Whether you’re shedding your coat for some springtime sunshine or trying to extend your time on the patio a bit longer, making the backyard appealing, and warm, when not in summer can seem daunting. But we’re here to tell you that it’s not as hard as it seems.
Enjoy, relax, entertain, and play as soon as things thaw in the spring and after that first frost hits in the fall. Here are some tips and tricks to warm up your backyard in the off-season.
Landscaping: Pay attention to landscaping to create visual interest and enhance the beauty of your backyard. This could include planting flowers, shrubs, trees, and creating paths or borders with stones or pavers. Choose plants that thrive in your climate and require low maintenance if you're not an avid gardener.
Add a Focal Point
Incorporate a focal point into your backyard design to draw attention and create a sense of visual interest. This could be a fountain, a sculpture, a gazebo, or even a stunning tree. Giving purpose to your outdoor space with a focal point will keep it relevant year-round.
Fire pits and fireplaces are an especially good choice for your focal point. They naturally draw attention plus they offer literal warmth for the chilly months of the spring and fall.
Focal Point Quick Picks
Triple Sea Green Chiseled Stone Fountain by Blue Thumb
Light It Up
Install outdoor lighting to extend the usability of your backyard into the evening hours. You can use string lights, lanterns, path lights, or even install built-in fixtures. Lighting not only adds ambiance but also improves safety.
Furnish the Outdoors
Invest in quality outdoor furniture that suits your style and needs. Consider factors like weather resistance, comfort, and maintenance requirements. Arrange the furniture to create cozy conversation areas or relaxation spots.
Outdoor furnishings invite you to come outside sooner in the season and stay outside longer. Extend your season even further with patio heating solutions. These come in many types so you can have the right kind of heat in the right place without it looking too industrial.
Furniture Quick Picks
Bromic Heating Tungsten Smart-Heat Portable Patio Heater
Alpine Woodform® Concrete Bench
Infratech Motiv C-Series Craftsman Patio Heater
Create Al Fresco Dining
Creating an inviting outdoor dining area can significantly enhance your backyard's functionality and charm. Choose durable seating, table, and tableware to withstand the environment and add lighting to keep your guests lingering longer.
Providing some shelter is a great way to keep things more comfortable in the spring and fall. Even curtains or a canopy are great options to take the chill out of the off-season evenings.
Gather Guests Around the Outdoor Fireplace
As mentioned before, a fire draws everyone together. It can become the centerpiece of all activities in the backyard so it’s the perfect place to go all out. A large masonry or stone fireplace complete with hearth and mantel makes the backyard have a living room sort of feel that makes the outdoors just as cozy and the indoors.
As an alternative for the big wood-burning fireplace, consider a sleek, linear electric fireplace installed in a wall. This offers a touch of warmth and plenty of style for outdoor gathering in any season.
Fireplace Quick Picks
Modern Ember Perfect Outdoor Fireplace
Add Décor
Add personal touches to make your backyard feel unique and inviting. This could include decorative elements like colorful cushions, outdoor rugs, artwork, or even DIY projects like a handmade bird feeder or a vertical garden.
If your backyard looks as if it’s in lockdown for the winter, you’ll soon be back indoors. Warm touches make the backyard feel as cozy and inviting as the indoors, a perk that can make all the difference in the off-season.
Cook Outdoors
The only thing as good at gathering people as a fire is food. Go beyond the grill and try a full-on outdoor kitchen. Adding things like running water and a sink, countertop prep spaces, a small refrigerator, or a bar and you’re in business.
Features like a bar, grill, or pizza oven are more than just ways to prepare food and drink, they are also events that make your time outdoors more fun. They also offer you something you can’t get indoors.
Cooking Quick Picks
Beverage Cooler by PGS Grilles
750 Countertop Pizza Oven by Chicago Brick Oven
Landscape for All Seasons
Pay attention to landscaping to create visual interest and enhance the beauty of your backyard. This could include planting flowers, shrubs, trees, and creating paths or borders with stones or pavers. Choose plants that thrive in your climate and require low maintenance if you're not an avid gardener.
Be mindful of how your landscaping will look all year long. Choose a variety of plants and features that will provide a beautiful backdrop in every season.