Your backyard is your sanctuary. But you want to make it even better --
perhaps with a patio where your family can congregate, enjoy outdoor
barbeques and entertain guests.
Here are some design tips to help turn your backyard into the oasis of your dreams: * Install a patio.
You yearn for a lovely patio area for picnic lunches or to relax and
read a book as you enjoy the sun. The cost of using natural stone,
however, is a negative, and so is the lack of creative colors and
design allowed by precast pavers. Another option is to use stamped
concrete for your patio base, which has unlimited patterns and colors
and can be used in all climates.
"Homeowners are interested in concrete patios because they blend the
connection between house and patio -- indoors and outdoors. Decorative
concrete can create the look of authentic stone, slate or cobblestone,
is more economical to install and adds value to the home.
* Gather around the fire.
Bring your family together with a fire pit. Whether you're building a
fire for cooking dinner, roasting marshmallows or to keep warm on a
chilly evening, it will become a gathering place for your family and -
if invited - friends and neighbors. Depending on your creativity and
building skills, you can make your fire pit an elaborate congregational
area with permanent benches and a decorative wood rack, or a simpler
ring for cozy family cookouts.
* Set up seats for relaxation.
Don't forget the tables, chairs and decorative planters to encourage
people to relax in your backyard and enjoy your sanctuary. You will
need to decide if you want permanent, built-in tables and chairs or
benches on your patio or along strolling paths through your backyard
landscape, or if you want furniture you can rearrange and store during
inclement weather.
* Keep the hunger pains at bay.
Perhaps you are looking for more than just relaxation; you want to fill
your tummy as well. Outdoor barbeques are becoming increasingly
popular, complete with drink coolers and sinks. For an outdoor
countertop, look for a material that can withstand weather, yet still
have a warm, natural look that will work with the other materials
you're using on your porch. Concrete countertops can be mixed with
stains, pigments, aggregates and epoxy coatings to give them the look,
texture and feel of more expensive quarried stones like marble, granite
and limestone.
* Soothe the senses
Water features are popping up in backyards across the country. Families
enjoy them by relaxing near the sound of trickling water and watching
birds and other wildlife looking for a drink. Some homeowners install
small fountains surrounded by landscaping to provide the water
ambiance, while others take the route of building a full water garden.
Self-contained water features are easy to install in less than a day,
while kit ponds might take a weekend to set up. But the larger water
features give you more opportunities to be creative - for example
installing a bridge, water wheel, water falls or tiny streams.
Once you have your backyard sanctuary complete, you'll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy your investment while relaxing.
