5 Tips for Irresistible (& Low Maintenance) Outdoor Living Spaces
Does thinking about your outdoor space make you smile? Or... does it make you sigh wistfully as you imagine all the unmet potential for greatness? Or, maybe you’re like me and there are kids’ toys scattered everywhere despite your best intentions? Lol.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you might know that we decided to renovate our garage back in February last year. It was totally falling apart, so it prompted us to make something amazing out of something broken. Boy, did we achieve that!
Now, it is truly our oasis, and even though the girls’ toys are scattered everywhere most of the time, it still feels fresh and modern and cozy and peaceful. The beautiful bones are always there now, and it feels like home.
And, if guests come over, it’s (nearly) effortless to just slide those toys out of the way or drop them into a storage basket and the backyard is entertaining ready! Who doesn’t want that?!
Today, I’m sharing my top 5 tips for creating a backyard oasis that gives you all the feels… and makes impromptu brunches, happy hours, or dinner parties totally doable. ;)
Tip #1: Covered spaces are your friend
Start by assessing the space you’re working with. Is it covered or out in the open? My recommendation is to ensure the space, or at least a big portion of it, is covered. It helps shield the furniture from the rain, it shields you from the bright sun, and protects the ground space from bird droppings and impossible-to-clean tree sap.
One of our goals when renovating our garage and turning it into an ADU was to not only create a space for us but also for our girls to enjoy. I feel much better about them spending time outside in a covered area, where they won’t get sunburned.
Tip #2: Have fun with the flooring
That’s my backyard and ADI call it Modern meets French Country — where relaxed California vibes meet quaint provincial style.
Why not have fun with your floor tiles? There are so many available options to choose from, and patterned tiles can be a lot of fun to experiment with in an outdoor space. For our garage renovation, we opted for these black hexagon tiles from Arto Tile. They add a rustic yet modern touch that helps ground the space… literally. ;)
Here’s another flooring option I love, herringbone style…
Another idea to consider? Turf instead of real grass. Can you say “low maintenance?!”
Granted, it’s a bit more expensive, but it’s basically a large carpet that makes your outdoor space feel like a room, as opposed to a muddy mess (in the rainy season) or a sad, dried-out desert in the summer. That means more time during the year for enjoying it! (See below…)
Tip #3: Comfy, strategic seating
Before you start shopping for outdoor furniture, assess your space and think about what types of seating you want to have. At the entrance of our ADU, I added the two comfiest chairs in the yard… but in the covered area, where we have to maximize a small space, we went with a combination of chairs and sofas.
For most people, the easiest thing to do would be to get a long outdoor sofa or a 3-seater bench to optimize your space. However, you are probably better off getting a 2-seater bench and adding a chair for a 3rd seat instead, as these are much easier to get in and out of (no one’s stuck in that dreaded middle seat). And let’s face it, it’s much more aesthetically pleasing anyway. And if you haven’t noticed, we are all about aesthetics over here.
Tip #4: Bring on the water features
Whether it’s a pool, a jacuzzi, or a simple fountain, water features are calming and make you feel like you’re on vacation.
Admittedly, we did not add a water feature to the Novak yard, but I think about it all the time. Can you imagine sitting in this space with the music of a bubbling fountain nearby? I know, magical, right?
Tip #5: Get creative with scale
This is a rule for all design projects, not necessarily just outdoor living. Playing with scale gives your space more interest and impact. My go-to elements for oversized items are light fixtures. They’re just so fun to work with and transform a space from good to WOW.
Other good impact pieces could be a dramatic chair, oversized vase, or oversized coffee table.
What’s next?
Ready to transform your space — from the inside out — into your own personal oasis? A place where kids can be kids and you, the stylish adult, can live in luxury that you don’t have to worry about breaking?? Now that’s the life. ;)
Let’s chat, my friend.
Xoxo,
Susie