Fun Things to Do Outside in Your Backyard
Now more than ever, especially if you have kids, I’m sure you’re searching for fun things to do outside in your backyard! A comfortable and inviting home is crucial, both for the people who live there as well as to any friends and family members who want to visit. People will spend dedicated time and money revamping their living rooms and basements to make them a welcoming space for anyone who may come to visit. Surprisingly, however, a lot of people seem to forget to put that same effort into their own backyard. A backyard is a place that should be just as cozy and inviting as the rest of your house- especially during the warmer months of spring and summer. Here are ten essential tips to help make your backyard the most fun and relaxing area of your home!
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a gigantic backyard, but even the tiniest of gardens can be transformed into an inviting outdoor space. The trick is to organize it so that your backyard feels as large as possible. Rather than filling up the center of your backyard, you should consider placing decorations and furniture along the sides and corners of your yard. Leave plenty of open space for backyard games or for children to run around! By adding raised garden beds or maybe even a deck or patio, you will create levels, which will help to make your backyard feel even bigger than it actually is. You should try and keep the space as open as possible so that anyone can enjoy spending time there.
Many people will spend an afternoon lounging or playing games in their backyard, but the fun ends the moment it gets dark out. You can avoid this by decorating your backyard with stylish mood lighting. Customizable LED string or strip lighting is an excellent way to keep your backyard lit all hours of the day so that the fun doesn't have to end until you decide. Colorbitlights.com is a great source for backyard lighting supplies. If you want to play outside with the kids while it's dark, or if you simply want to relax late into the night, mood lighting is the perfect way to control your backyard's lighting.
Not everyone can afford to install a deck, and not everyone has enough backyard space for one. But for those lucky enough, a deck is an excellent way to take your backyard to the next level. If you don't want to deal with the itchiness that comes from sitting on a lawn, a deck allows you to enjoy the outdoors while remaining comfortably on solid ground. A nice set of lawn chairs and a grill will make your deck welcoming to friends and family members. If you have kids, you can let them run around on the grass without worrying about them bumping into you. A deck that is well lit with LED strip or string lights creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere and is perfect for guests.
A lawn provides so many opportunities for backyard games. There are plenty of fun games that can be played in backyards of all sizes, including backyard bowling, hide and seek, and giant connect four. Having fun isn't just for kids, though! Even if you don't have children, or you would like to have an "adult night," you can still participate in plenty of fun backyard games such as croquet, bean bag tosses, and mini-golf. Whether you want to have fun with your kids or with your adult friends, games are a great way to make your backyard a hangout hotspot.
Gardening is a great activity that can be a source of alone-time, or it can be done with the whole family. If you need some time to unwind, gardening will not only give you a new hobby, but it will also make your backyard a gorgeous place to be in. If you have kids, you might want to consider planting a vegetable garden. Teaching your kids how to grow their own food is both exciting and educational. Even when you aren't busy pulling weeds or planting flowers, the benefits of gardening will keep your backyard feeling welcoming and cared for. Nothing says "inviting" like a pretty flower trellis or a well-tended vegetable garden!
Backyard pools are great for all sorts of parties, and they offer plenty of opportunities for fun and relaxation. You could easily spend all day playing games like Marco Polo and pool basketball with your kids. If relaxation is more your style, you can spend a calming afternoon sunbathing on a pool floaty with a nice glass of lemonade. And even after the sun goes down, you can still have fun! You can easily install lighting kits around your pool, and you can even get sets that you can customize and control from your phone. If you want to keep your pool lit during any hour of the day, colorbitlights.com is a great way to achieve this.
The one downside to backyards is that they usually come with a ton of itchy insects, such as mosquitos or chiggers. Not everyone likes to cover themselves in bug spray, which is filled with chemicals and smells downright horrible. By planting strong herbs like basil, lemon mint, and thyme, you can discourage those annoying pests from hanging out in your backyard. Citronella candles are also a good way to smoke out mosquitos, as well as mosquito coils as shown below. Finally, you might even want to consider making a "bat box" to encourage natural insect-eaters to hang out in your backyard. By de-bugging your backyard, you will keep your outdoor space comfortable for you, your family, and your guests.
To make your backyard an inviting outdoor space for everyone, you should incorporate some relaxing visual elements. By adding vining flowers, like nasturtiums, or fragrant herbs such as lavender or basil, your backyard can look like a whimsical garden straight out of a fairy tale. A gorgeous new trend in some backyards is something called a "Moon Garden." This is a gardening style that incorporates flowers that bloom mostly at night, such as Angel's Trumpet, Evening Primrose, and Moonflower. This will create an enchanting atmosphere for your backyard during those warm summer nights. To make the most of your Moon Garden, consider investing in some LED string lights, so you can see every beautiful flower!
If you want to experience the great outdoors without actually going camping, pitching a small tent in your backyard is a fun compromise! You can toast marshmallows on a campfire, sing songs, or tell ghost stories- all in the comfort of your own backyard! And if your back won't exactly thank you for sleeping on the ground, you can always retreat to the safety of your bed. Backyard camping can be an exciting activity to do with kids since children are always looking for a fun new adventure. If you'd rather spend some alone time with your partner, you can always make it an "adults-only" night, as well. Backyard camping can turn into a romantic "getaway" which can include stargazing, sitting by a cozy fire, and cuddling up in a bunch of blankets. Who knew you could do so much just in your backyard?
Outdoor theatres have become extremely popular these days, and they're not all that hard to make! The easiest way to make an outdoor theatre is by tacking an old bed sheet to a fence, although you can invest in specially designed projector screens if you want to be a bit fancier. You will also need to purchase a projector, so you can pop in your favorite movie, sit back, and relax. Speakers are also a good investment, so you can get perfect sound quality along with any movie you're viewing. It's best to watch movies in your outdoor theatre after the sun has gone down, so the projector's lights will be as vibrant as possible. Since you'll be sitting out in the dark, it's probably a good idea to have some outdoor lights, as well. Customizable LED strip lights will allow you total control of your lighting, so you can keep your backyard well-lit if you want to get up for some snacks.
Final Thoughts
Your backyard is just as much a part of your home as the rest of your house, and it's well worth investing time and money to make it a comfortable place to relax and play. A nice backyard is essential for parties, as an open and pleasantly decorated space is the perfect way to entertain guests without your house feeling crowded. By keeping your backyard space open, well-lit, and a fun place to be, you and your family will be guaranteed to spend many wonderful mornings, afternoons, and nights together.
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