You need an escape from the hectic, stressful life you have, and you need one quick getaway, now – one that won’t require a lot of preparations and a long ride to a beach resort. Think it’s impossible?
Why not transform your own backyard into your outdoor sanctuary? All you have to do is to combine a number of well-thought out design elements to come up with your own stunning and soothing outdoor escape.
Here are some ideas to consider.
- Create a Relaxing Ambiance with Music
Ambiance is everything – you want to be in a place where you can hide from the stressful world. Creating a soothing oasis where you can relax and unwind is a crucial element to your backyard retreat.
You can start by adding calming music in the background. Imagine your favorite songs being played while sipping your favorite beverage. Sheer bliss!
Today, there are outdoor speaker systems that can help you bring your music outside. You can use one wireless speaker, or perhaps even an outdoor stereo system. In fact, there are also weatherproof wireless speakers that resemble rocks so they can easily blend into the look of your outdoor haven.
Regardless of what type of audio technology you choose, make sure to include peaceful sounds outdoors. But if a speaker system isn’t possible, consider adding a water feature to neutralize daily noise.
- Include a Water Feature
The sound of trickling water is known to have relaxing and calming effects. Good thing there are a lot of ways to add the element of water to your backyard retreat.
You can get a small fountain and place it on a patio table, or you can ask professional swimming pool contractors to install a wading pool. Either way, the sound of water will certainly add a soothing element to your outdoor oasis.
- Bring Your TV Outside
For a more social use of your personal getaway, adding a TV to your backyard will entice you to sit and stay there for a while, alone or in the company of family and friends. Make sure to use a weather-resistant television for your outdoor escape.
A huge flat panel TV can set a great scene for outdoor bonding with your significant others, especially when a big game is on.
- Add an Outdoor Shower
If you have a pool, building an outdoor shower is a practical idea. Having an outdoor shower ensures you wash away all perfumes and lotions before diving into the pool. You also get to wash off the suntan lotion and chlorine after swimming.
An outdoor shower is indeed a lavish accessory that you should consider adding to your outdoor oasis. But you have to make sure that it is properly shielded from prying eyes.
- Install Elements to Protect Your Privacy
Without the assurance of privacy, you cannot truly de-stress. But if you are living in a crowded subdivision or in a city, it may be hard to create a place where prying eyes can’t see.
All it takes, though, is a bit of inventiveness. If you want to hide, landscaping can come in handy. A well-placed bushy hedge or tree can help you achieve a discreetly hidden outdoor space.
Using drapes to block views is also a good idea. You can hang up curtains around the pergola or perhaps grow a natural curtain of flowers with some climbing clematis. If your budget allows for it, you can have your deck covered with a roof to guarantee privacy while outdoor.
- Integrate Outdoor Seating
This may seem like an obvious inclusion to your backyard retreat, but comfortable seating is crucial. You need a comfortable place to sit back and relax, whether it be a recliner, porch swing, or a hammock.
If your outdoor space is protected from the weather, you can bring indoor furniture outside to achieve the ultimate home environment.
You can also look for tables, chairs, pillows, and rugs that you can bring outside. Today, there are already a lot of fabrics mimicking indoor ones so consider reupholstering an indoor chair with an outdoor fabric so you can use it outside.
- Light Up Your Yard
Create a warm, welcoming atmosphere by adding luminous lights in your backyard retreat. Lighting can be added through:
- Floating pool globes
- Candles
- Overhead chandeliers
- Solar landscape lighting.
You should avoid installing neon lights and harsh spotlights because they add eye-straining glare.
Aside from outdoor lighting, you can also use outdoor paints that emit a stunning evening glow after being exposed to sunlight. You can apply these paints to stones and outdoor planters to light up your evenings in a different yet pleasant way.
Always feeling tired after a long day at work? Now it is the best time to start building your backyard retreat. Whether you have a small or big yard, you can add proper lighting, music, comfortable seating, privacy, and water features to any outdoor space.
With the help of professional contractors, you can easily transform your dream outdoor oasis into reality!
AUTHOR BIO:
Rachel Hennessey manages the Pools and Landscaping Division of Hennessey LLC. She also works on Tender and Pre-Qualification and brings in new business to the company’s Construction, Interiors and Civils Division.