Are you ashamed of your backyard? Do you feel like you can’t have people over because your backyard is a mess? Use these ideas to create a backyard you can be proud of (without breaking the bank). As an added bonus, most of these ideas for the backyard can add value to the home property.
Before you make any decisions, look at your backyard. Is the land flat or hilly? How much room is there? What do you use (or want to use) the backyard for (i.e. dog run, backyard grill out, gardening, etc.)? Do you need and want privacy? What access is there to the backyard? The answers to your questions dictate what areas to create or what structures to add.
Deck
A deck can be a valuable addition to a backyard, may increase the value of a home, and can be instructed to meet the homeowner’s needs (such as a grilling area). This structure is perfect for a hilly yard, though it can be installed in a flat yard as well. For a long-term deck that needs no maintenance, ask the contractor for a quote for composite decking. If you are on a budget, ask about more affordable pressure-treated or cedar decking. Both decking options are extremely durable but require regular staining and sealing.
Fire pit
There are not many other feelings that can match the emotions that accompany a night around a campfire. A quality-built fire pit can elicit all those emotions and create many memories of nights around the fire. Talk to a contractor how to incorporate a fire pit into a backyard, then sit back and enjoy the warmth of a good fire.
Patio
In a flat yard, a patio can be a long-lasting and maintenance-free addition that suits many purposes. A patio can be the ideal area for grilling and back yard patios. Patios are ideal for gardeners who want an area to relax and tend to surrounding beds; they can also be tied into low-maintenance paths of stamped concrete. Stamped concrete is imprinted with designs that can resemble bricks or stones; the stamped concrete can also be stained to any color for a warm look. The stamped concrete look can be used on the patio and any sidewalks or paths that lead from the patio.