If there is one unfair advantage of living in the suburbs, it is having a yard attached to your home. Having a yard offers you many possibilities of increasing your living space. From landscaping, gardening, to outdoor spaces, your backyard presents so many possibilities.
Leaving your yard unattended is an utter waste of real estate space. Whether your home is owned or rented, you are still paying for that piece of land. Put it to good use and enjoy your property like you never did before.
Extend your home through outdoor spaces.
Outdoor spaces are a wonderful addition to your living space. Not only do they add beauty to your home, but outdoor living spaces are also functional as well. They can serve as a place where you can entertain guests safely, amidst the threat of the Corona Virus. They can also be an extension of your living room, where you can relax, read a book, or even watch TV. Outdoor spaces can also serve as your dining area, especially on warm summer days. You can even have your child’s play area in your yard, or you can have your personal outdoor gym. The possibilities are only limited by what you need and your imagination.
You can commission the services of reputable patio builders to create your outdoor space. Gabled patios are wonderful options for an airy yet covered space. They protect from the sun and rain, but they also allow maximum airflow.
When you design your outdoor space to have multiple functions, such as a living room, outdoor kitchen, and a gym, make sure to consider your traffic patterns. Unless your yard is big enough, you will need to demarcate different areas with shrubs or screens. You can also use different hardscape materials to establish borders.
If you want specific areas of your outdoor space to be more private, you can use dwarf trees or shrubs to give you some cover. Another way to make movement seamless is to connect it into an indoor room, such as your living room.
Create a vegetable garden and produce your own food.
Preparing your own food is a healthier alternative over food takeouts and deliveries. Producing your own food? Now that’s taking it to a higher level.
When you use ingredients that you have harvested in your own garden, you can ensure that your food is chemical-free. You have full control of what goes into the food that you and your family eat. Growing your own vegetable garden may seem overwhelming at first, so start with some easy-to-grow vegetables.
If you are unsure how to start, you can start with a small garden. Start with a 10×10-foot box first as you get your feel around the garden. Choose a location in your yard that receives sufficient sunlight. Vegetables usually need at least 6 hours of sunlight exposure. Avoid locations that are exposed to strong winds that can easily knock off your young plants.
You can begin with five plants so you don’t get overwhelmed. The following vegetables are fairly easy to grow, so you can choose from this list:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Cabbage
- Lettuce
- Green Beans
- Zucchini Squash
- Beets
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Radishes
Of course, what your family loves to eat should be in your garden too. There is no point in planting a vegetable that no one will want to eat. Avoid overplanting as well, but if you do, you can always give your extra harvest to friends and family.
Vegetable gardening doesn’t just give you fresh and healthy produce, but it encourages physical activity as you tend to your garden. It also helps you save on your grocery expenses. Tending to your vegetable garden is also a great stress reliever.
Create your own oasis.
Nothing is more relaxing and pleasant than a lush and verdant backyard garden. You can create an intimate garden where you can have your morning tea or coffee. How you will style your garden will depend on the natural slopes of your yard.
What you will plant in your little garden escape will also depend on what you have in mind. Do you want a simple seating area surrounded by viburnum bushes? Do you want a swing settee, surrounded by ornamental grasses and succulents, where you can just sit down and unwind when things are hectic?
If you want a simpler and cleaner look, you can also opt for a monochrome scheme with an all-green garden. If you have enough space, trees will also make your yard more restful. You can then put a lounge chair or two where you can lie down and listen to the birds sing or have an afternoon nap.
There are many other things that you can do with your yard to put it to great use. Having that extra space is a gift that not every homeowner has, so make sure that you do not put it to waste.
