Planning Your Outdoor Space

You’ve worked hard this season to create a front yard with great curb-appeal that shows off your landscaping skills to your neighbors and guests – but don’t stop there! Homeowners often overlook outdoor spaces like backyards, patios, decks, and gardens. Even though they aren’t visible to passersby, these spaces have the potential to serve as everything from entertaining areas to family chill-zones that everyone can enjoy. Plus, you don’t need a big budget to see your home’s outdoor transformation come to life! Follow these tips to create a functional outdoor space that’s uniquely yours.

1. Access Your Areas

It may seem overwhelming to look at your backyard as one big space in need of a makeover – instead, take into consideration all of the smaller areas that make up this space and what you envision for each one. Start with a rough sketch of your backyard and outline each of its different areas – from the patio to areas that you would like to see turned into gardens. Try using a free garden and landscaping design planner to help you establish a concrete plan. Once you have a general idea of the individual areas, start prioritizing your projects so that you can tackle them one at a time and stay in line with your budget. 

2. Outdoor Seating for All

Planning on having BBQs or get-togethers this summer in your outdoor areas? From the grillmaster to the kiddos, make sure everyone has a spot that they can kick back in. A large outdoor table and chairs are great for when the meal is ready, but make sure there are other areas to sit when you’re entertaining! An outdoor bar with stools makes a great addition to the grill area or by the poolside. Lounge chairs with umbrellas are perfect for relaxing poolside and make for a great escape from the beating sun. Creating a separate seating area that’s perfect for kids and teens also gives their own spot to enjoy while the adults socialize. Fire pit tables (pictured: Signature Design by Ashley) make for a functional addition perfect for summer nights that everyone can enjoy sitting around! 

3. Porch Perfection

If your home has a sunroom or enclosed porch, it’s easy to let this area become the catch-all for things that you don’t want to leave outside like bikes, sports equipment and unwanted furniture. Relocating the clutter to your home’s garage or basement can be the perfect opportunity for turning what was once an eye-sore into another area for entertaining. Decorate the space with comfy furniture and cute accents like lanterns and live plants. If your porch’s flooring has seen better days, replacing your existing floors with vinyl flooring is an economical and durable replacement. Pictured is a sunroom featuring Mohawk SolidTech Luxury Vinyl.

4. Connect the Dots

Now that you have been thinking about the design direction for your outdoor spaces, think about how they are going to flow together! Stone walkways and pathways are not only visually appealing, they also help move people in the direction that you are envisioning, i.e. from the garden to the patio or from the front yard to the back. Look at the relationships between your outdoor spaces to see how each individual space should flow into the next. Even if your outdoor areas aren’t large, you can create the impression of separate spaces with pathways and landscaping choices. (Pictured: Delegate pavers in Light Grey by Daltile)

Starting to envision a makeover for your outdoor spaces? No matter what you have in mind, our experts at National Design Mart are happy to help you get started!