If you’re lucky enough to have a yard, you can’t just leave it to itself for the rest of time. You have to maintain it and take care of it because you have a unique opportunity to create something amazing in your own home.
Having a well-decorated and clean yard means that you and your family will always have a place to hang out in. As well as that, it means you’ll get to escape from the worries and turbulences of the concrete jungle.
You’ll finally have the peace and quiet you always dreamed of and you might even become more of a social butterfly because you’ll have the perfect place to host gatherings and parties.
Making your yard look awesome will take some time and effort, but will definitely be worth it.
Table of Contents
1. Clean it up
Before you actually start doing anything in your yard, you’ll need to clean it up thoroughly. This includes throwing away all of the old and rusty things you find in it and hosing everything down. Hiring a dumpster specifically designed for all different types of yard waste would be particularly handy for this kind of task, and will save you plenty of trips going back and forth to the dump. Decluttering will ensure you have nothing dangerous or unsafe in the yard.
The power hose will get rid of all the dirt and grime, giving you a fresh and clean space to work with. You’ll make the yard much more aesthetically pleasing and comfortable without even starting the renovating and decorating process.
2. Add a play area for the kids
If you have a family, you definitely need to add a play area for your kids. Whether it’s just a simple swing set or a slide, or if you really want to go all out and look for some flagpoles for sale and playhouses to add some excitement to the play area! Either way, it’s going to mean the world to them. It’s not true that kids hate playing outside today, it’s just that you’ve got to give them a good reason to spend the afternoon in the yard.
By adding a play area, you’re also making sure your kids have a rich social life. They’ll have a very good reason to invite friends over and everyone will adore spending time together in your awesome yard.
3. Fence it in
Regardless of what kind of fence you opt for, it will make your yard look more private and secluded. Adding a fence is the beginning of having a true backyard oasis. The type of fence you build depends on the aesthetic appeal you’re trying to achieve.
If you’re going for a more Zen and natural look, you should opt for a high shrub fence. All the greenery will do wonders for your creativity and serenity. Other options include stone or wooden fences which can give you a more vintage or classic look.
4. Make room for barbecue
What’s more fun than having a barbecue with your family, friends, and neighbours? You should invest in a high-quality barbecue and set aside a special corner of the yard for it.
This way, you’ll have the perfect excuse to cook outside in the warm spring and autumn days. The best memories people have from childhood usually involve barbecues, so why not give those memories to your kids?
As well as that, you can work on having better relationships with your neighbours as everyone loves a good barbecue cook-off. Bring your whole community together by adding something as simple as a barbecue to your awesome yard!
5. Create garden paths
There’s nothing more adorable than a stone garden path. The whole thing becomes even more adorable when you start creating patterns with the garden paths.
You can be as creative as you want, but how elaborate the patterns are will depend on the size of your yard.If you have a small yard, you’ll want to go with something simpler so as not to end up with a tacky result.
But, if you’re working with a lot of garden space, you can be as creative as you want. The paths can lead to different sections of the yard and make for beautiful art work all at the same time.
6. Put in an above-ground pool
Are you always looking for ways to cool down in the summer? You should add an above-ground pool! Those pools aren’t so expensive today but can provide all the relief you need from the inevitable heat waves in the summer.
If you have a family, this will be the perfect activity you can bond over. As well as that, it’s a great way to get the kids outside and away from their screens.
They’ll spend the whole summer playing outside instead of sitting on their phones, learning how to swim and having an awesome time with their friends. On top of that, you’ll be the coolest parent ever because you got your kids a pool.
7. Add a garden structure
Garden structures like pavilions and pergolas are great additions to any yard. They allow you to combine the inside and the outside into one amazing structure that can serve any purpose.
You can rest and relax in your garden structure or you can have the part of your life.
It will also be much more comfortable to hang out there because you won’t have to worry about the weather conditions.
You’ll be able to enjoy the outdoors without putting up with extreme heat, rain, or cold and snow. The best part is that you’ll still be able to revel in the amazing ambiences these weather conditions provide.
8. Play with lights
If you want to set the mood, you should definitely introduce some lighting to your yard. It can be a lamppost or it can be fairy lights, but what’s for sure is that it’s going to be absolutely amazing.
Not only do lights make the yard look swanky, but they’re also very practical in the evenings.
You no longer have to retire inside just because it’s dark outside. Those summer nights with friends don’t have to end early any longer.
As well as that, you can impress that special someone with your new mood lighting as it will surely provide an intimate and romantic atmosphere.
9. Plant flowers
There’s nothing that will make your yard more beautiful than some flowers. If you’re not much of a gardener, you can focus on simple yet beautiful flowers that don’t require a lot of attention. There are benefits to choosing both colourful flowers and green plants.
If you choose the first option, you’ll end up with a very nice bright yard that inspires feelings of joy and happiness. You might feel more alert and energetic, too.
On the other hand, if you choose green plants, you’ll introduce a lot of Zen to the premises. The type of flowers or plants you choose depends on the effect you want to achieve in your new garden.
10. Fix the roof
The roof is the most important part of the house and contributes to the overall safety of the yard. Without the roof, you’d be exposed to the harsh temperatures outside, as well as the weather.
This means that you should make sure your roof is well-maintained and that there are no holes in it. As well as that, you might want to consider roof restoration if it is really old.
The last thing you want is for parts and bits of the roof to start crumbling down into your yard. Without fixing it, you’ll always worry about your and your children’s safety when you’re playing outside.
11. Add some shade
Now that you’ve fixed the roof, you can move on to adding some shade to the yard. It doesn’t matter if you have a big or small yard, adding shade will definitely make it more comfortable in the warm summer months.
You’ll get to enjoy the pleasant weather without worrying about burning in the sun or worsening your health due to UV rays.
You can find various shade solutions. Everything from cloths to retractable roofs is available. It might seem expensive, but it’s definitely an investment that pays for itself.
12. Repaint the exterior
We mostly focus on interior design and taking care of the inner walls of our houses, but the exterior plays a very important role in the aesthetics of any home.
Repainting the exterior of the house will make the yard pop better than anything else. It doesn’t matter if it’s a neutral or bright colour, because it will still tie the yard together.
You can work on your yard all you want, but without repainting the exterior, you won’t really be able to pull off the elegant and superior look you were going for.
Aside from that, you’ll also contribute to the durability and health of your home- it will be much more weather and moisture resistant.
13. Make your own decor
You can spice things up by making your own decor for your yard. It can be as simple as painting golf balls to look like ladybugs or as elaborate as making your own garden furniture. Whatever you opt for, it will give the yard a personal touch and make it truly unique.
If you have kids, you could work on different projects together with them. There’s no better way to bond as a family and teach your kids some responsibility than to make something together for your yard.
14. Take care of your lawn
Your lawn should be mowed regularly and fertilized with the best fertilizers. You should consider composting because it will be healthier for the lawn.
You’ll be doing something good for the environment while also avoiding harmful chemicals that just make your lawn thirstier and dry it out in the long run.
Regular watering, mowing, and fertilizing will give you green and healthy grass that you’ll get to enjoy for a long time.
15. Prune your plants
Pruning is the perfect way to keep your trees healthy, especially if they’re young. You should prune your plants if you haven’t in a while, but should also do that at the beginning and ending of winter.
This will help them stay healthy and will eliminate any bacteria that might end up eating your entire garden. As well as that, it will be much easier to keep the yard looking tidy and the plants looking fresh when you prune right away.
Just make sure you have the right cutting tools for the job. Getting quality equipment from places like Hoselink and similar distributors will make pruning much easier and faster. Not to mention, you’ll also be safer.
You can also get expert help from tree maintenance in Reno.
16. Choose comfy and durable furniture
Finally, you should spare no expense when it comes to yard furniture. You will be spending a lot of time here, so it’s only natural to decorate the place as nicely as you can. That being said, you should buy only outdoor furniture because it will last you longer.
This type of furniture can be very stylish, but also resistant to weather conditions. That will ensure it doesn’t get ruined if it starts raining and that it lasts a long time.
Conclusion
As you can see, decorating your yard to make it look awesome will take more than just putting fancy furniture in. You’ll need to devote some serious time and attention to the project, but you’ll definitely adore the final product.
The initial investment might be a little much in the beginning but it pays off in the long run. Get ready to enjoy spending time outside like never before. Your friends and family are bound to be impressed, too.
Bio: Patrick Adams is a freelance writer and rock-blues fan. When he is not writing about home improvement, he loves to play chess, watch basketball, and play his guitar. More than anything, he loves to spend his time in his garage, repairing appliances and creating stuff from wood.
