Few home additions are as lovely and relaxing as a backyard oasis.
It would be wonderful to have a personal outdoor space to serve as a refuge after a tough day or week at work, and your backyard would be perfect for it. All you have to do is put your feet up, turn the electric outdoor heater on, close your eyes, and feel all your worries melt away, even for just a while.
Anyone can turn their backyard into an enchanting oasis. If you want one, here are some tips that will help you do just that.
Use Stone For A More Natural Feel
Whether you’re making paths or walls in your backyard, it’s best to use stone as they make the area feel more natural and relaxing. Stone is quite durable and when placed strategically, it’s capable of tying the different living spaces around your outdoor area together.
Put Up Water Features
Of all the elements, water is the best at invoking the outdoors, particularly with the sound it makes. Hearing the reflective and soothing sound of cascading water makes you feel like you’re walking by a mountain stream. The sound of water in your backyard can also mask distressing noises, like traffic or arguing neighbors.
Your backyard oasis wouldn’t be such without a water feature. So, build waterfalls, install a fountain, or if you have the budget for it, construct a pool, even a small one.
Make It As Comfortable As Possible
Hard benches are a common feature in backyards, but they won’t offer much in the way of comfort. If you’re going to make your backyard an oasis, then you should make it as comfy as possible. After all, you’re going to linger for hours in your backyard. Cushy furniture should be the norm. A hammock or a swing would be nice, too.
Since we’re talking about comfort, you should consider the weather as well. Summers may be the best time to spend outdoors, but it sometimes gets too hot for comfort. Your backyard oasis must have fans, or better yet, a fog misting system to keep everyone cool.
Conversely, patio heaters will come in handy when the colder months set in. A fire pit would also be an excellent idea for when the weather gets chilly.
Build An Outdoor Kitchen
Your backyard oasis would be a great place for outdoor dining for your family and guests. Why not put up an outdoor kitchen so you can prepare your meals there, too? You can go for something as simple as a free-standing grill or a café-like setup with stoves, a grill, and a bar where people can just hang out eating or drinking.
Put That Green Thumb to Good Use
Plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees can make your backyard oasis earn the tag. The sight of so much greenery can be so relaxing. And once the flowers of your choice are in bloom, your outdoor area will be the most visually stunning and fragrant part of your home.
Outdoor Lighting Ideas
Your backyard oasis will be even lovelier in the evenings, especially when you put up well-planned outdoor lighting.
Many homeowners go for string lights, mostly because they are an inexpensive and easy way to light up your backyard. You can simply string them upright above the main outdoor area, or you can get a bit creative and wrap them around trees.
Lanterns, however, are so much better at setting the mood. Whether they use LED lights or candles, lanterns would make for great outdoor lighting. They’re easy to move around the backyard, and they come in a wide variety of styles.
For a more dramatic look, you can position lights under the trees, plants, or even walls. You can also light the paths or stairs in your backyard with strips of hidden LED lights.
Get Some Privacy
You will spend time in your backyard oasis to relax, but there’s nothing relaxing about neighbors watching everything you do there. To escape their prying eyes, you need to put up something that will give you some privacy. Fences can do the trick, and so can hedges and trees. You can also install privacy panels in strategic places to ensure your neighbors can’t see directly into your refuge.
If you’ve got excellent DIY skills, then doing all of the above would be a piece of cake. If you lack in that department, you can always ask professionals like landscape artists and home designers for help.
About the Author
Anna Fox is the Content Marketing Strategist of Señor Mist, a Phoenix, Arizona-based company that provides high pressure misting systems/fog effects, comfort heaters, patio drop shades, hvls fans and more. When not writing, she makes use of her spare time reading books and hiking with her dog, Blaze.