How to Transform Your Backyard Into Calming Retreat 

Spending time outdoors is a great way to relieve the stress that you’ve built up throughout the day. Whether you want to read a good book while enjoying some fresh air or take your yoga practice outside, your backyard should be designed in a way that ensures those needs are met. You want this space to be more than just a backyard – a calming retreat that invites you to connect to nature and yourself and help you tap into your inner peace. 

Besides, it makes sense to revamp your backyard from an aesthetic perspective because it will not only be a great addition to your living space but will also improve your home’s value if you’re looking to get a financial return at some point in the future. Here are some ideas on how you can turn your backyard into an outdoor oasis.

Incorporate a patio or a deck

A patio is a welcoming addition to your house, inviting you to enjoy the cool breeze outdoors and offering you an enhanced functional space where you can relax, dine, and so on. In fact, a patio can become the heart of your living space, so you should spend time designing it carefully. With adequate planning, you can turn it into a comfortable seasonal room, surfacing it with stone or brick and decorating it with container gardens, weatherproof furniture, and planting beds. 

Similarly, you can incorporate a deck and make your outdoor space fun and more usable. Moreover, it can add liveability to your home, giving you one of the higher ROI when it comes to home improvement projects. 

Make your backyard private

To turn your outdoor space into an oasis, you should ensure it provides a sense of enclosure. This is important if you don’t want neighbours to look at what you’re doing in your free time. 

To achieve that, consider using garden walls and fences, as this will add privacy to your deck or patio. 

Another idea is to use pergolas, lattice, and landscaping, which will help you define a private outdoor space. Also, you can consider hanging outdoor curtains, as this is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to ensure privacy. 

Choose a colour scheme

Your backyard should be personalised based on your own preferences, so consider choosing a colour scheme that helps you establish a mood. If you don’t know which shades combine better, consider colour theory principles: essentially, warm colours include shades like reds, oranges, and yellows, while cool ones include tones like green and blue. 

Suppose you’re still struggling to figure out the best colour scheme; using earth tones is always a good idea, as they draw from the colours of the earth, water, and plants, making them ideal for your backyard design. 

Embrace greenery 

You can’t create a relaxing oasis without lush, colourful plants that will make your backyard feel like a corner of paradise. It’s not necessary to break ground for planting – you can simply incorporate potted plants in your patio or deck. Having a plant pot outdoors will provide stunning living décor, and there are many eye-catching varieties to choose from! You may want to turn a shallow planter with succulents into the centrepiece of your outdoor table, add a large potted tropical to set a vibe on your patio, and so on. 

Some plants can also keep bugs away, such as lavender, lemongrass, basil, rosemary, mint, etc. Many plants are ideal for the patio, so make sure to do your research to see which one is best for you, depending on the maintenance factor and your personal preference. Once you’ve chosen your favourite plants, visit https://www.elho.com/en to find some of the most stunning pots to create your outdoor paradise. 

Choose comfortable furnishings 

You can’t enjoy spending time in your backyard if you don’t have furnishings, right? Luckily, there are many options available, such as cast or wrought aluminium, cast or wrought iron, or traditional wood. These are all classic options when it comes to outdoor furniture, which are both durable and comfortable. 

You can also opt for synthetic furniture, which is weatherproof and provides the style and comfort of interior furnishings. 

Don’t forget about lighting

When designing your backyard oasis, you shouldn’t overlook the importance of lighting, as it can transform the space into a more enjoyable space at night. Lighting can also make a difference in the workstations, whether it’s a grill or an outdoor kitchen that you want to access in the evening, allowing you to use the space after the sun sets down. 

Fortunately, there are many lighting options you can consider. For example, you can opt for porch lights that provide ambient lighting and illuminate the access to the house. It is also a good idea to add task lighting over work areas if you have an outdoor kitchen. For dining and conversation areas, dimmable electric lamps and candlelight are an excellent choice. In order to ensure safety, you should also illuminate walkways and steps. Finally, mixing different lighting sources can transform your backyard into a magical place where you can spend your time once the dark sets in. 

Add a fire feature 

You may wonder why you should add a fire feature to your backyard. Well, it’s simple: it can become an excellent focal point in your outdoor space and provide a cosy ambiance, drawing your friends or family together as you sit outside and have conversations during those chilly nights. 

This can be achieved through a fire pit or an outdoor fireplace, which will instantly take your backyard to another level – both from an aesthetic and functional perspective. 

Include artistic elements 

You can further enhance the beauty of your backyard by adding statues, fountains, and art. If you enjoy the water’s soothing sound, it’s an excellent idea to install a fountain, which can be a focal point in your outdoor space. 

Another idea is to include weatherproof art like garden plaques or plates or add garden sculptures. These ornamental touches can help you achieve a customised outdoor living space. 

Takeaway

Why settle for a boring backyard when you can make it spectacular? With these tips, you can start defining your vision and create an effective plan to achieve the result that you want and enjoy your little corner of heaven.