Outdoor living isn’t just for spring and summer. Even in the winter, you can still enjoy spending your time outdoors. Whether you’re looking to renovate your living space or just making some minor changes by cleaning it up to make space for furniture, you’re in the right place.
Before you start the process of refreshing your yard, there are things you need to consider, like how much change you’re planning to give and how much of your time, money, and effort you’re willing to spend.
Things to Consider Before Creating an Outdoor Living Space
If you’re planning to renovate your outdoor space, you have to seek authorization and get a building permit before you get started for public knowledge and safety reasons. You also have to keep in mind that getting a permit is time-consuming and expensive. Sometimes, even stressful. So prepare yourself for any complications.
Deciding on your purpose for your outdoor living area is important as well. With this, you’ll figure out how much and what kinds of furniture you want to get. If it’s an entertainment area, do you want a dining set or a lounge set? Do you plan to work out here as well?
While deciding on your purpose, you’ll get to know how much and what kinds of lighting you want to put up, and in which part you want to put them. What about the design? Whether you have big or small yard space, an extravagant or minimal design, it all needs planning.
Maintaining it depends on your availability and budget. If you have a busy career and family priorities, you don’t want to put up a high-maintenance plant and furniture. Consider how much time you’re willing to spend cleaning it, at least.
Look out for the weather to decide what materials you want to make up most of your furniture and overhead shelter. Thinking this through will make you avoid future complications and costly damages.
Creating an All-Year-Round Outdoor Living Space
Of course, there this always a way for you and your loved ones to enjoy the outdoors in whatever season. Here are some tips and ideas to make your living area usable all year long:
Weatherproof furniture
Especially if you’re on a budget or you’re often busy, replacing your furniture every season is bothersome and money- and time-consuming. You can just invest in one-time purchases.
Blankets
You can never go wrong with them. Between summer nights and the entire winter, you’ll always need them even when you think you don’t. Having blankets around to add to the coziness can make a comfortable and welcoming couch, where you can just lie down and relax.
Blankets are easy to maintain, clean, and store. You can put out at least one or two pieces for your family, and when guests arrive, you can always get fresh ones.
Overhead shelter
A covered area may seem like the space is less enjoyable during spring and summer, but its purpose is to protect you and the furniture from the sun on extremely hot days and from the snow on freezing days. You can partner it with electric fans in the summer, or heaters in the winter. With an overhead cover, you can also enjoy the rain without getting wet.
Turn up the heat
With the right temperature, you can spend more time in your outdoor living space. If you have the chance, you can have an outdoor fireplace or firepit built for the area, or you can do it yourself if you’re on a budget. Also, there are many choices for outdoor heaters.
An outdoor fire pit can great place to drink hot beverages while enjoying the fresh air, or toast from marshmallows with your friends and family. It’ll be a wonderful bonding moment.
Outdoor lighting
Once the sun comes down, proper and aesthetic lighting can make you feel cozier and more at home. It can create comfortable and communal surroundings. Plus, it can also add to your safety.
You can put up floor lighting or put up lights on your plants and trees. Not only does it light up your house at night, but it lights up the neighborhood as well. You can enjoy barbecue dinners on summer nights and it can also be where you can have some alone and comfortable time, or have work done even when it’s dark.
Having a livable outdoor area not just adds to your comfort and space to unwind, but also adds to your house’s value. Whether you keep it or sell it, you always win.