The weather outside is warming up, and summer is just about here. So, now is a great time to reimagine and remodel your outdoor living space. Have you always wanted to entertain and have parties but never had the proper setup?
Do you want a quiet place for meditation, yoga, or peaceful reflection? Maybe you are more into lounging by the pool or growing your food in a garden. Whatever you envision for your outdoor space, we’ve got you covered with these transformative backyard concepts that will keep you engaged in the great outdoors this summer and throughout the year.
1. Minimalist Zen Garden Retreat
It may sound fanciful and complicated, but creating a Zen Garden can be simple. The entire idea behind these mini backyard retreats is simplicity. First designed by Japanese monks to teach meditation, Zen gardens are now famous worldwide. They allow for a space for people to clear their heads, reduce stress, and allow for peaceful reflection.
The Zen garden is based on several principles: naturalness, asymmetry, stillness, and mystery. A garden of zen can be as big or small as you like, but the main elements typically include stone (to create structure), water (to represent the force of life), and plants. There are three types of zen gardens; the hill garden is used for peaceful strolls and includes hills, bridges, paths, and mini nature scenes. The tea garden is used for ceremonies and contains paths, plants, and the centerpiece tea hut.
Finally, the dry garden is meant to be enjoyed afar to engage people in mindfulness and contemplation. It can contain natural elements like sand, wood, gravel, statues, lanterns, ants, and trees. When designing your zen garden, there are a few things to remember.
First, choose a space that’s easy to access and has the proper amount of sunlight for the ants you choose. Determine the materials you like that will work best for the space. River stones, flat stones, pebbles, and sand make a good garden base. Gravel delivery services usually have everything you need to get started.
Next, it’s time to think about greenery. Typical plants in a zen garden include azaleas, ferns, dwarf pine, bamboo, lilies, and hostas. Trees that can be used include cherry, maple, bonsai, and wisteria. Consider adding a water element like a pond or bubbling fountain. Feel free to personalize the space with wind chimes, lighting, and statues. Backyard concepts like these are sure to promote a calming presence.
2. Outdoor Kitchen and Dining Area
Having an outdoor kitchen and dining space allows for an endless number of possibilities and a ton of benefits. Creating these spaces can give you the perfect hub for entertaining, hosting parties, a quiet date night, or weekend fun with the family. It means more time outdoors, freshly grilled, healthy food, and extra space for cooking and dining.
Additionally, these spaces can save on utility bills, won’t heat the house or fill it with odors, control the mess indoors, expand your kitchen resources, and increase your home’s value. Like other outdoor elements, the key is personalization. The kitchen and dining spaces can be as large or compact as you like or need.
They can be created on a deck, patio, plank, or graveled area. A permanently covered pavilion or pergola can also be built to shelter the area. Once you’ve chosen the space, now it’s time to select your equipment. This will depend on your budget and space.
An outdoor kitchen can be as simple as a grill with a cook top burner and small countertops on either side. If your budget allows, consider a grill unit with a sink for easy clean up and storage for utensils and cookware. More significant outdoor kitchen ideas include a mini fridge, pizza oven, fireplace, and center island, giving plenty of space with countertops to prep food.
When it comes to the dining area, the focus should be on comfort and practicality, but don’t scrimp on style and creating a peaceful environment. Place the dining area with a nice view; consider surrounding it with shrubs or fencing for privacy. Adding backyard elements like flower pots or a low wall around the area separates the space from the rest of the yard.
3. Cozy Fire Pit Lounge
If you love sitting around a campfire but don’t always have time to pack up and hit the road, why not make your own? You can quickly turn your backyard into a cozy gathering place with an easy-to-install fire pit and comfy seating. A fire pit lounge area is the perfect way to turn a drab, underused yard into the focal point for socializing and family time. From roasting marshmallows or hot dogs with the kids to enjoying a glass of wine or coffee with your partner or friends, a fire pit will add fun and a positive atmosphere to your space.
There are fire pits for every budget and skill level. You can build one, buy a prefabricated model, or hire a local masonry contractor. Though we typically think of wood as the source of these backyard concepts, firepits can run on propane, gas, and gel fuel.
To create your lounge area, choose an open yard area and put some gravel or pebbles in it (an existing patio area also works well). Install the fire pit, then add comfortable seating like lounge chairs, an outdoor sofa, and maybe even a rocker. Be sure to have a few tables to put your supplies on.
4. Meditation and Yoga Corner
You may wonder about the difference between a zen garden and a meditation/yoga corner. While the two are similar and aim to promote spiritual peace and mental clarity, a meditation and yoga center focuses more on your individual wants and needs rather than the specific principles of Zen. An outdoor space of this type can be placed anywhere from an apartment balcony to an existing patio.
You can also have a dedicated space built by a deck designer in a shaded, quiet yard. This is a place for you to go and practice yoga, commune with nature, pray, meditate, journal, or read. So what you create is totally up to you. A few elemental backyard concepts for this area include soft lighting, rugs and mats, plants and flowers that promote pollinators, a water feature, curtains or partitions for privacy, and a lounge chair or small outdoor couch.
5. Swimming Pool or Pond
You’ll never go wrong when adding backyard concepts to your space, including water. Pools can provide endless summer fun for everyone and be the focal point of parties and celebrations. You can choose from a simple, budget-friendly above-ground pool or a more elaborate inground pool that can include fountains, slides, diving boards, and even a hot tub. A local swimming pool service can help determine the right pool for your yard and price range.
If a pool is not your style, consider installing a pond that you can fill with fish or other wildlife. It can be a fun, peaceful, and engaging part of your backyard space. Ponds can attract various wildlife like birds, dragonflies, and, in some areas, small amphibians.
6. Herb and Vegetable Garden
A vegetable garden is one of the most helpful backyard concepts that is fun for the entire family. A herb garden will do just fine if you’re short on space. Gardening is a great way to get outdoors, get in some physical activity, share a hobby with the kids or partner, and grow your food. You’ll save money and know exactly how the food was produced.
It doesn’t take much to start. Just find a sunny patch in your yard, call some topsoil suppliers for prices and delivery, choose your seeds or plants, and get to digging. If you’re new to the garden game, ease into it with some easy-to-grow lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Be sure to install garden wire to keep the critters out.
7. Entertainment Pavilion with Bar
Make your house the center of fun and neighborhood get-togethers by adding one of the most whimsical yet practical backyard concepts. We’re discussing your private entertainment pavilion with a bar as the cherry on top. A pavilion can be a covered area or under a more open pergola.
You can make it simple with a few patio chairs, tables, and a small portable bar cart with some speakers for music. But you can also add a flatscreen television and a fully stocked bar with countertops and stools. Add a coffee station, a freezer with treats, and even a cotton candy machine for the kids.
Consider adding a ping pong table or game table where people can play cards, board games, or do puzzles. You can even install a porch swing or hammock. It’s a concept that allows you to extend your living space and have plenty of room for fun!
8. Secret Garden Hideaway
If you’re after unique and magical backyard concepts, consider building a secret garden. This is a private space for you to do as little or as much as you like. There are no rules or principles to follow. It’s your garden and your secret, so here we give some ideas.
First, enclose the space with tall shrubs, hedging, screens, or walls. Add native and loose hanging plants, encouraging butterflies, bees, and birds. Then, install feeders and a water element for peaceful sounds and scenery.
Consult with a paving contractor about pathways and a patio area. Place meaningful objects and a sitting area to read or work from home. If you want it to be secret, install a door at the entrance to keep everyone guessing.
9. Artificial Turf Playground
Kids love their playground equipment. It’s one of those backyard concepts that’s pretty much a necessity when you have children. But you know the struggle if you’ve ever tried to mow around these structures. One way to solve this issue is to install artificial turf under the playground area.
This turf won’t succumb to the elements, won’t attract pests, and helps with drainage. But best of all, its added security provides a safe playing surface. Artificial turf offers excellent shock absorption and softens trips and falls. It’s also much more accessible to assistive devices than grass. Though it doesn’t come cheap, most turf lasts about 20 years, so long-term savings are involved. For extra security in the kid’s play area, consider a fence installation service to help improve security and keep unwanted visitors (like wildlife) at bay.
10. Outdoor Movie Theater
No summer is complete without a few movies under the stars, with the faint sounds of crickets and floral aromas that only summer nights bring. Sadly, drive-in theaters are few and far between anymore. The good news is that you can create an outdoor movie theater right in your backyard.
Choose an area safe from wind and other elements (a pergola or covered deck is perfect). Next, gather your equipment; you’ll need a projector, speakers, a screen, and a video source. Many projectors now come with built-in streaming capability, so there’s no need for DVD players or laptops. The screen can be as simple as a white sheet or as specific as an inflatable screen for outdoor viewing. Ensure an electrical source and extension cords are on hand to accommodate all the wires.
Create a comfy area for everyone to sit in, like an outdoor sectional or lounge chair, some bean bag chairs for the kids, and an outdoor table for snacks and drinks. Add a soda stream and popcorn machine to the mix to make it even more awesome! Before hosting a movie night, consider calling pest control services so mosquitoes and flies don’t pester guests.
Having an outdoor space that fits your needs is essential to your family’s overall health and happiness. Fresh air, physical activity, and sunshine are all great for physical and mental health. Gathering with friends, surrounding yourself in a serene environment, and growing your food are all fabulous for the soul. Choosing one or two of these backyard concepts will benefit not only your backyard but your lifestyle as well.
