Top 5 outdoor living ideas for your home

Many say “do not judge a book by its cover”. Can the same rule apply for your home? When you think about it, a lot of people actually see your home only from the outside.

Here are some ways to refresh the outdoor spaces in your home:

Make your garden colourful

Natural and neutral colours are perfect for your living rooms, but in the garden they just blend in with the plants. Try using various accessories in bold colours. Get rid of all the old and faded cushions and replace them with new bright colourful ones. Refresh every pot with a touch of light red or orange to add some warmth to your garden and use shades of blue and green for your chairs and tables. For making your garden even more playful and ready for summer, paint your fences and sheds into gentle shades of blue and green. This design will give you the impression of being at the beach even when you are in your own garden.

Use lights for mood and drama

Many people actually overlook lighting features when decorating their yards. However, lighting can be useful when it comes to safety at night, and helps in creating a mood. Light up your walls with dimmable wall-mounted lights so you can set up some romantic mood lighting when needed. Illuminate your yard and garden with solar-powered LED lights and bright up your driveway with some torches. Additionally, by properly positioning the lighting you can emphasise the attractive features of your garden and let the less attractive corners be in the shadows, which can create a dramatic effect.

Outdoor kitchen? Why not!

Think about building an outdoor kitchen and save yourself some time during the summer. If you like hosting outdoor parties, in your new kitchen you can avoid being stuck inside and you can have fun with people while cooking. The key feature should be the grill for endless barbies. Also, set up a fridge, sink and cupboards so you will never have to make trips to the indoor kitchen.

Comfy seating

All that is left to do is put some comfortable seating in your garden. If your yard is big it can handle a big farmhouse table with a custom built bench. However, in smaller spaces the best seating would be brightly coloured wicker chairs or a small wooden bench with soft throw pillows. When choosing the seating, make sure it’s comfortable because you may want to spend hours reading a book or chatting to friends.

Water features

You already have the colours of the sea in your yard and only thing that is missing is the peaceful sound of flowing water. Setting up a water fountain will do the trick. You can choose from the large freestanding ones to cute little tabletop models, and whatever you choose you cannot go wrong. Also there are variety of shapes and forms, from antique looking ones to exotic heavenly water fountains. If you want to go all out why not set up a koi pond and fill it with colourful carp. Because these ponds are suitable for mild climates, one of Sydney’s landscape design specialists recommend having them to add some exotic atmosphere to your garden.

If you plan to spend the summer at home, these five features are a must for your yard and garden. Redecorate and you can have a family vacation right at home and it will be the best vacation ever.

Do you have any tips for making the backyard more enjoyable? Please share in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

20 Comments

- - Frankiielot said
  - 28 Jul 2023
    8:11 pm
Loving the scene in the picture as it’s so bright and colourful!
We have a high fence with a gate that’s always closed as we like privacy lol but when we have parties we definitely try and make the outdoor area more glam.

- - meedee said
  - 03 Sep 2021
    11:01 am
This is really something that I would love. A wonderful outdoor area

- - ella12 said
  - 06 Sep 2016
    12:57 pm
Great ideas, thank you for sharing.

- - Melissa89 said
  - 27 Jul 2016
    7:37 pm
Uh I would love to have an outdoor area!

- - mom153507 said
  - 30 Apr 2016
    10:14 pm
I would love to get my partner an outdoor kitchen but they are so expensive!
We have colored solar lights around our garden beds which light up fabulously at night.
We spend a lot of time in our back yard because its safer for the children to play.
We have comfortable outdoor lounges for relaxing on while the kids enjoy some outdoor fun but they are rather dull so I might spruce them up with some bright new cushions.
Thank you for some amazing tips!

- - sharna_booth_weinrowski said
  - 16 Apr 2016
    4:02 pm
Fantastic ideas!

- - mom107723 said
  - 09 Apr 2016
    11:11 am
Thanks for your article,i am going use a few of these ideas.

- - june11 said
  - 08 Apr 2016
    11:50 pm
Another comment. If planning to use artificial grass, ask it if it gets too hot to touch or walk on during hot weather because some definitely do.. We tend to forget surfaces get very hot and can burn the soles of your feet if you walk on it barefooted or the heat penetrate your shoes. If you pets they are likely to walk on it and get burnt too.

- - mom165081 said
  - 08 Apr 2016
    12:49 am
Try to grow natural shade whatever the size of your outdoor space. Its the best way to keep the house and garden cool.

- - rovermum said
  - 09 Mar 2016
    11:25 am
I love how we’ve just completed our backyard. Greenery – you need lots of it. We have a large-ish backyard and it’s taken us many years and many trials to get it right. Due to the drought of years gone by, we have artificial grass. I love looking out the back garden to the plush green grass. Combined with green trees and mixed coloured plants in pots and the ground, I think we have the foliage right. We have included bamboo screens with buddhas and lanterns in 3x key areas as well as creating a retreat in the far corner with seating and small Kmart tables. I love this sense of peace of relaxation that this area offers. I can read, watch my son play cricket or basketball, or just be. It takes time and living in a place to finally get what works for you.

- - mom134803 said
  - 09 Mar 2016
    3:47 am
It sure is important to have a lovely space to spend outdoors to unwind, relax and refocus. People see your home from the outside ? Mmmm, think it’s more important what you think yourself – not what other people think !

- - mom101628 said
  - 08 Mar 2016
    9:11 pm
Great ideas – but the water feature is out in our house. My little one just has to run for the toilet at the sound of running water.

- - Some_Toss said
  - 06 Mar 2016
    12:50 pm
“When you think about it, a lot of people actually see your home only from the outside.”

Truer words rarely spoken.

My house inside, is beautiful, bright, clean, roof to floor windows, airy, high ceilings, the works… Outside? Not so much.

People judge the inhabitants, based on external information, and as wrong as it is, it won’t change. Pretty outdoors bring positive emotions for all.

Thanks for sharing!

- - june11 said
  - 05 Mar 2016
    6:31 pm
Although the water is recycled, water features are not a good idea during water restrictions as some of it evaporates regardless of the air temperature. The top it is needs to be below fence level or some of it blows away too. I used to grow a lot of our vegetables until I injured my left shoulder and I am left handed. I grew carrots, cauliflowers, cabbages, tomatoes, beetroot, green beans and peas until the last couple of years the birds took the tops of them as soon as they poked through the soil. I covered them with fly sceen wire but they scatched their way around until they managed to wriggle their way in so I conceded defeat. We had neighbours that were successful growing other vegetables so we used to exchange produce. We grew some Money Trees along the back fence as a screen and Hibiscus to shade part of the garage.

- - mom112217 said
  - 05 Mar 2016
    8:58 am
An out-door kitchen would be fantastic in Summer!

- - mom93821 said
  - 04 Mar 2016
    9:53 pm
Great ideas for the home – love water features.

- - mom90758 said
  - 04 Mar 2016
    3:07 pm
I love the idea of the water features. Growing a veggie patch makes the outside area more enjoyable for me too. I’d love to have a pond with some beautiful fishes!
- mom93821 replied
  
  05 Mar 2016 , 6:43 am
  Go for it – a pond is calming and relaxing.
- - mom74640 said
  - 04 Mar 2016
    10:56 am
Lke kd

- - mom81879 said
  - 04 Mar 2016
    9:55 am
We have a veggie garden. Not everyone’s idea of how to make your backyard more enjoyable, but that’s what it does for us. I love planting, watering, watching it all grow and best of all is the harvesting. Yum!