During the colder and wetter parts of the year looking out over the backyard can be a little bleak. It’s difficult to think about it as anything other than a damp and disused space. We allow it to be filled with clutter and debris. The garden can look dark and unloved, the lawn full of holes and puddles. Maybe you have a shed that is rotting away, ugly and stuffed full of all the old rubbish that you no longer use. Perhaps you have a garage that is piled up with rubbish and discarded items. Little wonder it can be depressing.
But how about another way of looking at the same space? Imagine having an easy care backyard that was open for business no matter what the season. Imagine a space that had room for really creative play. One that was not dependent on the weather. Imagine a family space that was fun and funky. An outdoor area that could be inviting you to gather around a firepit in the evenings.
Instead of a damp garden how about a lovely deck with a hot tub! Instead of a dreary old tool shed imagine a great den or even a home office or play space. The garage could once again house a car or bike. It could be given any number of uses.
There’re a hundred and one things you could do with a dreary old backyard. They can cost as little as you like and they don’t require too much expertise. You just need a will and a little vision. Breathe life into your backyard today and in few weeks, you could be loving that space.
What are your needs?
Just who would you like this backyard project to be about? If you have kids, then that’s an obvious place to start. You could build a secret agenda too. If you think about it, any activity that gets them outside and playing is going to make life better for them. Having a backyard that is off limits and depressing is not going to encourage them outside.
So why not have a think about how you could incorporate a great climbing frame, an outdoor sandpit, or even a tree house? There is some amazing garden play furniture out there that will get your kids outside and loving it. Think tunnels and rope swings, ladders and climbing frames. If your kids are little older, you could think about getting an area of your yard made into a basketball practice court.
Have a think about how you would like to see the backyard. Take some inspiration from other projects you have seen online or in magazines. One of the easiest and most useful projects for any backyard is the installation of a deck. Not only is it quick and straightforward to install but it’s easy to maintain. You could go from having a damp or muddy area to one that is pristine and in use all year round, in hardly any time at all.
A deck can be as large as you like although you’ll need to familiarise yourself with local planning regulations. If the deck extends from your house it will add great indoor to outdoor flow. If the land is sloping away, a deck makes real sense. It will give you a wonderful platform and base to move out from your house. If you are high at one side, you will need to install safeguard handrails.
A deck is a great addition on its own, but it is also a useful base for a wide range of activities. For example, it’s an easy stroll out across to a bbq. A brazier or fire pit could be incorporated. You could even place a hot tub out there. Great for cooler nights! You could also consider having a covered area. This would enable you to enjoy the space on damp days and evenings.
Areas that are grassed could also be turned into a low maintenance patio. There are an incredible range of tiles and even bricks that can be laid. These areas are great for a wide range of activities or simply as a base for seated outdoor furniture.
Tired beds that are difficult to maintain could be transplanted of reinvigorated by using planter boxes. This is a great way to get into low maintenance gardening. You could even start to build up a range of vegetables and herbs. One of the advantages of using planters is that it is easy to control weeds and pests. They make watering and feeding more accurate
The Big Clear Out
This is the one wall that many of us don’t want to have to face. What are we going to do with all that junk? It can wear you out just thinking about trailing it to the dump or the recycling centre. You could run a garage sale, or get a skip. But the easiest and most efficient and least costly way of getting rid of it all is to contact a house clearance company. They will just about take away anything. They’ll get into that garage or shed and clean the stuff out with no problem. It will be done quickly and cleanly. You’ll be left with a huge sigh of relief and space you can start to style or transform. It might be a good idea to take out any garden debris at the same time.
If your existing structures are sound, then you can simply enjoy planning how you’d like to use them. The garage that was a junkyard could become anything from a home office to a usable workshop or a gym! Have a think about the possibilities here.
Likewise just because a garden shed is there does not mean it has to stay. You could replace it with a log cabin for play or create another space for a home office. Some enterprising people set