7 Ways to Transform Your Backyard Into the Perfect Gathering Spot
It’s always a pleasure to have the space to invite your friends and family over for summer barbecues, pool parties on hot days and neighborhood block parties that invite the community into your own backyard. In order to play host to all the exciting outdoor gatherings that warm-weather days have in store, you’ll need to design an outdoor space to foster social connections and entertainment.
Ready to transform your backyard into a social space, but aren’t sure where to begin? Read on for several tips to help you turn your yard into a place designed for socializing and relaxing with those who matter most.
1. Focus on Recreation
One of the greatest advantages of any backyard renovation is the opportunity to consider space for activities that you could not otherwise do while inside of your home. Part of the joy of getting outside with your favorite people is getting involved in fun, playful games, sports and hobbies that require the extra open space that only your yard can provide.
Before you make any other plans or start making calls to pool builders in Pensacola, assess how much space you have to work with in your yard. A large hot tub or a small basketball court may occupy a great deal of valuable real estate, so it’s important to ensure you and your family will utilize whatever you choose to include in your space.
However, even smaller backyards can include areas for fun and games. Designate a prominent area of your yard to be used for smaller lawn games, such as oversized Jenga, cornhole, dominoes or simple games of catch.
2. Design Dining Areas
Enjoying meals al fresco is one of the simple pleasures of life, especially when it’s on your own home turf. From cooking multi-course meals in a fully functional outdoor kitchen to simply enjoying a lunch picnic on your back patio, designated dining areas in your backyard allow you to bring quality mealtime outdoors and into the sun or moonlight.
Backyard dining areas can be as simple as a space to lay out a picnic blanket and a few lawn chairs or as complex as an entire outdoor dining space complete with chairs and a weatherproof table. As you consider dining areas, it’s a good idea to plan spaces to prepare or display food for friends and family to prevent frequent trips back and forth from the inside to the outside when it’s time to sit down for a meal.
3. Practice Pest Control
Nothing spoils a lovely summer evening like a swarm of gnats or mosquitoes. Be prepared for warm-weather insects by placing citronella candles around the space, keeping garbage cans covered and away from gathering areas, installing a few pest bulbs and keeping food and other attractants covered and away from bugs who may be tempted by the sight and sounds of your party.
As well, consider the ways your landscaping may attract unwelcome pests to your backyard. Water features and dense foliage encourage pest activity. If you choose to keep a pond surrounded by lush greenery in your yard, be sure to practice exceptional upkeep to keep potential bugs at bay.
4. Install Lighting
When designing a backyard perfect for social gatherings, consider how the space can be used in a variety of lighting conditions, including well after the sun goes down. From solar-powered garden lights to mindfully hung string lights, the type of lighting you select for your backyard can make it feel like a completely different space when it gets dark.
Lighting can also make your backyard a safer place to be. Well-placed path lighting, security lights, lanterns and spot lights can guide your way in the dark and deter intruders with motion-activated sensors designed to flood the area with light and prevent any lurking or other seedy behaviors.
5. Invest in Great Furniture
As with your indoor spaces, you and your family are a lot more likely to spend your free time in the backyard if it’s a comfortable, stylish place to be. Think about how many people will regularly use your gathering space and look for ways to provide good quality seating for everyone and a few extras. It doesn’t take much to set up a comfortable place to lounge. While you can spend a great deal of your budget on a set of outdoor couches, chairs, or tables, even a few padded benches can feel inviting for guests.
Additionally, it’s important to ensure the placement of your furniture is conducive to social interaction and doesn’t feel disjointed or disconnected. Establish a center point, such as a fire pit or an outdoor coffee table, and circle furniture around it to allow conversation and movement to flow naturally and without disruption.
6. Create Privacy
Even if you have neighbors you truly adore, a little privacy can make your backyard feel more like an oasis and less a part of the public neighborhood. A little bit of privacy can go a long way in making your backyard feel like it truly belongs to you and your family even in the middle of a crowded suburb or urban location.
Invest in a few privacy panels, a pergola, a makeshift wall, screens or enclosures and tall landscaping to close in your space and make it feel like a room of sorts. It’s possible to create privacy without erecting large privacy fences or making significant changes to the barrier systems in your backyard. A simple trellis covered in climbing vines can block out noise and neighbors and create an intimate space without costing you a fortune.
7. Make It Cozy
Have you always wanted an outdoor fireplace? Would your family enjoy a few swinging hammocks or outdoor rocking chairs to lounge in on sunny days? Mindful touches that make the space feel more luxurious add to both the look and function of your backyard area.
If you don’t have the space or budget to make significant changes to the layout or features of your backyard, even a few potted plants or decorative garden sculptures provide aesthetic value and make the space feel more intentional and cozy.
