Outdoor Space Renovation Tips
2020 changed a lot of things in our society, culture, and even our homes. One of the changes we are seeing is the desire to create new outdoor living spaces. The lifestyle changes caused by the pandemic have caused many people to stay home and when guests do come over they may feel more comfortable outside. Homeowners are increasingly viewing their exterior spaces as an extension of their interior spaces- which we think is a great trend. Here are few tips if you are thinking about doing an outdoor renovation.
Have a Plan
Any time you want to make something better, you must have a plan. What is your vision for your outdoor space? If you don’t have one, invite that friend over who has that gift and pay them with a cookout. If you need inspiration, head over to Pinterest and you will find plenty of ideas of what might be done on the exterior of your home.
One of the major questions to start with is what is the purpose of your outdoor space? Will it be a recreational space for kids to play whiffle ball or a beautiful English garden? What are you thinking will be your main purposes when you are in this space? When you begin to answer these questions, you can start on a plan masterplan together for your outdoor space. Once you have a plan, you can now move to focus on your priorities in the masterplan.
Focus on Priorities
Most outdoor masterplans are expansive and will take more than a couple of Saturdays to accomplish. Some people get overwhelmed with the cost and time it would take to accomplish their masterplan, so they do nothing. We would suggest you tackle your outdoor renovations like eating an elephant, one bite at a time.
Take your masterplan and begin to make a list of what are your top priorities to create your dream space. Your list might be based on need, budget, or just desires. However you make your priorities list, make sure to remember it may take a few months or even years to get to your masterplan, but every time you accomplish that next project on your priority list, you are one step closer to the outdoor space you have always dreamed of.
Designated Places
As you think about your plan and your priorities, design your outdoor space with designated places. If we are honest, many of our outdoor areas are catch-all spots. There is a mixture of outdoor seating, cooking, kids’ toys, yard equipment, and drying rack all merged together.
Take a few minutes to break your spaces into specific places. Here is where we will grill and cook, and maybe have an outdoor kitchen. This area is for seating and entertaining when guests come over. This part of the yard is for kids and their toys. We will make this area of our outdoor equipment. You can create these designated spaces with outdoor rugs and lighting, storage, and landscaping. Not only will this make your outdoor space look more organized, but it will also help in making your space feel like a true extension of your interior space.
These are just a few ideas from Watershed of how you can transform your outdoor spaces from just the “outside” to amazing places you can eat, laugh, and live with those you care about. We hope these few tips will help create environments that make the most of what you have been blessed with.
