If you’re like us, you love spending as much time outside in the summer as possible: If you could be outside all day, you would be! What if you could move more of your day-to-day life out to your yard, more livable space? From cooking meals and entertaining to lounging in front of the fire, McDonough Landscaping can help you create a yard you can live in all day long. Let’s take a look at a few ways to turn your backyard into livable space.
Add Form and Function With Pillars and Seat Walls
Adding pillars to your front walk or back patio provides beauty as well as the perfect spot for additional lighting. A beautiful and warmly-lit patio is one you can spend time in long after the kids have gone to bed! Seat walls (low walls around the perimeter of your patio) add to the aesthetic and provide extra seating for guests. Both of these finishing touches offer increased privacy as well.
Bring Dinner Outside with an Outdoor Kitchen
And while you’re at it, bring breakfast and lunch outside too! Bringing the kitchen outside means you can do a whole lot more than grill. With a wide array of options like cooking ranges, pizza ovens, dishwashers, and more, you can do everything from food prep to dishes outside! If you love to cook, you will love having an outdoor kitchen. Check out our blog on outdoor kitchen ideas for inspiration.
Entertain a Crowd With a Bar or Buffet Island
Whether you’re entertaining a big or small crowd, having a bar or buffet island in the backyard can really bring the party to life. With plenty of room for drinks, snacks, and good company gathered around, this feature will be a hit with friends and family.
Relax by the Fireplace or Fire Pit
An outdoor fireplace can provide a comforting warm glow for those quiet, cool evenings, not to mention a lot of style. Not quite ready for a full-on outdoor fireplace? A small fire pit will provide the perfect spot to gather with family and roast a marshmallow or two. And if you think a fire pit is just a hole in the ground, think again – while smaller than a fireplace, with the right design a fire pit can be just as stylish.
Cool Off in the Shade of an Arbor, Pergola, or Pavilion
If the heat of summer has you melting, add shade to your yard in the form of an arbor, pergola, or pavilion. These custom-designed wooden structures add protection from the elements as well as coziness and beauty. And speaking of beauty, these features are a great place for white lights or climbing vines. Don’t you feel more relaxed just thinking about it?
Not So Livable, But Beautiful Nonetheless: Water Features and Planting Beds
These things don’t help you live more of your life outside, but they do make life a little more beautiful. Water features like fountains, ponds, and streams add the calming influence of water to your yard. Have a bigger budget? Bring the lake to your backyard with a swimming pool! And regardless of what other features you choose for your outdoor living space, be sure to add color and texture with planting beds. Flowers and greenery are what bring everything together to turn your yard into a true oasis. From gardens and perennials to trees and shrubs, we can recommend the right plants for your yard and help you create a truly beautiful space.
McDonough Landscaping can help you turn your backyard into livable space you can enjoy all day long. Ready to get started? Contact us here or give us a call at (651) 755-7901.
