Summer is around the corner. Whether you have plans to travel for vacation or be more active locally, there is no reason you can’t take advantage of the season during your time at home as well. Here are five ways to renovate your outdoor living space to make the most of your summertime days and nights.
1. Add On A Deck
A well-built deck made of sustainable, durable materials not only adds to your quality of life but also adds value to any home. We typically think about adding a new deck onto the back of a house, but decks can be useful in the front yard as well, depending on your particular space. Front yard decks can serve the same purposes as backyard decks when there is either ample privacy or where you want to create a welcoming space that encourages your neighbors to stop by.
Create functional evening ambiance with a portable fire pit that safe for use on your new deck. Whether or not you choose to extend power to your outdoor living space, nothing beats the natural glow of a fire, especially when decompressing at the end of a long summer day. Outdoor ambiance can be further enhanced by setting up a margarita bar or a s’mores station, all alongside some comfy outdoor furniture.
2. Take The Viewing Party Outdoors
Get ready for playoffs season by moving your TV room outdoors. Permanent or seasonal outdoor viewing space can be created by extending your roof or adding on a semi-permanent deck cover that is suitable for protecting furniture and electronics from both sun and rain. Whatever the evening throws at you, you will be able to entertain in summertime style.
And don’t forget the kids. It can be difficult to fill a kid’s summer days with activity, especially outdoor activity, but your outdoor living space can be your child’s entertaining space as well. With sheltered seating and an entertainment center, kids and adults alike can watch their shows or play their video games while spending time outside and breathing in the benefits of fresh air.
3. Choose The Right Shade
The sun is critical to enjoying your outdoor living space, but so is shade. Common considerations for choosing the right type of shade include overhead shielding, visibility, and cost. While motorized, retractable shades are among the most effective and versatile kind of outside shade, they tend to be the most expensive. For less pricy options that can be used seasonally and stored for safekeeping during the off months, try large umbrellas, such as those that come with an outdoor table and seating, or triangular sails that can be strung up anywhere and easily moved to match the direction of the sun.
4. Make Every Day A Spa Day
Fortunately, you don’t need much space to not only bring spa services home but also to move them outside. Soak in the rays and pump out that Vitamin D while working on your favorite stroke in a mini lap pool or simply hop in for a refreshing morning dip.
If swimming isn’t your speed, enjoy a cool cocktail in a hot jacuzzi after a long day of hiking, biking, or playing at the lake. A hot soak is a time-tested way to naturally soothe overused muscles, and it’s all the better to take the soak outside, under a cool, clear summer sky.
If you are the sort who lives for the days you can live outside, consider installing an outdoor shower where you can rinse off all that real-world livin’ before going inside at night. The plumbing required for outdoor showers is minimal and can easily be disguised by natural and natural-looking materials for minimal visual distraction.
5. Plan A Little Late-Season Spring Cleaning
If spring cleaning helps you recover from the long, indoor winter months, a little late-season cleaning can help you prepare your outdoor space for the coming summer. Whether your winters are mild or ferocious, you undoubtedly have some cleanup to do, and where there is clean up, there are equipment, tools, and supplies. Try cutting down on your backyard clutter with a dedicated shed where you can free up valuable garage space and keep your wares in easy reach. Backyard sheds are easy to purchase, customize, and have installed in a location that is convenient without being an eyesore.
While you’re in cleanup and summer-prep mode, consider reducing the amount of maintainable ground space by replacing grassy or weed-ridden areas with a more sustainable, lower maintenance type of ground cover, such as mulch. A hardwood mulch, such as redwood, minimizes the likelihood of mildew or rot during wet months while proving ample shade for the roots of plants and trees.
