HOW TO CREATE OUTDOOR ROOMS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
An empty yard is a missed opportunity! There are so many ways to make good use of your outdoor space, so each family member is more motivated to get some fresh air and spend time in nature. Through strategic design choices and artful additions to the backyard, you can transform your outdoor space into an extension of your home, perfect for sharing meals, entertaining, and playing with the kids!
Here’s How You Can Create Family-Friendly Outdoor Rooms in Your Backyard
Time outside benefits every member of the family! The parents, the kids, and the family dog all need plenty of outdoor time to stay healthy and happy, so creating a backyard space everyone can use is definitely a worthwhile investment. Here’s how to create “rooms” in your yard to give your space that homey feel.
Add Weatherproof Rugs to Hardscapes
It’s amazing how a simple floor rug can instantly create the illusion of a separate room when you lay it underneath your patio furniture set. Outdoor rugs also help soften up hardscapes like pavers or gravel, so if your kids are playing outside, they’re less likely to scrape a knee. Plus, they make for easy cleanup after sharing an outdoor meal—kids are notoriously messy eaters, and picking spaghetti noodles out of the grass is no simple task!
Install a Gazebo or Pergola
Gazebos and pergolas are like outdoor rooms without walls! Gazebos provide more protection from the elements, so you can still enjoy your yard on rainy days. Pergolas have beams instead of a covered room, allowing vines to creep all around and the starlight to twinkle! They’re the perfect space to set up a table or lay down a blanket and some cushions for family game night.
Use Lattice Walls to Create Beautiful Room Dividers
The whole point of going outside is to get out of confined indoor spaces, so instead of building rooms with actual walls, install some lattice walls! They allow air circulation and light to come through, and they only partially obscure the view. Plus, they look absolutely stunning if you train vines to grow up and around them.
Create Division with Lines of Plants
Shrub hedges, narrow conifers, tall potted plants, and long planters can all function like room dividers outside. There are so many stunning varieties to try—some look more manicured, while others are bursting with color and texture. Visit our garden center and ask one of our associates to show you some popular plants for creating privacy hedges and borders.
Designate One Area to Function as a Playroom
Piles of toys strewn about the yard are hard to avoid when you’ve got energetic kids who love to play. However, if you can section off one area to be the play zone, you’ll be much happier with your backyard layout! After all, you don’t want party guests tripping over Tonka trucks at your next backyard barbecue. Set up a waterproof toy chest and a play mat, and if necessary, a spot for an umbrella for shade on sunny days.
Set Up a Fire Pit
No matter what age you are, it’s hard to resist spending time around a cozy fire! The kids can roast marshmallows, the adults can enjoy a drink, and cousin Dave can treat us to another amateur rendition of “Wonderwall” on the guitar. Fire pits make an excellent focal point for outdoor rooms, so they’re great for establishing distinct layouts and divisions in the landscape.
Fence Off a Separate Area for the Dogs
Piles of doggy doo and dead patches of grass don’t exactly contribute to the aesthetic of your outdoor space, and nobody wants to step in a mess during a backyard party. We recommend installing a chain-link fence with a gate in one corner of the yard and training your dogs to do their business in their special spot. Spread some river rock across the ground—it’s so easy to clean, and you won’t have to worry about patchy grass anymore. If you don’t love the look of a chain-link fence, you can grow flowering vines or other plants to go all around the perimeter.
Dammann’s Garden Co. has everything you need to complete outdoor rooms in Indiana. Visit us soon to get all the plants, patio furniture, and other stylish add-ons to make your outdoor living space fun and functional for the whole family!