Simple Ways to Get More Use Out of Your Backyard

When you bought your house, chances are the backyard had something to do with it. You either loved the space or you saw potential. The question is, are you using it how you thought you would?

Whether you’re in a warm climate or colder climate, the backyard can transform the way you use your house – increasing the functional space you have and providing a sense of versatility and uniqueness that simply can’t be replicated when you spend all of your time inside.

5 Tips for Maximizing Any Backyard Space 

Now is as good a time as any to consider how you can get more use out of your backyard. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get started! 

1. Increase Privacy 

It’s hard to feel comfortable in your backyard if you don’t feel like you have the privacy to relax. So this is a good place to begin. (And you have plenty of flexibility.) 

“Whether you’re looking to block out the neighbors, hide an unattractive view or carve out some dedicated space in your backyard, creating privacy can sometimes be a tricky pursuit,” HGTV notes. “But there are actually a lot of great options depending on your space and your family’s needs.”

The crew at HGTV recommends using a combination of portable partitions, living walls, trees and shrubbery, metal screen walls, tall hedges, fence screens, trellises, stone walls, outdoor curtains, and/or outdoor screens to achieve the desired level of privacy. 

2. Make it Useful for Longer 

The problem most homeowners have is that there are only a couple of months out of the year when their backyard is comfortable enough to spend time outside. But what if you could make it more comfortable for longer periods of time?

If cold weather keeps you from enjoying your backyard, use one of these fire pit ideas to create a warm outdoor space that you can enjoy for a few extra months each year. If it’s hot weather that makes your backyard miserable, incorporate more sources of shade – like a screened porch or covered patio with fans. 

3. Bring Indoor Comforts Out 

If you feel like you’re camping every time you walk into the backyard, it’s time to tame that wilderness and turn it into an enjoyable oasis.

One option is to bring indoor comforts outside. This means using comfortable furniture, rugs, and other tasteful home accents to make it feel less crude. (Just make sure you purchase the right kind of furniture and rugs. There are weatherproof options that will hold up longer than typical pieces that are designed to be protected from the elements.) 

4. Get Creative With Lighting 

Natural light is great, but you can take your backyard to the next level with some intentional lighting design. Recessed lighting under covered patios goes a long way, but so does landscape lighting to bring different yard parts to life.

If you want an easy option, solar lights can be good for providing subtle accents. If you want something brighter and more dependable, you’ll want to have someone run wired lighting to the desired locations.

String lighting is also a nice touch. You can hang string lights across a porch or patio to create a cozy ambiance on lazy evenings. 

5. Keep Maintenance to a Minimum 

Nobody wants to spend time in a backyard that’s constantly begging for attention. Limit your need to spend endless hours landscaping and repairing by using low maintenance options like hardscapes, artificial turf, and native plants that grow well in your region. 

Give Your Backyard a Refresh 

Whether you have a small courtyard for a backyard or a multi-acre tract of land, your backyard can and should be a functional space where you enjoy spending time throughout the year.

What’s the one step you can take this week to begin the process of refreshing your backyard? It might be clearing out trees to make room for a swingset, building an outdoor firepit, purchasing outdoor furniture, or getting a landscape designer to create a new lighting plan to showcase your yard. Whatever it is, be sure to do something actionable.