5 Ways to Decorate Your Backyard
Have you always imagined having a backyard you love relaxing in? Are you looking to do more than just grow grass behind your house? If you’re looking to update or upgrade the backyard, there are tons of options to consider. While thinking about what you want it to look like, consider the following five ways to decorate your backyard. They’ll help to create a gorgeous, relaxing place you can enjoy any time.
Add a Patio or Deck
A place to sit is a necessity whether you plan on spending the weekends watching the kids play or you’d like to have a few friends over to relax and hang out for a while. It doesn’t have to be expensive to install a patio or deck, and there are plenty of DIY options to consider to help you save money. The patio or deck can be as small or as large as the space allows, as long as there is room for a chair or two and perhaps a table to set your coffee on when you’re enjoying the peaceful view in the morning.
Once the patio or deck is built, adding the furniture is just one of the ways to decorate it. Consider adding an outdoor rug to further define the space, along with flowers either on or around the porch. Some of the other ideas for decorating the backyard, such as adding a water feature, can be added to the porch to help create the perfect space.
Use Stone Paths
If you’re adding in a garden, don’t forget about the walkway to view all of the stunning flowers. Even if you’re planning a vegetable garden, you’ll want a walkway through the area so you can check on everything, do any work that’s needed, and avoid stepping in mud on rainy days. There are tons of ideas for stone paths, and this can be another inexpensive way to update the backyard.
Stones for a pathway can be purchased at any large garden center. They’re also easy to make at home if you’d like to save more money. Using bendable plastic, create the shape of the stone on the ground. Pour cement into the plastic framework, being careful not to let the cement overflow. After the cement is dried, the plastic can be removed. These are easy to make, but they are heavy, especially if you create larger stones, so it’s a good idea to make them in place.
Add in Water Features
Water features, whether they are large or small, add a certain ambiance to the backyard and help to make it a far more relaxing place to be. Small fountains can be placed on the patio, while larger ones may be nearby or in the garden. Fountains can look like waterfalls and include a variety of different designs, or look like water running down the side of a wall. Lighting can help illuminate the water features at night, leading to a gorgeous view.
Larger water features can include a galvanized tub as a small pool for relaxing on the hottest days, a winding wet or dry river through the yard, or a small pond either above ground or in the ground. Galvanized tubs can be turned into pools and used frequently during the summer months. Wet rivers have water flowing with the help of a pump, while dry rivers are made from stone and only have water flowing when it rains. Ponds can be as large or small as desired and can include plants, fish, or both.
Use the Right Lighting
The garden shouldn’t just be somewhere you can relax during the day. It should also be a fantastic place to sit in the evenings as the sun goes down. To do this, though, you’re going to want to add some lighting. The porch or deck should have brighter lights so it’s easy to see, and you may want to include safety lights on any stairs. In the garden, light can help you view the flowers as it gets dark or look for any pests that need to be removed.
Any type of outdoor lighting can be used in the backyard. Retailers like the Steel Lighting Co offer a plethora of options, so it’s easy to find something that’s affordable and that’s going to work well in the space. When looking at the options available, remember that you’ll likely want different lights for each part of the backyard, as some areas will do better with softer lighting while others will do better with brighter lights.
Create More Shade
When it’s hot outside, you’re going to want somewhere to sit in the shade so you don’t have to be inside. Shade can make a huge difference in how it feels outdoors, especially if there’s a little wind blowing to help you keep cool. There are plenty of options to consider here, from simple shade cloths that can be hung on the deck to retractable options you can open and close as needed. Some covers for the deck or patio will be solid, so you can sit outside while it’s raining.
If you just want a little bit of shade, however, and aren’t concerned with sitting outside when there’s rain, you can also consider planting a tree near the porch or patio. This doesn’t provide for instant shade, as the tree takes some time to grow, but it will be a gorgeous addition to the property and will eventually provide the much-needed shade. In the meantime, use shade covers as a temporary solution.
The backyard should be a place you can sit and relax, entertain friends, and watch the kids play. If it’s nothing but grass, you may want to start thinking about how to decorate it and turn it into the oasis you’ve been wanting. Use the ideas here to help you get started, but remember to customize everything to your tastes. This way, you’ll always be able to enjoy being in the backyard and may even find excuses to spend more time outside enjoying your home.
