How to Create an Inviting Outdoor Oasis
An outdoor space is like having an extra room that you need to decorate. During summer, people commonly spend more time outside, but other seasons are not excluded as well. Winter may be chilly and snowy, but that only makes it more magical when you sit on your porch with freshly made hot chocolate.
Contrary to general belief, working on an exterior makeover doesn’t have to be expensive or exhausting. Thanks to many DIY options you can turn everything into a fun project that you can do with your family or just as a hobby. The most important thing is to start planning first and buying supplies later when you are 100% sure of what is a good fit for your landscaping goals.
Also, go over finances to set a budget and avoid overspending or not spending enough on quality materials. The good news is that some things you may already have in your yard, garage, or attic that have been lying there and collecting dust. However, stopping by a construction site may prove the saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” true since you can find useful items among their discarded materials.
So now that you know how to start, it’s time to see how to create an inviting outdoor oasis that will be your favourite go-to place when you are home.
Gift yourself a swimming pool
Your very own swimming pool in the backyard may sound expensive and something only reserved for the rich. But that hasn’t been the case for a while now and many homes can build this refreshing water amenity at affordable rates. Not only will you have somewhere to cool off in the summer, but this can be an entertainment area for parties and celebrations.
A swimming pool can be a decorative feature as well if you turn it into more than a geometric shape, like a square. For example, adding rocks on the edge and a waterfall will make your swimming pool more exotic and will fit right in with the rest of your landscaping. You can go a step further and add a bridge, underwater tunnel, or slide which will bring joy to adults as much as kids.
Grow a majestic garden
When you have an outdoor area, the first thing that comes to mind is creating a garden. If that was your first thought, keep in mind that you don’t have to set aside the entire backyard for planting flowers. A garden is more than that, some even call it an art form in its own right that can do wonders for your exterior. A nicely manicured lawn, shrubbery, trees, and walkways are all part of your gardening project, and excluding them may cause aesthetic chaos.
For example, if you have a modestly sized backyard, create a vertical garden on the façade or fence walls. Potted plants in this case are also an excellent idea as you can place them on the porch steps, windowsills, by the house, or scatter them here and there in the rest of the yard. Opt for both wintergreen and deciduous varieties to have greenery outside your windows all year round, even when it's cold.
Shine the light on your exterior
Lighting in your outdoor area plays a big part in how that space will feel. When the night falls, you need lights that will both enhance the security of your home and give it a sparkle. In the former case, you can add motion detector lights that will turn on in case of an intruder and connect them to your security system.
For the latter, it’s best to get solar garden lights from specialized brands like Hoselink that are both sustainable and easy to install. Think of solar fairy lights for the trees and bushes, festoons to hang over the seating area, and lanterns to give a gentle glow to your porch. Solar sphere lights are a marvellous idea for the poolside, along the walkways, or just as decorations.
Build a tree house
First, let’s decide that a tree house is both for adults and children. It can be a great spot to relax, read, de-stress, or just hang out with friends. The type of the house depends on many factors, having a sturdy tree being one of them, but you don't have to build it high in the treetop. Mounting a structure just a couple of feet from the ground will make it safe and accessible for those who are afraid of heights or are not into climbing.
Inside, you can place cushions on the floor to make it comfy or add mattresses to turn it into an outdoor guest room for the summer. If you need power, solar panels are a simple and cheaper way to have it, giving you enough for lights and TV. But, sometimes it's better to go simple and focus on turning it into a no-electronics oasis where you can come to recharge the batteries.
Set up an outdoor cinema
An outdoor cinema is more than a DIY movie theatre. You can use it to watch sports, reality shows, or family videos, making it a wonderful entertainment accessory. Those with kids will appreciate this addition since it will be a hit during sleepovers and birthday parties.
More importantly, you can build it in just a couple of hours with boards and white canvas, or spend a little more on a standalone projection screen. As for the seats, you can use foldable chairs or just lay down blankets on the lawn with some cushions for extra coziness.
Add an outdoor kitchen
Having a grill as part of your inviting outdoor oasis is perfect for parties, family gatherings, or just getting smells of cooking out of the house. However, go a step further and build an outdoor kitchen where you can cook and prepare canned goods for the winter. For example, mount a roofed structure and create your kitchen underneath so you can use it even when it's cold and rainy.
Consider adding a pizza oven where you can bake other things and not just this Italian dish, like bread or casseroles. The outdoor kitchen can have walls and be a completely standalone structure that you can use all year round. It's especially convenient in the winter to make hot chocolate for the kids playing in the snow or to prepare food for large dinner parties.
Invest in beautiful water feature
A water feature in the backyard is more than a pretty decoration. The sound of running water is soothing and relaxing, giving you another way to de-stress. Although fountains are most commonly seen in outdoor areas, some homeowners decide to build a pond or a cascading waterfall.
If you choose to have a pond, try your hand at water gardening. Water lilies and lotus, as well as other floating plants, are a gorgeous addition to the rest of the greenery. Keeping koi and freshwater goldfish in it may require some extra care and maintenance, but the impression is worth the effort.
Design a Zen garden
A Zen garden is more about creating a secluded space where you will go to find peace and tranquillity through nature. Usually, such a garden would include a water feature, but you can decide on the traditional version which is a dry landscape. Called Karesansui, these minimalistic features include gravel, sand, wood, rocks, and a small number of plants.
Raking the gravel or sand in the Zen garden is considered meditative and can have lots of mental benefits, like improved focus and reduced anxiety. If you want to turn it into a grand display, plant a weeping cherry tree and mungo pines that will embellish it with their colours and shapes.
Work on the shade
Sunlight may be good for plants and interior design, but sitting under it is not healthy or comfortable. You can remedy this by opting for a shading structure that will give you a perfect spot to spend time outside even when it's high noon. The types of shading systems vary in materials, functions, and installation requirements, so all this will affect the price in the end.
An awning made from canvas and mounted between trees or on the side of a façade is the simplest there is. But you can go for retractable awnings that you can open or fold as you wish with a click of a button. Building a roof above the porch will add extra space to the house for dining, entertaining, or just to shelter your entrance from the elements.
Think of a cozy gathering spot
A seating area is one of the favourite gathering spots in the backyard, but you can have more than one. Think of building a fire pit and placing tree stumps around it for your friends and family to sit and roast marshmallows and hot dogs. A dining table underneath the tree will go well with an outdoor kitchen for those summer barbecue parties.
Those who like to entertain guests will find building a bar area convenient and useful, saving you from having to go in and out of the house all the time to fetch drinks. An outdoor structure, like a gazebo or pergola, can give you a lounge area you can decorate with vines, curtains, and comfy furniture.
Give kids a playground area
It would be a shame to miss creating a playground area for your kids and giving them space to spend more time outside. For example, you can mount a blackboard to the fence where they can paint and write, equipped with colourful chalks and a sponge. A sandbox will make little ones happy, but make sure to shade it from the sun so they can play any time of the day.
A teepee is uncomplicated to build and kids will love it since it gives them a private and sheltered space. Place inflatable mattresses inside with blankets and they can have their afternoon naps there or you can all sleep under the stars during summer nights.
Final thoughts
As you see, the key to creating an inviting outdoor oasis is to start with an idea and turn it into a project. Sometimes a small change can have a bigger effect than deciding on extensive landscaping. It all depends on personal preference and focusing on that will get you the most out of your backyard space.
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