Designing fabulous outdoor spaces for your new home opens up a world of possibilities for leisure and entertainment. If you have the space, the sky is the limit, but a few essentials will help to make sure your backyard is your own personal paradise.
The sound of running water can create a distinctive atmosphere in a garden. Select a water feature that suits your space and budget.
Comfortable Seating
A key element in transforming a backyard into a comfortable retreat is outdoor seating, which invites you both to sit and relax as well as to share conversation with friends and neighbours. Consider adding an outdoor pool or hot tub to your backyard. Your backyard will now be a luxurious place where you can spend time tranquilly alone or with others, and enjoy the resort style. Decorative planters are an affordable way of adding personality and style to your outdoor space. Pick from a variety of different shapes and colours to find the perfect centrepiece that best expresses who you are.
Outdoor Rugs
Furniture for outdoor areas, whether on a deck or patio, in a gazebo or pergola, can be a big part of your enjoyment and comfort. It should be attractive and comfortable, and it should do all the things that the indoor furniture does – just outdoors. Create flow from one zone to another by adding one outdoor rug in the very centre of your backyard. For durability, make sure it’s one that’s spill-proof and mildew, mould and fading-resistant. Relaxing Zones: Bed Bugged Oasis (The term ‘zoning’ is a reference to a groundbreaking landscape book written byacing and Roebuck in the 1980s.) Another way to create zones is to add water features such as a fountain or a pond. One of the key elements to relaxing your whole body is to block noise: the sound of water running drowns out noisy traffic on the street or a neighbour playing music. For a little life and interest, a fountain or a pond is an inexpensive option.
Lighting
Lighting is perhaps one of the most crucial components for creating the mood of your desired backyard retreat. Porch lights that will allow after-sunset access to your home, along with lights that place usage of water features in a certain mood, can help transform your backyard into an extensive space in which you can enjoy yourself all day and all night. Plants and gardens can immediately liven up a ‘garden’ or outdoor space by bringing colour and style, and can provide much-needed privacy from neighbours or the noise of busy traffic that might be around. They also bring much-needed acoustic properties. Add an area for meditation or yoga practice to create a back-garden oasis in an area that’s quiet and private, but perhaps not overlooked (created with soothing items like wind chimes). A fountain or waterfall often adds a calming touch – the sound of moving water is soothing and can even drown out other household or neighbourhood noises.
Water Features
No oasis is complete without a water element – fountain, pond or even pool – because it brings a sense of calm and dampens noise pollution, whether from cars or neighbours. Water is naturally soothing and can help you turn down ambient noise from the neighbourhood. Plants are an essential part of any garden sanctuary. Choose easy-care native, drought-tolerant and no-weed varieties that grow well in your climate to add seasonal interest and attractive foliage. Look for specimens that display an interesting range of colours, heights and textures for maximum visual impact. Plant trees and shrubs to add shade and privacy – they help reduce soil erosion, thanks to their shade – and increase curb appeal. And, like our tree, add a bit of personality. Also, that shady landscape reduces your watering needs – an important criterion for a budget-friendly backyard.
Personal Touches
Your backyard can be a private paradise and, with careful planning and cost-saving tips, you can create a functional and relaxing outdoor space for years to come without making a dent in your wallet. Begin with your landscape: plant flowers, shrubs and trees that will thrive in your climactic zone, bringing colour, beauty, summer shade – and a sense of privacy. Add the finishing touches to your outdoor haven with a peaceful water feature that quiets any loud noise with a bubbling fountain or koi pond, or garden statues and artwork to hang in the shade. Now let’s get outside!
