Spring has already sprung and summer is just around the corner, but you still have time to transform your yard into an outdoor oasis for personal lounging and outdoor gatherings. Whether you have a few partially developed areas or you’re starting with a clean slate, it’s possible to create a peaceful and functional outdoor retreat that perfectly fits your personality and lifestyle. Here are four ways to create a welcoming feel to any outdoor space.
Incorporate a Dining Space
No matter the size of your outdoor space, consider creating an outdoor dining area, even if it’s only built for two. This will provide a gathering place for you to enjoy a meal with your family or partner as well as a place to display offerings at a potluck. Dining alfresco, whether surrounded by lush plant life, or under the stars, always makes a delicious meal even more enjoyable.
Create a Sense of Privacy
Your outdoor oasis will have a cozier ambience if you create a sense of privacy. Whether you opt for a fence, a garden wall, trellises, or a gazebo, adding an enclosure will define an outdoor space as a welcoming retreat. These features can offer more than just privacy, too! They provide a place for climbing plants to thrive, a place for vertical gardening, and even add some structural variety to the area.
Utilize Functional Plants
Plants don’t only serve to provide some bright splashes of color to your outdoor retreat. They can be quite practical additions to your yard and can even help repel unwanted insects. According to House Method, for example, citronella grass could be a great option. The plant is more commonly known as a “mosquito plant” and it is quite effective at keeping the pesky insects at bay.
Provide Lounging Spaces
This may go without saying, but an outdoor retreat isn’t much of an oasis without comfortable places to lounge. Here are some ideas for inspiration when considering your outdoor seating:
Capitalize a Corner
You can soften the linear look of a corner in your outdoor space by adding some seating and providing an arbor for scented plants such as jasmine.
Hang Loose
Hanging seating is a great way to add some variety and novelty to your outdoor oasis. Hammocks provide the perfect place to curl up with a book. Other hanging seating options include bubble chairs and outdoor swings.
Welcome the Sun
If you live in a cooler climate, having a sunny area to lounge is always a good idea to make spending time outdoors enjoyable even on a chilly day. For sunny spaces, it’s good to have loungers around to help you really soak up the rays. Just don’t forget your sunscreen!
Add Splashes of Color
No matter your taste, splashes of color can either revive or relax the atmosphere of your outdoor oasis. Bold colors and mixed patterns are trending this year, so don’t worry about “coloring inside the lines”. Choose colors that fit your lifestyle, whether that be coastal, cottage comfort, or sleek and modern.
