To say that we’re all at home more these days would be a huge understatement. 2020 hasn’t gone the way any of us could’ve predicted, and now people are spending more time at home than ever before. Pandemic woes aside, shouldn’t we be looking at this extra time at home as an opportunity? There’s no time like the present to upgrade (and appreciate) your living space. And while the lovely weather persists, that living space includes your porch, deck and patio! Today we tackle a few backyard design ideas as we help you build the backyard oasis you’ve always wanted. What would your perfect backyard look like?
5 Backyard Design Ideas from Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet
So what exactly is a backyard oasis, and why should you have one? Well, an oasis is a place of shelter and rest. More than ever, people are cooping themselves up in their homes, but they don’t have to. With just a little imagination, you can transform your patio into a functional, four-season, backyard escape! Today we’ll be talking about 5 tips for designing a backyard patio or deck. Let’s get started!
1) Expand Your Patio.
While everyone’s starting point is different, our first backyard design tip is universal. Whether you’ve got a traditional deck or a tiny concrete slab patio, many homeowners could benefit from some extra usable space. There are numerous solutions here for literally any budget, so let your imagination run wild!
The easiest and most affordable solution? Use bricks, stones, pavers, concrete, or even pea gravel to expand your outdoor living space beyond your patio. Even something as small as a new concrete or paving stone pad for your grill can increase the amount of available real estate on your porch, deck or patio. This frees up space to lounge in an outdoor sofa or hammock, entertain friends and family with a new patio dining set, or to create that outdoor breakfast or reading nook you’ve always wanted. An added benefit? Growing your backyard oasis means less lawn to mow every week!
2) Any Backyard Oasis Needs Shade and Privacy.
An oasis is traditionally a place of refuge from the bright desert sun. Your backyard oasis should be no different. Is your current deck, patio or backyard too open to direct sunlight? Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the Georgia heat this time of year is no joke. Cutting down on direct sunlight is imperative for you to be able to enjoy your backyard in the summer months. Similarly, part of making your backyard and patio more “livable” is to make it more private. When considering your backyard design, it helps to think of this space as an extension of your home.
Fortunately, both lack of shade and lack of privacy share a ton of the same solutions. Start by plotting the sun’s course over your home and go from there. Then imagine the sight lines from your neighbors’ yards into your own. Your goal is to use objects to disrupt both the sun’s rays and your neighbors’ view. This goes a long way to creating a cool, private, and cozy space that you can enjoy.
There are obvious solutions to this like planting shade trees or putting up an umbrella, awning, canopy or pergola. Additionally, you may want to consider a garden wall, privacy wall, or privacy screen. However, one hot new trend we love that addresses both privacy and shade is the idea of hanging outdoor curtains!
3) Make Your Backyard Oasis a Place of Warmth and Light.
Now you’re probably thinking, “Hold up a second – didn’t you just say to make some shade in order to cool things off?” Well, yes, but let’s explore this seemingly contradictory statement. While it’s important to create shade, you also don’t want to feel like you’re in a cavern. Having light is important, and so is having warmth – especially heading into the fall when the weather begins to cool off. Both of these things are vital if you want to enjoy your patio year-round!
A fire pit is the perfect solution to provide both of these needs. DIY fire pits are all the rage these days and are fairly straight-forward to build. However, if you want the same benefits without all the work, check out our selection of fire pits and fire pit tables! As an added bonus, our fire pits are gas operated and convenient to light. If you are looking just to add some soft light without breaking the bank, consider hanging some outdoor string lights!
4) Add Some Green.
What is an oasis without some lush vegetation? Make sure that your backyard design incorporates some green. You don’t want to take the “outdoor” out of your outdoor space.
If you’ve got a green thumb and love to cook, consider a small herb garden. Even if space isn’t that tight, a vertical garden planter is a great way to add just a little green to that privacy wall or pergola you just built. Alternatively, planter boxes are relatively easy to build, and you can hang small planter boxes on just about anything!
Lastly, a few potted plants are so easy to care for compared to large beds of flowers and shrubs. Not much of a gardener? That’s okay too. Get some artificial ones. We won’t tell.
5) Seating for One…or a Dozen!
Cloverbrook Outdoor Seating Set & Windon Barn Firepit Dining Set
Finally, don’t forget the human element. If the purpose of your backyard oasis project is to make your patio more functional, you need to have a place to plop down and relax. That’s where we come in! If you want an outdoor sectional or chat set for entertaining half the neighborhood, we have it. Or if you’re shopping for an outdoor dining set for intimate family dinners, we have those too!
Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet is North Georgia’s Source for Picture-Perfect Patio Furniture & Backyard Escapes!
We hope that we inspired you today! The above backyard design suggestions are just a jump-off point to get your own creative wheels turning. In other words, what you choose to do with your new backyard oasis is entirely up to you. Remember, even if DIY isn’t exactly your forte, our furniture experts are ready and willing to help you figure out the perfect patio furniture to complement your new outdoor space. Shop our outdoor furniture selection at our four North Georgia Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet locations today! See you soon!
