Have you ever stopped and thought about your outdoor space and how under-used it is? Do you find that it’s not exactly functional or inviting? A rear garden or yard is a lovely feature to have in a home, but not every homeowner is using or knows how to use it to its full potential. At the end of the day, a garden or yard space is perfect for entertaining, relaxing, and expanding your actual living space, but it’s not always easy to envision.
To help spark a little inspiration and motivation, here are some tips you can use to design the ultimate outdoor space.
Start with a Level Hard Surface
Of course, the cornerstone to any beautiful and functional patio space is that you need that level hard surface that will work as your footprint. There are plenty of materials that you can use, but if you want to keep things simple and sleek, then poured concrete can be the best option. You may even wish to take things a little further and build an extension to the house – a conservatory, with windows that open and allow that fresh air to pass through. This gives you more of that outdoor living feeling.
The key is to hire a company that has plenty of experience with concrete and offers the kind of products that make sense for your project. Take, for example, the ready mix concrete available through MixIt, who are concrete suppliers with more than 30 years of experience. The company has dealt with everything from large commercial developments to residential spaces like foundations, walls, garages, and more.
Ensure Nature Surrounds the Space
One of the best parts about being outdoors is the nature that surrounds you, but not every garden comes with that all in place. You may be dealing with a blank slate that is lacking in greenery. If that’s the case, it’s time to start planting.
Ideally, you want to use a variety of options combining gardens with trees to really make the area feel natural and organic. Choose a variety of species and options so that you get a wide array of colours, shapes, and sizes, adding beauty and interest to the garden.
Plan for a Functional Seating Area
If you plan on spending any time outdoors, you’re going to need a comfortable place to sit. Ideally, it should be one that also accommodates guests, so you’ll be able to use it for entertaining. In terms of seating, you’ve got two different directions you can take; you can opt for an outdoor dining vibe with a table and chairs, or you can keep it as a casual sitting space with oversized chairs and even a large section couch if the space allows.
The Option of Shade
Sure, it’s great to sit out in the sun, but sometimes that sun can be a bit much, and you just crave a little shade. It’s all about making the space as versatile and functional as possible. With that in mind, investing in something that will provide shade is wise. This could be a retractable awning, an oversized garden parasol on its own stand that you can move around, or maybe a pergola. Each of these steps will help you to create the ultimate outdoor patio space.
