A gorgeous backyard is the perfect place to host summer get-togethers and make memories with the family. Or, if you’re not the hosting type, your backyard can easily become a personal sanctuary for you to relax and enjoy nature without ever leaving your home.
If you’re not a landscaper or designer, trying to decide what to do with your space can be daunting. Here are some of our favorite trending ideas for dream backyards to get you started!
Outdoor Kitchens or Bars
If you have a spacious back porch and a passion for cooking/grilling, you’ve got the perfect excuse to install an outdoor kitchen or bar.
Not only will it give your porch a modern look, but it will also open up more space to host guests for parties and holidays. If you’re the one doing all the cooking, you won’t end up stuck inside while everyone else enjoys the summer weather.
Outdoor grills and burners make use of propane tanks, which can also end up saving you money on your energy bills. Not to mention, all those smells and smoke won’t end up hanging around inside for days.
Greenhouses
There’s been a recent movement toward creating more natural and green spaces in and around our homes. While an austere modern aesthetic is clean and simple, there’s just something so comforting and peaceful about being surrounded by nature.
If you have a green thumb, you’ll benefit from having your own greenhouse. You can buy or build a shed-sized greenhouse for a relatively low cost.
You can grow aesthetically pleasing plants to create a potted garden or—if you’re interested in the homesteading movement—this is a perfect place to grow fruits, veggies, and herbs as well. A greenhouse will protect your plants from pests and harsh weather without blocking sunlight.
Our favorite thing about greenhouses is that they can help bring some summertime cheer during the colder months. If you’re willing to put in the work and research, you can install misters and heaters to keep tropical plants happy all winter! This means you’ll have a personal oasis to visit even when it’s snowing around you.
Ponds and Bridges
Speaking of creating natural spaces, another backyard feature that’s sure to bring you joy and wow your guests is a pond. Water features have long been installed to provide a sense of peace and wellbeing.
With the help of a landscaper, you can design your pond exactly to your liking. Whatever waterproof and water-safe materials (stone, tile, concrete, etc.) you wish to use to create your own aesthetic is up to you. You can shape your pond to fit perfectly into the space you have available and make it as large or small as you wish.
For a natural look, you can even introduce goldfish or koi to your pond. Just make sure you always do your research on how to care for these fish properly, especially during the cold months.
You can also add water plants to your pond for a greener look, including water lilies, reeds, bamboo, and duck weed. Do your research or consult a landscaper to make sure the plants you choose are able to survive in your particular climate.
We also love the look of a wooden bridge stretching over a pond. This will allow you to reclaim some of the walking space you use up for your pond and create another perfect spot to kick back and read a book.
Asymmetrical Pools
When discussing dream backyards, you can’t leave pools out of the conversation. Is there any better way to escape the heat?
But plain, rectangular pools can leave something to be desired in terms of aesthetics. That’s where the trend of asymmetrical pools comes in. These pools are designed with your unique space in mind, creating a more organic feel that flows naturally with the layout of your yard. This allows you to save more space for other features or activities.
Another fun way to make your pool stand out from the rest is to paint it a color other than blue. We’ve seen emerald green, pink, black, and even red!
Pergolas and Gazebos
Building a pergola or gazebo is a surefire way to add a touch of class to your backyard and extend your living space.
For a greener look, you can plant ivy, honeysuckle, or grapes and allow them to grow over a pergola. If you want a place outside where you can stay out of the rain, you can hang weatherproof curtains at the corners of a gazebo to close against wind and rain.
With string lights and lanterns, you can create a space to enjoy day or night. And, if your home would have been dream-home material if only the porch were covered, just install a gazebo over it!
Alternatives to Grass
Did you know you don’t have to plant grass in your yard? While grass has been the traditional choice for groundcover in American backyards since the 17th century, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best option. Maybe that just means it’s time for a change!
Grass requires so much water to stay alive. Even when you’ve given all you can give, you may still have dry, brown patches. It also needs to be mowed around once a week to stay tame.
There has been a rising trend of people planting alternatives to grass that look just as lush and healthy but don’t need to be mowed or even watered as often. These include clover, creeping thyme, moss, ornamental or wild grasses, and sweet woodruff.
Some of these options even flower in the spring, creating a lovely display of little blue or white blooms all across your yard. If you decide to try one of these options, make sure it is a good fit for your climate.
“He Sheds” and “She Sheds”
Do you love your house but just wish it had one more room? Maybe an office, a library, or an art studio? Well, if you have a large backyard, you’re in luck!
People are finding all sorts of creative ways to transform an ordinary storage shed into a personal paradise, or “she shed” and “he shed.” These spaces make for the perfect little getaway from home, at home. When you need some peace and quiet, you can retreat into your shed and get work done, relax and read, finish creative projects, and more.
You can also install better insulation, heaters, and AC units. Some companies offer packages to build and install fully functional studio sheds that already have everything you need to get settled.
We hope these dream backyard ideas have inspired you. Let us know what you decide to add to your home!
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