August 15, 2016 by CaitlynnSkyler

Simple Tweaks to Turn Your Backyard into a Relaxing Retreat

A chaotic backyard filled with clutter isn’t an inviting space. Such a condition of the backyard makes it difficult to move around and you might find yourself avoiding it altogether. However, the backyard is one of the most functional living spaces in your house. It is also one of those places in the house which provide a wonderful space for barbecues and other outdoor parties. Therefore, keeping it clean and welcoming is important.

Different sizes of backyards require different techniques to beautify them and turn them into relaxing retreats. However, what all backyards have in common regardless of the size is the requirement to organize them.

The first step is to sort through the items cluttering your backyard and determine the ones you need and the ones you can throw away. Now, you can clean up the backyard and store the items in the appropriate places.

With the backyard clean, you can now focus on giving it a relaxing makeover. Let’s find out how.

Add a Water Feature

Water has a calming effect on the mind and can be quite relaxing. Turning your backyard into a private oasis isn’t difficult. If you have a large backyard, you can consider including a small fish pond. A small swimming pool in your backyard can also make it quite inviting. If there isn’t much space in your backyard, a plunge pool can be one of the best alternatives. These do not take up much space and rely more on the depth.

A fountain can help elevate the mood as well while adding a touch of elegance. Apart from these, you can also include a hot tub or a Jacuzzi in your backyard. A simple birdbath can also make your backyard look relaxing.

Include Greenery

Well-maintained plants and flowers can beautify any backyard instantly. You can strategically place these shrubs and plants to create a quiet corner in your backyard. You can plant some trees around the seating area. When they grow up, they would provide ample shade from the sun.

Flowers can make your backyard look lively. Plants with sweet-smelling flowers can enhance the appeal of your backyard. Include fragrant blooms in bright colors. It is wise to choose plants that flower for long periods. If your backyard has a gazebo or other similar structure, you can opt for deciduous creepers as well.

In addition to that, you can also plant herbs and other edible shrubs. For this, you can build a natural garden bed on a raised platform along the walls of the backyard. This will leave enough space for including the seating arrangement in the middle.

Arrange for Comfortable Seating Options

This is one of the major aspects that you should look into since you could be entertaining guests in the backyard. One of the best seating options is a long bench. The good news is, you can easily make a bench instead of buying it. You can also consider bringing a spare couch from inside the house. Place a few chairs as well to accommodate all guests.

Throw some colorful outdoor cushions on the chairs and the couch to lift the mood. A picnic table can complete the arrangement. If you prefer a cozier seating arrangement, you can include a small coffee table and a couple of chairs around it. Portable furniture like the ottoman can also be added. Floor cushions can also be clever additions.

A more relaxing option would be a hammock in the backyard. You can curl up in this on a lazy afternoon with a book.

Create a Quiet Reading Area

Creating a calm and quiet reading space in a corner of your backyard is one of the best ways to turn it into a relaxing retreat. This reading area should be a little secluded from the rest of the backyard so that there are no interruptions. Also, this space should be airy and exposed to enough light.

You can include a wicker chair with a few cushions here. This area should also have enough lighting so that you can read a book during the night as well.

Light it Right

When your backyard is a relaxing outdoor space, the time you spend there may extend well after the sunset. There are various options that you can choose from for lighting your backyard. The good news is, you can make most of these at home in a few simple steps. For example, you can make lanterns out of tin cans by drilling holes into them and placing candles inside.

Apart from this, you can also make paper lanterns out of paper bags or cupcake liners. Tiki torches can be wonderful lighting options. Starry lights are relaxing as well. You can also hang tea lights from the branches of trees with the help of colorful ribbons.