BACKYARD BASICS
Learn how to make the most of your outdoor spaces—whatever their size.
Learn how to make the most of your outdoor spaces—whatever their size.
Spending time outdoors is good for both your body and soul, but you won’t be as inclined to step outside if your spaces aren’t in good functional order. Here are the steps to follow to make your backyard, patio, front porch or deck function for your needs.
STEP 1: DETERMINE ITS USE
Every family’s needs are different, so before you make any decisions about your design, you need to first determine how you want to use your outdoor spaces. Will you be entertaining, or is it just a space for you and your family? Can you make it all hardscaping, or do you need a grassy area for your kids to play? Would you like to include a garden? Make a list of how you’d like to use the area.
If you have enough space to include multiple uses, map out which areas will be for each use, such as a grassy corner for a playhouse, a long walkway for gardening beds and a patio for entertaining. If you’re working with a small space such as an apartment patio, you can still turn it into a potted garden or a sunny spot to drink your morning coffee.
STEP 2: FOCUS ON FUNCTION FIRST
Once you know how you’d like to use your outdoor space, figure out what you need to make that happen. If it’s simply a matter of buying the right outdoor furniture, create a budget and decide which pieces are a priority so you know what to get first. Keep in mind that you can repurpose items you already own. For example, a rusty wagon can become a new planter, and you can build a potting station out of an old pallet.