How To Create An Enjoyable Outdoor Space?
58% of adults spend more than a half-hour each day outside, and for good reason. Spending time outdoors is great for your mental health. Do you love spending time outdoors, but know that your outdoor space isn’t as comfortable and aesthetically appealing as it could be?
You deserve an enjoyable outdoor space where you can garden, read, host friends, or just sit and enjoy the sunshine. But how do you put one together?
We’re here to talk about how you can create an outdoor area that you love. Read on for some of our best tips.
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Make It An Extension of Your Interior Aesthetic
Something that often trips people up when they’re trying to decorate their outdoor spaces is that they think of those spaces as entirely separate from their homes. While you should have some division between your indoor and outdoor spaces, try to think of it like the division between rooms. You can bring your interior design aesthetic and preferences outdoors.
So what does that mean?
Consider some of your favorite features inside your home and determine how you can turn them into outdoor features. You can have an entire outdoor living room or kitchen, for example. By opening your mind a bit, you’ll find that you have far more inspiration regarding how to decorate and furnish your space.
Do you love cozy sitting areas with plush couches and a fireplace? Replicate that idea outdoors with a fun fire pit or outdoor fireplace and some outdoor-friendly seats and benches.
Your outdoor space should feel like it belongs with your home. When you stop trying to make it a separate space, you’ll have a far easier time creating something you love.
Don’t Forget Greenery
One of the best things about being outdoors is taking in the beauty of nature. While some people prefer to keep their outdoor spaces full of manmade pieces and hardscaping, we recommend introducing some greenery, even if you don’t have a lush and green yard to work with. You can get more of the great benefits of being outdoors if you surround yourself with plant life.
Even if you only have a cement patio, you can introduce greenery to your space to bring it to life.
We’ve already told you about some of the best indoor plants you can have, but what should you put outdoors? This depends on where you live and how green your thumb is.
If you live in a temperate area with good weather year-round, we recommend planting some mahonia or forsythia. These shrubs are beautiful and do well in moderate weather. Shrubs are also fairly easy to maintain.
People who love flowers should consider hydrangeas, portulacas, and marigolds. They’re gorgeous additions to outdoor spaces and once they’re established, they’re easy enough to care for.
Even people without green thumbs can grow herbs and succulents in their outdoor spaces for an extra pop of greenery.
Consider Soothing Water Features
What’s better than the soothing sound of flowing water while you’re relaxing outside? If you don’t have any natural flowing water nearby, you can emulate that “vibe” with water features. There is a large range of outdoor wall fountains to choose from, so you’re sure to find something that suits your discerning tastes. Water features always look so elegant in an outdoor space!
Having outdoor water features will elevate your patio or yard. The sound of flowing water is innately relaxing, so you’ll create the perfect space for an outdoor nap. Local birds and other small animals may also visit your yard for a quick drink, so you’ll be able to see the beauty of nature right from your outdoor space.
Improve Your Lighting
If you ever plan on enjoying your outdoor space at night, you want to make sure it’s well-lit. An outdoor space isn’t as enjoyable if you can only spend time there during the daylight hours!
So how will you light it?
Of course, you could use your built-in patio lighting, but this likely isn’t bright enough and it doesn’t have much aesthetic appeal. Instead, upgrade your lighting to make the space cozy.
There are so many different options, so pick something that suits your decor preferences. We love the idea of putting small globe string lights (or fairy lights) on fence posts or overhead to create a “hip cafe” vibe. The soft lighting is flattering, not too bright, and affordable.
You can also (carefully) use fire. Fire pits and torches make fantastic outdoor lighting options, especially for gatherings.
Protect Yourself From the Elements
If you still want to enjoy your outdoor space when it rains or snows, you’re going to want a covered area. You can’t cover your entire outdoor space, but you can create a cozy nook for you to stay in when the weather isn’t ideal.
An adjustable overhang is a great option if you have space for it. You can pull it down when it rains or if it’s too sunny and put it back up when the weather is good.
Large umbrellas are also great options as long as it’s not too windy. A large umbrella over a table with some comfortable seats is perfect for protecting you from the sun or rain.
You could also create a cozy cabana or purchase a gazebo. These are long-term options, so they’ll stay in place all the time. They look great in any outdoor space and they’re fantastic for anyone who hosts parties outdoors.
What Does Your Ideal Outdoor Space Look Like?
Creating an enjoyable outdoor space can be a lot of fun. Your outdoor space can be an ideal spot for gardening, throwing parties, or just hanging out with a good book and some sunshine. You deserve to have an outdoor space that feels like your own personal oasis.
So how will you upgrade your outdoor space? Will you add some flowing fountains, beautiful string lights, and green plants? What about an overhang for some perfect shade? It’s all up to you.
Are you looking for more awesome lifestyle and money-saving tips? Check out the rest of the blog!
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