Thinking about social distancing in terms of a much-needed staycation can help you weather the current situation in style. We all need and deserve to get away, and we all benefit from spending more time outdoors. Here are multiple landscape design ideas for staying at home in comfort in Reading, PA.
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Function
Think about what would compel you and your family to get you outside more: a game area where you could enjoy the days together? Better shelter from the elements? Natural beauty? Separate places for fun and for relaxation? The zen of water? The comfort of fire? Better lighting?
Theme
Next, think about a theme you’d like to recreate. Everyone has a favorite vacation spot they wish they never had to leave, so why not bring that ambience to your back door. Recreate the look with amazing landscaping, adding things to “do” as well as places to simply “be,” luxurious materials, or details you hadn’t thought of like dipping pools or meditation nooks. Even if space is a constraint, you can take a few of your favorite things about a memorable vacation and bring the overall ambience home.
Shelter
Shelter is often the main focus of a landscape renovation intent on getting people outside more. Optimizing the space you have is the best way to encourage you to use it. If the afternoon sun makes your outdoor space too sweltering to enjoy it, add a pergola; or, a pavilion or gazebo that will provide shelter from sudden downpours.
Optimized Use of Space
A well-designed patio doesn’t have to be huge, but it does have to separate activities and encourage easy movement. You don’t want to have to push dining chairs in just to get to the lounge area, for example. If adding a few square feet to your patio would make you feel less on top of each other, then it’s a great investment. Even adding a separate outdoor “room” such as a dedicated dining area or fire pit area can completely transform the space.
Think about the need to separate active pursuits like games and sports, from areas where people go to relax with a good book or take a nap in a hammock. Ensure plenty of separation between them, so everyone gets the outside time they need!
Fire and Water
Adding fire and/or water is one way to squeeze more enjoyment out of your backyard. A fire pit or fireplace encourages family gatherings; a dipping pool, or a hot tub can be the source of endless fun; and a waterfall or fountain can give your backyard getaway just the right ambience.
Outdoor Lighting
Great vacations don’t pull the plug on fun when the sun goes down. Neither should a staycation. Expertly designed and installed lighting is a prominent feature of many resorts. Highlight special features, make your backyard feel welcoming, give yourself enough light to cook, and create ambience along with safety with the right types of low voltage landscape lighting.
Special Features
If you have kids, creating a game and play area in a side yard is a great way to make use of an otherwise neglected space. A jungle gym, basketball hoop, swing set, bocce court, horseshoes, lawn darts, croquet, mini-golf, or other games are perfectly suited for narrow spaces. If your backyard is already dedicated to games, a side yard can be transformed into a private and serene retreat away from all the activity.
Related: Landscape Design Ideas for Blissful Backyard Getaways