Adults spend less than 15 minutes per week out in their yards, according to UCLA’s study, “Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century.” Kids clock in at about 40 minutes a week.
Most prospective homebuyers put a premium on outdoor space. 56% of homebuyers would sacrifice square footage for a larger outdoor space (according to a consumer survey by Wakefield Research). And yet, as much as we prize our backyards, we spend hardly any time in that space. Why?
Well, basically it’s because the space is just that: space. There’s nothing to do there. My own backyard is like this–it’s a perfectly lovely backyard. But it’s boring.
It’s time to start thinking of our yards as truly part of our home, and making them into a space where we can do the things we like to do! Think about what you enjoy. Do you like to garden? Do you like watching your children play? Do you like big parties or would you rather just relax with a cup of tea and read a book? When you’re designing an outdoor space, you should think first in terms of activity, the way you’d like to use the space. Then move on to aesthetics, rather than starting with aesthetics, and considering your favored activities as an afterthought. For example, the first place people’s minds might go to is: inground pool. It’s a beautiful aesthetic. But do you like to swim? Do your friends want to come over and swim with you? Maybe. Maybe not.
Here are some outdoor features that go beyond the obvious that might be just perfect for the activities you really want to do. You can mix and match depending on the amount of space and budget you have (of course, having more than one outdoor activity is great) but this list should get you thinking about a focal point.
Garden Tables
Let’s start with something simple. If you love an intimate gathering, then design a backyard with a garden table! The idea here is that rather than having an outdoor eating space set off from the rest of your yard, the table and the garden are a unified space. This sets the stage for a nice place to meet friends for lunch or tea, but it is truly the perfect setting for a memorable dinner party.
Creating this space isn’t a huge monetary commitment (depending on the table you choose–you can DIY or buy a fairly pricey table, but it still won’t compare to the investment required for say, a large water feature). It also isn’t permanent, unlike other features you might choose. This is nice, because if you love your garden table space, you can keep it. If you don’t, reconfiguring the space is just a matter of moving a table.
The magic of a garden table is in connecting the food on the table to the place that the food is grown. So flower cuttings as centerpieces on your table, and using vegetables or herbs from the garden in the dishes you serve there turns your meal into a unique event. Add a little bar area and some soft lighting, and you and your closest friends will want to spend every evening you possibly can in this pastoral spot.
Mini-golf course
For some of us, there is no more zen activity than putting, and yet it’s never even occurred to us that we might set off a space for that activity in our own backyard.
A mini-golf course, unlike the garden table, is more of a permanent fixture, and depending on how elaborate you’d like your course to be, it could come at a slightly greater to much greater expense. Still, if a mini-golf course is your idea of outdoor fun, it’s much more feasible than you’d think to build one in! You can indeed DIY on this one, but it might make the most sense to hire a landscape designer and a contractor that specializes in outdoor living spaces. If you have a small yard, you want to be sure to make the most of the space you have. And if you have a larger yard and want your course to be fairly involved, well, you might want to leave it to the pros to get it done in a reasonable amount of time–remember, the idea is to get out there and enjoy your yard, not turn it into an endless back-breaking project.
Playing Fields
Statistics show that Americans just aren’t playing as much as they used to. But that doesn’t have to be the case! If sports are your pleasure, then why not make your yard conducive to a real game?
For those of us who love football or soccer, there’s nothing better than a contest in your own backyard with family and friends. So why not design a backyard with a playing field? A real place to play where we aren’t tripping over rocks and tree roots or inhibited by hills could be just the thing to entice us into the yard.
All you really need here is a large flat space. The flat part is more important than the large part…you can have a ton of fun on a non-regulation size field. Some landscaping around the field and places for your spectators to sit are a fantastic bonus feature.
Butterfly Garden
Garden tables are wonderful, but what if you’re more of an introvert with a green thumb? The pleasure of a garden can be about solitary peace and seclusion as well, and if you’re the kind of person who seeks those things out in life, a butterfly garden might be the perfect outdoor feature for you.
Like all gardens, they are one of those not-so-permanent features. They also need not be expensive. Still, you might consider hiring a designer to help you envision your garden. Good design makes everything more inviting.
To draw out the butterflies, plant colorful perennial flowers like dahlias, black eyed susans, and butterfly bush. Don’t forget the milkweed…your hungry caterpillars need lots of this, so plant milkweed in groups of six plants. Butterflies prefer full to partial sun and as little wind as possible, which might be an important factor when planning. You’ll need to find a space with enough shelter from the wind, but not too much shade.
Tree House
If you have young children or are just young at heart yourself, tree houses are perfect for inspiring outdoor play, or providing a secluded place to get away. Treehouses can be so much more than the little lofted shacks or prefabricated playhouses you might be envisioning. They are absolutely worthy of being a cornerstone for your yard. Here are just a few examples.
Treehouses can be built as sanctuaries for children, adults, or both. It could be argued that treehouses are not really outdoors (they are, after all, houses) but they are definitely a clever use of yard space and yours can include any out-of-doors features you want: climbing ropes, slides, hammocks, porches, and bridges are all fun elements that will enhance the sense of adventure treehouses are supposed to evoke.
Outdoor entertainment rooms and kitchens
Another seemingly oxymoronic trend is that of the “outdoor room.” These sorts of spaces are best for those of us who want fresh air and sunshine, but don’t want to leave our “creature comforts.” They are certainly permanent, larger investments but they are also absolutely amazing.
Because they have all the features of an indoor room, outdoor rooms can be geared toward any activity you want, from lounging and reading, to cooking and entertaining. You can even gather your friends for a Netflix-a-thon in your home-outdoor-theatre.
The newest manifestation of the outdoor room is one in which the indoor and outdoor areas flow “seamlessly.” It’s an old design concept that’s having a modern revival and the spaces created are phenomenal.
We hope this blog has helped you think outside of the box about how to use that big empty space behind your home that you never want to be in, but want to want to be in. And if the redesign concept you need involves more space or a different home design, we are here for you!
