6 Summer Enhancements For Your Backyard

Finding ways to improve your backyard makes it feel more like an extension of your indoor living area. When you can’t get away from the city, your backyard needs to be the next best option. Making a few smart changes to your backyard will make entertaining and relaxing a joy. Here are six different things you can do to enhance your backyard!

1. Make Your Fire Pit The Focus

All types of fire pits make for excellent centerpieces. Fire pits are great for creating ambiance, light and generating warmth. Using your fireplace as a centerpiece makes it easy to keep everyone warm during a conversation and easy to start cooking up snacks.

If you’re looking to improve your fire pit, consider building one using stone, brick or tile. You have the flexibility to create a circular, square or even a triangular fire pit. Try and position the fire pit in an area where everyone can see what’s going on and access the fire.

2. Add A Pergola

Pergolas are one of the more inexpensive ways to transform your backyard. Modern pergola designs include canvas covered roofs which provide protection from the sun, wind, and rain. You can make your pergola any size you want which allows you to keep costs under control.

If you’re always having people over, you may want to consider an attached pergola. A pergola attached to your home extends your living area and keeps activities close to the kitchen and the food. However, you may want to place your pergola in an area of your yard where there isn’t any protection from the sun.

3. Equip Your Outdoor Area For Cooking

Outdoor kitchens are another way to make your backyard more suitable for entertaining. No one likes carrying food back and forth from the house to where all the action is. Equipping your outdoor area with a pizza oven, a barbecue and a stovetop grill is a great way to keep the fun outside.

If you bring some of your cooking appliances outdoors, remember to include additional seating. Make it easy for your guests to relax while you’re cooking on the grill. Bringing your kitchen outside allows you to avoid having to stay inside while you put the finishing touches on the meal.

4. Bring A Monitor Outside

It sucks to be stuck inside when you’re having guests over to enjoy a sporting event. Adding an outdoor monitor will add even more versatility to your outdoor space. Outdoor monitors are enclosed in waterproof enclosures, which makes them heavier than regular TVs. These televisions are designed to provide a brighter than normal image in sunlight. Outdoor televisions are specifically designed to stand up to insects, dust, dirt, and wind.

5. Upgrade Your Outdoor Furniture

Seating often makes or breaks an outdoor area. No one wants to spend time in uncomfortable chairs. If you’re still using folding chairs from the back of your garage, it’s time to upgrade. A large sectional couch is a comfortable way to seat multiple guests. If you have a pool, it’s also worth getting some water resistant chairs to let people sunbathe.

6. Remember To Leave Space For Activities

One of the often neglected aspects of a backyard is space to just run around in. It’s important to have an area of your lawn that people can play with the dog, throw a ball or set up a volleyball net. Lawn care for this area doesn’t have to be complex, just regular mowing of your grass. It’s also a good idea to invest in games such as lawn bowling or horseshoe toss for this area of your backyard. Having a place for physical activity adds a nice variety to your outdoor entertainment area.