The temperature is starting to rise and playing in the backyard is finally an option again! It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, there’s something satisfying about walking out your back door and having the great outdoors at your fingertips. It doesn’t matter if your backyard is small, medium or large, there are options to maximize this space and make it so that your entire family can enjoy it.
Once the temperature gets warm enough, it’s easy to consider your backyard as an extension of your home. It doesn’t have to be just where the dog runs or where you keep the barbecue. Think about including it in your everyday life. This can be done in a myriad of ways.
Garden – One option for your backyard is to create a beautiful garden space. Gardens are the way to create a green space for you and your family. Recent garden trends mean that you can do a couple of things.
Firstly, you can create an informal garden. These gardens embrace the wilderness, with plants that are easy to maintain and self-sustaining. These gardens focus on a natural look, with small trees, shrubs and flowers that will grow healthily. Hardy plants mean pruning is minimal and will, over time, create a bright but private space. It’s easy for you and your family to enjoy a place that feels so organic and safe.
Fruit and vegetable gardens are also another option. With the renaissance of the home-grown movement, harvesting your own fruits and vegetables are a fast growing trend. With no nasty pesticides, growing your own food is a great way to take on your family’s health yourself. In Calgary’s short growing season, we can’t have it all, but some hardy vegetables like lettuce, onions, radishes, carrots, peas, green beans and potatoes are all viable options. Tomatoes, especially cherry tomatoes, do well when kept in a very warm and sunny spot. When it comes to fruit, strawberries, raspberries, Saskatoon berries and apple trees can do very well.
Themes and colors – Continuing your backyard as an extension of your home, you can pick a theme that you think will fit best.
If you want your backyard to echo the inside of your home, go with a lounging style of outdoor furniture. Pick colors that go with your décor, or consider in-style orange, purple, fuchsia, green and white. Try to find an outdoor friendly armchair that you can curl up into, and perhaps some similar table settings. Outdoor furniture has come a long way, and if you’re willing to spend a little bit extra, you get acrylic fabrics that can withstand up to seven years of snow, ice and rain. This way, your backyard will reflect all the things that make your home cozy and comfortable.
Another option is the refreshing rustic look. Also known as ‘shabby chic’, this look takes found items and works them into your backyard style. Repurpose items like old window frames to create a window to your garden or handmade arbour. You can give things a coat of paint, or sand it down for an even more aged look. Add fragrant pops of color with annuals and perennials in old washtubs.
The natural look is also very popular. Using quality stone and wood, your deck or patio space will reflect your time and dedication to your outdoor space. Stains that bring out the color of the wood will age in the sun, wind, snow and rain easier than typical paint. You can add fun touches like grass lettering on a stone wall, and add color with emerald green and deeper browns.
Summer kitchen – The backyard is no longer just for the barbecue! Summer kitchens, with built-in refrigeration and food preparation space are the latest and greatest in backyard designs. You and the kids can get fresh air in an outdoor kitchen. While keeping an eye on the kids, you can still prepare dinner. No one gets cooped up in the kitchen on a beautiful day because it’s easy to use. It’s also great for entertaining, as you can easily mingle with your guests, and there won’t be as much in and out of the house. The summer kitchen can be a great way to get everyone involved.
Create a 'roof' – One of the best parts of the summer is the warmth and sun. However, not every summer day has perfect weather. Building a roof in the form of an awning, or a gazebo, can lengthen the time you can spend outdoors and means that you and your family can spend time outside. Overhead coverings protect you from overly hot days and rain, but can also make the season longer by protecting you in the fall as it gets colder. With a gazebo or verandah-style space, you get your overheard covering, but mosquito netting walls and small heaters can make this space last on either side of the ideal days of summer.
No matter your budget or your space, you can make your backyard fit your needs easily. Whether it’s a vegetable garden or a continuation of your living room, it will be a beautiful and relaxing space for your friends, your family and you!
To see why Stepper Custom Homes is Calgary’s family home builder, contact Stepper Custom Homes at 403-250-1033 or visit www.stepperhomes.com and www.facebook.com/stepperhomes.
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