8 Fun Features Your Backyard Needs

The backyard is the perfect place for you to create your own little haven. Feel free to get a little creative. Don’t just settle for what you are given. Improving your backyard can make the space more usable for parties and other events. It can even help you be a little bit more self-sufficient.

A Stream

Creating a stream in your backyard can be a sweaty endeavor. Fortunately, the concept is not overly difficult. For the water to flow, you will need to have a gentle slope. If your stream runs through a level section, the resulting stagnant water could be a perfect growing place for algae and mosquitoes. The first step is to dig a trench from the top of the stream to the bottom. After that you will need to put down some sort of waterproof barrier to ensure that the water doesn’t escape. Then you will need to install a pump and a piping system. This will allow your stream to collect the water from the bottom and pump it back to the top. After that, you just need to fill it with water and add some decorative landscaping.

A Small Kitchen

When it’s hot in the summer, cooking inside can be a pain. Turning on the stove or oven can make the heat in your home unbearable. The solution, an outdoor kitchen. A small outdoor kitchen can be as simple as a portable grill. Or you can get a little fancier with a brick oven and a rotisserie grill. Having a pavilion roof over the kitchen can make cooking much more comfortable. Just make sure that you have a good system for ventilating the smoke as you BBQ ribs or grill your burgers. You may even want to include a small fridge for keeping drinks cool.

A Fire Pit

There is no cozier place to sit than by a warm, crackling fire. You can just enjoy sitting and staring into the flames. If you’re hungry, you can roast hot dogs. For a special treat you can break out the marshmallows for smores, you could even try roasting starbursts. A fire pit can be an easy addition if you buy a portable pit. You could also install a permanent pit made from rocks or bricks. If you really want to go the extra mile, you could run a gas line out to the fire pit and have it powered off gas instead of wood. Depending on the aesthetic you are looking for, gas fire pits can be very beautiful. However, they do tend to lack the wonderful wood smoke smell.

Patio Space

A nice patio space is essential for a good backyard. This will allow you to have a nice area to sit and relax while you chat with friends and family. It also makes for a very nice eating space if you want to have a meal outdoors. It’s important that you choose quality furniture. At a minimum, you will want to have a table and a set of chairs. But you can do more with a rocking bench or even a hammock. Wet seasons can negatively affect your wood furniture outdoors. You’ll want to make sure that wood is properly protected from moisture. Metal can also rust over time, so make sure that it is treated regularly and kept clean.

A Pool

When the weather is hot, there is no better way to cool off than a quick dip in the pool. You can use a pool to host parties, or for your own personal relaxation. Pools also offer many options for health and fitness. Swimming is an excellent way to stay fit. You can also get good exercise from treading water. Water aerobics is another excellent way for you to enjoy the pool. You don’t need a large backyard to have a pool. You can always opt for a nice wading pool or even a hot tub.

Trampoline

Sure, to be a favorite with the kids, a trampoline is fun for all ages. It can be a lot of fun to spend some time bouncing around. However, it’s important that you make the trampoline a safe place to be. Injuries can occur if a person inadvertently jumps off the trampoline or bounces on top of someone crawling underneath. This can be avoided if you get a trampoline with a net around it. You can dig a pit and have the trampoline installed level to the ground. This can help ensure that accidents are avoided. In general, you should always have no more than one person bouncing at a time. Small children should never bounce unsupervised.

Home Garden

If you want to be a little more self-sufficient, consider a home garden. Gardening requires time and effort, but the rewards are extremely satisfying. You can save yourself money on produce and enjoy the higher quality taste of fresh garden fruit and vegetables. Gardening is also great exercise. You can burn a lot of calories through this endeavor. You will also benefit from the stress reducing effects of hard work and increased sunlight. Just make sure that you wear sunscreen.

Swing Set

Every child loves to play on a swing set. Most adults love it as well. A backyard swing set doesn’t have to be your typical child play set. If you have a large tree, you could have a classic tree swing. You could even choose to make a tire swing. If you do choose a tire swing, make sure that you keep it empty of rainwater. Water that collects inside a tire is perfect for mosquitoes to breed. If you are looking for a more upscale touch, you could install a garden bench swing. This can be a great place to sit and read while enjoying a cool breeze.

Some people think that their backyard is limited by their budget. While that may be true to an extent, the biggest limitation is your imagination and willingness to work. With the right mindset, you can turn your backyard into your personal paradise.

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