Summer is here, and it’s time for some fun in the sun! After a winter of being cooped up indoors, everyone is itching to get into the backyard for afternoons of grilling, games, swimming, and evenings of catching fireflies and watching movies on the wall. So, what can you do this year to make your backyard the ultimate summer fun place to hang out? Read on for some great ideas.
Outdoor upgrades
If your backyard is not a great place to spend time right now, there are several quick, affordable, and easy ways you can transform it. Some of these upgrades include hanging a porch swing, creating a planter garden, or hanging brightly painted latticework to create private nooks. Create a fire pit from leftover bricks from a construction site and surround it with lawn chairs from a garage sale to add character. Add some strings of outdoor lighting to seating areas to light up an evening with the fireflies, and use pavers to create walkways. With the summer days almost always being so pretty you will not want to miss out on any views by spending time inside.
Privacy and serenity
Your backyard should be your private escape to nature, a place where you can relax from the stress of the day. Lattices and trellises allow you to create private outdoor “rooms” for swings or chairs where you can curl up with a book or watch the sunset. Plants create their own calming atmosphere, so fill your backyard with your favorites, especially lush varieties if your climate permits. Add a water feature, such as a bubbling pond or miniature stream. Attract animals with a butterfly garden or hummingbird and squirrel feeders. A serene backyard is one that creates a sense of enclosure, blocking views from the street or noise from outside, so consider strategically placed trees or bushes.
Tropical backyard party
The Tiki culture of Hawaii and Polynesia rose to popularity in the 1950s which became synonymous with summer. While a traditional Hawaiian luau might be out of the question for those who don’t want to dig a pit in the backyard to roast a pig, you can achieve a similar ambience with BBQ, Tiki torches, and other Hawaiian-themed backyard decor for the ultimate tropical summer party. Fire up the BBQ pit, roast some pork with slices of pineapple and coconut, and serve tasty Mai tais with paper cocktail umbrellas. For ambience, hide a speaker playing Hawaiian music in a vine trellis while filling your backyard with tropical flowers.
Outdoor fun
Summer means outdoor fun, and your backyard is where it happens! Start up some play sprinklers for the kids to run through, or put out an old-fashioned croquet set for a game in the sun. If you have room in your yard, consider setting up a temporary pool, as you can store easily during the winter and re-use. Hang a sheet and use it as a movie screen for an outdoor movie night of summer-themed movies. Consider having a campout in the backyard and roasting s’mores in the fire pit.
