Time to start thinking about backyard living! Of course, with backyard living comes backyard projects. Sometimes it can seem like making improvements and repairs to our decks, patios, lawns and other outdoor spaces simply never ends.
Year after year, legions of talented landscapers, contractors, deck builders and other outdoor exerts seem to come up with bigger and better ways for homeowners to get the most out of our outdoor living spaces. When the weather is bright and sunny outside, there’s nothing like cooking, dining and playing in a beautiful backyard.
Here are some of our favourite backyard projects.
The Outdoor Kitchen
Source: True Refrigeration
Grilling and BBQing have pretty much always been a big part of summers (and other seasons) spent outdoors. However, the days of a lone man and his bbq are long gone. Now, homeowners can take the entire kitchen outdoors, complete with the sink, mini refrigerator, prep areas and of course, an awesome grill.
Fun and Games
Source: Joy of Bocce
A big theme in recent backyard improvements is the return of fun. Game courts are popping up in backyards all over the continent. Some homeowners are completely converting their backyards into putting greens, complete with no maintenance artificial turf. Others are, replacing sections of the backyard grass with purpose-built fun zones, or simply adding large-scale game boards that have no permanent impact on the landscaping.
Fresh Air Living Rooms
Source: Decoist
Outdoor lounging is nothing new, but it has certainly become more stylish than it once was. Many of today’s most sought after styles take their cues from the indoors. Sofas, sections, occasional tables, and even media screens can all find a place in your outdoor living space. There’s almost no need to spend any time indoors at all.
Steamy Hot Tub Placements
Source: DIY Network
The placement of your hot tub is extremely important. The location can have a big impact on how much you enjoy using your hot tub, as well as how well it fits into the overall design of your outdoor living space. Whether than just sitting in off the side on the patio, give it the feeling of a true oasis, by hiring a professional to help you work it into an existing space, or better yet, to help you redesign the space around your new hot tub.
Fantasy Gardens
Source: Toronto Gardens
Not everyone’s idea of a dream backyard involves hardscaping and an enormous swimming pool. For some, the garden of their dreams is filled with wild flowers and meandering, crushed stone pathways, barbering waterfalls and ponds filled with fish.
Whether your backyard is large or small, there’s always space enough to work in a beautiful garden. Not much time for digging in the dirt? Try your hand at container gardening and turn your patio or deck in a floral, fragrant paradise.
