to update is using pavers over having solid concrete poured. There are companies that do this, but if you’re feeling good that day than it is something you can do on your own. P
avers are great because if one cracks or it gets weathers all you do is a get a new one to cover that piece or just turn it over. These little things can save you time and last a lot longer than some other traditional building options for your spaces.
We hope that you use some of these ideas to make your outdoor space, patio, or backyard the beautiful oasis that you want it to be. You should want to be outside and spend your time there, not dread it because it doesn’t look as good as you wish it did. Your home is your place- make it yours as much as possible! At Red Door of WNY, we are opening doors all over WNY. We want to help make your dreams come true- and finding a great house with a good outdoor space is no exception. Give us a ring and we can help you too!
