How To Create A Mini Outdoor Retreat
When it comes down to designing a backyard oasis, the sky is the limit, so make sure every square inch of the exterior is useful and “hard-working”. To create a cosy and inviting atmosphere, combine outdoor furniture, décor, landscaping, and other elements that suit your style and needs.
A comfortable outdoor setup is the ultimate luxury – a spot for relaxing and entertaining family or friends. You don’t need too much space to create a fun and functional backyard. And you don’t even have to spend a bunch of money to act on your mini outdoor retreat. You can create the ultimate oasis on a shoestring budget with a couple of strategic choices, such as durable seating.
If you want to make your backyard a more serene, welcoming spot, here are some suggestions to create a restful oasis for you and your loved ones.
Choose The Right Spot for Your Outdoor Escape
Whether you have a cozy balcony or a sprawling backyard, you have the perfect place to unwind, relax, and reset your mind and body. Walking barefoot on the grass is something to experience. Finding the right spot for your nook is of the essence.
Maybe you won’t read during the day, so think about choosing a place with lots of light or where you can put a lamp. A few cafe chairs left out (sometimes in the middle of the lawn or patio) don’t leave you with a warm, cosy, cuddly feeling. Before you start adding elements to your mini outdoor retreat, take some time to plan out how you want the space to look like and, most importantly, what features you’d like to include.
Add Comfortable Seating
It goes without saying that seating is crucial, so make the necessary arrangements. It’s recommended to use slim furniture rather than bulky furniture to take advantage of the available space. If the seating is comfortable, you won’t resist the temptation of curling up in your backyard oasis. A chaise lounge is ideal for sunbathing or lounging with a book.
Maybe you already have one. In that case, upgrade the module for a longer chaise style and use an outdoor wood protector to shield it from weather, humidity, dust, pests, and other elements that can ruin your relaxation.
The wood used for outdoor furniture withstands decay but left unfinished, the lumber acquires an irksome patina and requires more maintenance. An interior wood protector shouldn’t be used outside because it doesn’t offer the same level of protection, so it’s best to choose an exterior-grade protector.
In just one application, you get colour and protection for wood – the result is a durable finish. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions on how to apply. As a rule, you’ll need to do so every three years. You should store your furniture inside during the cold months of the year, keeping it in a dry, cool space.
Spend Less Time Tending to Your Yard
Landscaping, once installed, should require minimal upkeep, so carefully plan and select plants that work in your natural setting. For the best results, you should hire a professional landscape designer to help you select the perfect materials, styles, textures, and colours.
The most resilient, easy-to-grow, beautiful plants are those that originate locally. They require much less watering, fertilising, and pesticides; native plants and even eliminate the need for mowers and other equipment. Remember that your landscaping choices impact the populations of birds and insects they need to survive.
If your yard is mostly cement, opt for container gardening, which is portable and can be easily moved to different locations. You can grow plants that aren’t suitable to grow in the garden soil right next to each other, even if they have different needs. Examples include but aren’t limited to Petunias, Mimulus, Pansies, and Verbena. You can start your garden anytime, so there’s no need to wait for warm weather to create the perfect growing conditions. Although container gardening isn’t without risks, the weed issue is minimal, and you’ll quickly notice pests to remedy the situation.
Use Trees or Hedges for Creating Privacy
In the old days, you could kick back in solitude right in your backyard. But now it’s a different story, meaning a nosy neighbour can peep as you hang out in the hammock, making it impossible to relax. If you don’t want prying eyes invading your space, increase privacy by using trees or hedges rather than fences or bulky backyard structures.
Indeed, they take time and patience to fill in, but trees or hedges create a more naturalistic look, adding charm to the place. If you live in a four-season climate, you’ll have year-round coverage that ensures privacy and shade in the summer and allows the sun to shine in the home in the winter.
Equally, you can use your container garden to enhance privacy while introducing exciting colours. Potted plants such as bamboo can create a screen around a deck seating area, for instance. The expected height is ten feet in a planter.
Extra-large planters add a definite wow factor to any outdoor retreat – they work great for spaces like patios or gardens. To have an eye-pleasing display, the height of your planter should be 1/3 or ¼ of the height of the plant. If you have multiple planters, you can mix and match plants to your liking for all sorts of combinations.
In Summary
A mini outdoor retreat can pay off in many ways. Not only do you have a lovely spot you can enjoy with family or friends, but also there’s every chance you’ll spend more time outside. As you’ve been able to see, there are numerous additions and enhancements you can make to your backyard to transform it into an escape where you can unwind and spend quality time with your loved ones.
Think about adding overhead design elements such as pergolas to complete your sanctuary. Create a haven by incorporating different nuances of green, combining the robustness of the outdoor furniture with the aesthetics of indoor design.
