BKYD Life

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Ideas for Finishing Touches

Outdoor Holiday Decor

Quick question, do you decorate the outside for the holidays? If you do, do you only decorate the front yard or front of your house? Have you ever thought about spreading some of that holiday cheer to the backyard?

I don’t know how your house is laid out, but my family room (the place we spend most of our time in the evenings) is in the back of the house. So when I decorate the front porch and front yard, my neighbors get to see all my hard work. That is when they drive by because, again, their house is laid out like mine which means they are in the back of their house when all the Christmas lights are on in the evening.

I guess my real question is ~ Why not decorate the backyard? I know I would enjoy the beautiful decorations and the glow of the lights by looking out the back windows. Of course, my tree is inside. Specifically, in my family room so I can enjoy it in the evenings. But I think that setting up the backyard, spreading some of those outdoor decorations in the back of the house would be worth it. There is no rule that the front yard should get all the attention. Time to think out of the box or in this case out of the front yard!

Do we really just put up yard decorations for others or do we want to enjoy them ourselves? I know I decorate for myself and for others. How about you? Will you join me in spreading some cheer into the backyard?

Here are a few things I found that I will be adding to my backyard ~

These lights are great. Both color and clear are available. They are actually solar lights so I don’t have to turn them on or off – they just magically come in and will look beautiful in a tree out in my backyard.

These rope lights would be another great option. They can be snaked through plants or wound up tree trunks. Lots of different light color options, too.

I think adding lots of lights is my preferred way to decorate my outdoors, but you can find lots of options to add to the yard such as these light up presents.

However you choose to decorate your backyard, just have fun and do what suites you and your backyard style.

Tips for Planning & Budgeting Your New Landscape

To be fair, entire books have been written on this subject.  You could spend months planning and preparing or spend thousands of dollars with certified backyard planners on this very subject. 

A short-read article can’t really claim to do justice to the wide range of possibilities and options available.  But there are a few basic points that will help you save some time and/or money before you jump head first into your new landscape project or hire someone to do it for you.

  •  Draw it up

The first step is to get an accurate drawing of the yard.  Take the time to measure the length, width and design of the existing area you want to landscape.  Perhaps you just want to modify an area of the yard or even if you want to (re)design the whole yard, you will need to start with the layout of the yard.

You can go online and pull up a map of your yard using Google Earth or even your local County Assessor office.  That should get you a nice satellite view and dimensions of the yard.  Or, just go old school and measure it out by hand using a tape measure or laser distance measurer.

  • Pick a Scale

Transfer all of your measurements onto a piece of paper or use a free, online computer software to help layout the yard to scale.  Most landscape professionals use either 10th scale or ¼ scale when drawing plans for construction.  It all depends on the size of the yard you’re planning for.  A basic subdivision backyard might measure out at 75’ x 40’ deep (*this is just an example and you should measure your own yard), then 10th scale will work just right.  Larger lots or wider open spaces might require a different scale.

Important Note:  (This is where you will use your geometry skills, and you thought you would never use them after high school!) Scale allows you to put a measure to the specific areas you want to plan for.  Scale provides accurate square footages for planning and budgeting.  While dimensions on a piece of paper might work, they don’t accurately depict the scale of the yard and the features within the space.  Don’t skip this part or it will end up costing you more time and money.

  •  Create Zones

You can name them what you want, but segment your yard into areas that you want to use the space for.  You might create space for:

Extended patio seating area

BBQ/Outdoor kitchen area

Lawn/grass area

Pool/Spa area

Play Structure or Swing set area

Gardening Area

There are a number of names and functions you might want to include into the planning of your yard.  Just label them out and where it makes the most sense based on what and how you want to use your yard. 

  • How Much Room Will I Need?

Suppose you want a new outdoor kitchen area so you can start cooking like a pro.  Or perhaps you want a vegetable and/or herb garden.  How about a bocci ball court or a corn hole game setup.  Knowing how much space you’ll need will affect the planning and space you have for each zone.

There are several calculators on line, but start with the areas you want and Google it.

Bocci Ball Court (regulation) 91’ x 13’

Half-Court Basketball Court (regulation) 47’ x 25’

Outdoor Kitchen:  Varies…but a good kitchen area might require 12’ x 12’ space

Those are just a couple ideas, but just keep narrowing down the spaces until you have all of the specs accounted for.

  •  Finishes & Features

By this point you have narrowed down most of the yard.  You’ve identified your zones or spaces into segments, determined the required dimensions needed and have them all scaled to your backyard planning sheet.  Now you need to add the specifications and the features & finishes for the yard.

This might take a little more planning and research then what we can cover in a simple article.  You’ll need to spend some time looking at decking surfaces, turf or lawn types, masonry items, landscape lighting options, plants, trees and ground cover options.  The big box stores have most of the options covered or you can go to landscape-outdoor centers or masonry supply stores.

Another option would be to take your plan to a couple landscape stores and have them walk you through the options for plantings, finishes and features.

  • How much Will it Cost?

By now, I’ve either lost you and your off to hire a high-priced landscape team or you have the gumption do it yourself.  If you’re the later, congrats and stay the course.

The next step is price things out.  Again, to be fair, pricing can vary widely and be based on a number of aspects from the types of finishes, availability and where you live. 

To help out, we created a quick spreadsheet with some of the more common items you will need to consider when planning for your backyard.

Landscape budget worksheet

If you need help with your plans and planning, we’ll be featuring more stories and provide you with more tips and links to resources to help you along the way.  Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day and your backyard doesn’t need to be either.  But with a plan in place you can work toward the completion of it as time and money presents itself.  In the end, it will be well worth the effort when completed.

If you found this information helpful, please let us know. We want to be a useful resource for you so that you can get the most out of your backyard.

Privacy and Peace in your Backyard

I think we can all agree that 2020 is unlike any other year in recent history. Finding a place for calm in all the chaos can be tricky, but so necessary. We need to relax and recharge, we need time to learn how to move with the new rhythm of life. Creating a space outside is perfect for accomplishing this.

Clean up

Start by cleaning up your outdoor space. It doesn’t matter if you only have a small balcony or a large patio with extensive grounds, dead leaves and clutter need to be cleaned up. Being surrounded by excess stuff does not bring calm to anyone.

Sweep the ground, get rid of cobwebs and contain any children’s toys. This will be the start of a soothing space. I would even suggest getting your children involved, if you have them. They should be in charge of their toys, they play with them, they should put them away. As a former teacher, I know that when reasonable, but high expectations are set for children they always step up to the challenge!

Furniture

You can use our backyard style quiz to identify your style, here. Having a comfortable spot to sit in your preferred style contributes to finding calm and peace on your patio or backyard.

Water

While a pool is a great place for relaxing, if your backyard is on the smaller size you might want to opt for a water feature. The sound of flowing or babbling water always contributes to a calming atmosphere.

Fire

Fire is another calming element and can make the evenings a perfect time to relax and recharge in your backyard. Read all about different fire pits or features here.

Plants

Plants help soften the hard edges and can increase privacy. While I would love to direct you to specific types of plants, the best options will depend on where you live. Contact your favorite local nursery for the best recommendations.

When speaking with garden professionals, you might want to ask about plants that attract birds, bees and butterflies. I would also suggest you consider fragrant plants with beautiful blooms, as both visual and aromatics can impact your ability to relax on your patio or backyard.

Other types of plants to consider are trees for shade and quick growing vines for privacy. Again, your local nursery professionals can guide you in the best choices for your needs and what will grow best in your area. They can also guide you in maintenance for your selections.

Getting fresh air out on your patio or in your backyard is a great way to relax and recharge. You deserve a great space that is private and peaceful so that you are better able to face the challenges of the day.

If you enjoyed this article, please leave a comment below or on our social media. We would love to see how you are using your outdoor space.

Pots: Character for your Backyard

So you just bought some fabulous patio furniture, but the patio still doesn’t look finished. One simple solution is to add planted pots. While the plants add much needed organic softness, the pots are the finishing touch to add some character.

Pots can be colorful or muted. They can be old world or contemporary. It all depends on your design esthetic. If you still need some guidance to find your preferred style, click here for our design quiz.

Here are some photos of options I found at The Plant Stand of Arizona.

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And to think, that is just a small sampling of what it available. So many shapes, finishes and sizes to choose from.

While the Plant Stand has many options, you might be able to find just what you are looking for at big box stores or online retailers. The idea is to find a pot that is the right size for your plant while it compliments and finishes off your patio. A beautiful patio is a great place to relax and recharge.

If you enjoyed these ideas for pots to compliment your patio, sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media.

Happy weekend!