Summer is a great time of the year to use your home’s outdoor living space. Whether it’s a classic activity of building a treehouse with your kids or installing a slip and slide to enjoy with friends, your outdoor living space has a lot to offer and can transform any regular summer into a fun-filled season full of joyous memories and experiences. Elevate the experiences by installing these six structures in your outdoor living space:
Outdoor Kitchen
Summertime is synonymous to weekend outdoor barbecues. It’s that time of the year to invite and share a meal with friends, coworkers, and neighbors, catching up on each other’s lives while cooking food on the grill. Depending on the square footage and your budget, there are several choices for kitchen appliances, such as cooktops, sinks, and mini fridges, that you can install outdoors. Contemporary kitchen appliances that are designed for both outdoor and indoor living spaces are built with stainless steel, making it highly durable and weather-proof. A common design approach is to pair stainless steel appliances with rustic stone or sand lime bricks, which create a positively stunning contrast.
Outdoor Dining Area
If you have an outdoor kitchen, it only makes sense to have a dining area where you can serve and eat the food you cook. You can install either a long, full table similar to what you see in indoor dining rooms or create a bar area with tall countertops and high stool chairs. For dinnerware, bone china comes as a stylish and durable ceramic dinnerware option.
Fire Pits
Another classic centerpiece in any outdoor living space is a fireplace or pit. After working all day, you need some place to rest and relax while enjoying the clear and peaceful night sky. Modern fire pits have evolved to incorporate artistic aspects that embody both your aesthetic style and the utility of a traditional fire pit. For seating, you can do either sectional sofas or outdoor wooden chairs.
Backyard Patio
A backyard patio or deck essentially increases the amount of space you have for different kinds of activities, such as eating, hanging out, stargazing, watching a movie, etcetera. A patio can also be a quiet space for relaxing and enjoying the surrounding nature. Add furniture pieces that are comfortable and can seat enough people. A backyard wood patio is essentially a blank canvas with which you can decorate with whatever style of furniture pieces you want. You can add a sofa bed or inflatable mattress, bean bags, round or square tables, and so on. You can also install a power outlet on the side of or below the deck, so you can plug in your electronic devices.
Swimming Pool
Summertime temperatures can get quite intense, especially during heatwaves. Easy access to an indoor swimming pool can make these hot days more bearable for your family. There are different types of swimming pools to consider – vinyl-lined, fiberglass, and concrete. Each type of pool has its own advantages and disadvantages. Consult a professional to figure out what type of pool best fits your property size, location, and budget restrictions. Remember that a pool will also require upkeep! Be sure you have the time and ability to maintain your pool if you will be doing it on your own. A company that provides Windermere pool service & repair states that it is important to be “testing the pool every couple of months if you receive a lot of swimmers or live in areas with significant runoff water from your yard.” Before you start digging holes in your yard, check your city’s zoning laws regarding indoor pools as well. Many states have stringent maintenance policies concerning private swimming pools.
Greenhouse
If you’ve always been interested in gardening or horticulture, pursue it this summer by adding a greenhouse to your house. You can now buy modular greenhouses that can be shipped straight to your doorstep. These greenhouses are pre-assembled and require minimal installation. Even if you don’t have any interest in starting gardening as a hobby, you can simply use the greenhouse to enjoy more time outside without exposing yourself to harmful UV light. These clear greenhouses can also serve the dual purpose of a sunroom, so you can safely observe the outdoors during daytime hours on a peak Summer day.
Final Thoughts
Elevating your outdoor living space isn’t merely about spending money to make your outdoor area look and feel more extravagant. It’s about increasing the space’s utility and aesthetic value, all while staying within your budget. Before starting any projects, plan out every stage of the remodeling, including timeline, budget, materials and equipment needed, who to hire, and design preferences.
