There's no place like home, there's no place like home. Everyone has seen the story of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. She's a young girl who went on a magical adventure to the land of Oz only to realize that she had everything she wanted in her own backyard. Do you feel that you have everything you want in your own backyard? No? Why not? You would if you knew how easy it was to make your backyard your escape from the world.
Look around your backyard as it presently is. Do you have an area designated for entertaining such as a patio or deck? If you don't, is there a place for either or both of these to be built? If there isn't enough room for deck, or enough money in your budget for one is there room for a gazebo or a pergola? Either a gazebo or a pergola can be built to suit a particular size, and to suit the style of your home and can be done inexpensively.
If you have a deck or patio you aren't using, why not? Is is in need of a clean up? A good power washing and water sealing brings new life to a deck. You don't like the furniture you have on it? Easily fixed. Lightweight cast aluminum patio furniture comes in a wide variety of styles. Perhaps you don't even need a new set of patio furniture. A good cleaning, the proper paint and new cushions can make your outdoor patio furniture look like new again.
Perhaps you don't have enough privacy in your backyard. No one wants to think that every neighbor can see his or her every move. It's time to think about having a privacy fence put around your property which will shield you from prying eyes. If you already have a fence, but have a deck high off the back of your house you could think about other types of screening for your deck. Try using climbing vines and flowers on trellises. Use lattice work to build screens.
Think about updating your landscaping. Make your backyard a place you're proud of and a place that you want to be. The addition of a flower garden will help add color and beauty to your backyard, as will the addition of flowers placed in containers. Perennial flowers are wonderful to use in a in ground garden as they come back year after year. Annual flowers that flower from spring to fall add color all season long and a real impact when they're placed in colorful containers around the yard. Perhaps you have the room to add a water feature, such as a pond. A pond is easier to put in your backyard than you think and possibilities are endless. There is a lot of great information online and many local garden centers can help you plan and place a water feature or pond in your backyard.
Want to entertain with cook outs? What shape is your grill in? You can find gas grills in all sizes to fit all budgets. Is your outdoor cooking are convenient to get to from your inside kitchen? If you have to run up and down stairs or walk long distances chances are you won't use an outside cooking area. When you plan your outdoor cooking area think of convenience. Perhaps you want to put a small refrigerator outside and put up a few cabinets and a countertop. Outdoor kitchens are a big thing right now. You can make an outdoor kitchen as big, or as small as you want.
Another simple but effective addition to your backyard can be the use of solar lighting or low voltage lighting. These lights not only add ambience of your backyard but also a measure of security by lighting walkways and paths. They come in a wide array of styles and are simple to place through your yard.
Make your backyard a gathering spot for local wildlife too. Bird watching is a great hobby that can be shared by all members of your family. You'll be very surprised how many birds make their home in your backyard even if you only have a birdbath. You must keep the birdbath filled with clean cool water everyday. Think about adding bird houses to your yard to invite the birds to nest and have young.
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