External Upgrades

Perhaps you went all-in last summer when no one could go anywhere and totally re-made your outdoor living spaces so you could luxuriate and entertain in the safety and security of your own yard.  Or, maybe you waited until the winter and, realizing the pandemic was going nowhere, invested in extra outdoor heaters and fire pits to make the frigid temperatures more comfortable for socializing outdoors in the colder months.  Or, maybe you haven’t updated  your outdoor living space at all for several years and are now ready to get it spiffed up for graduation parties, Memorial Day, July 4th, and general merry-making this summer.  Don’t know where to start?  We have curated a list of options you might consider for taking your outdoor space to the next level.

1. Gardens for growing things you put in your mouth:  Growing your own food is gratifying: having fresh herbs on hand makes cooking and bartending much more creative and flavorful, while harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables from your own yard is a fun hobby that will encourage your family to eat more nutritiously.    You don’t have to grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs in a one huge 60’ x 60’ monstrous plot you remember from your grandparents’ house; instead you can create smaller beds in any number of ways and get creative about how your edible garden looks. Plus, some plants require trellises or other visually appealing structures for managing growth, which adds to the visual interest of a garden.  Get creative!  Cultivating such a garden might also include adding a compost heap to help generate rich loamy soil to grow things better. Composting helps reduce waste in your trash cans and garbage disposal.

2. Gardens and Pots for cut flowers: Even if you have designated spaces for your edibles, most people still want to have flowers around.  Remember to include spaces in the landscaping for cuttable flowers like zinnias, hydrangeas, gladiolas, and more.  And of course the ever blooming annuals that pop out color all summer long can go in pots strategically placed around the front and back of your home.  Make sure you select the right kinds of plants for sun or shade and remember to keep watering cans and hoses at the ready: all of these plants need to stay well hydrated throughout the summer to stay at their most vibrant.  

3. Multi-purpose furniture:  Just like we mentioned in our blog a few weeks ago about indoor decorating trends, finding furnishing for outdoors that have more than one function is important.  Update that old wrought iron table with new furniture that can be rearranged depending on the event or used for hidden storage. Newer designs are versatile and have hidden features to make them more functional.  Place a bar cart in a strategic location for refreshments that can easily be wheeled inside when the weather changes.  

4. Privacy is a must:  There are multiple ways to provide privacy to your backyard, and it doesn’t have to involve erecting an expensive wall or fence.  You can get creative with landscaping, add outdoor draperies or screens, erect sail shades or umbrellas, build a pergola, etc.  As a bonus, a lot of these things will also provide shade and relief from the hot late-day sun that can bake back decks and patios depending on your angle.  

5. Don’t forget your front yard:  Remember when almost every home had front porches or stoops?  People would sit outside for hours at a time and watch the world go by, chat with passers by, and in general commune with nature and their neighborhood in a non-threatening way.  Even without a front porch, there is no reason you can’t also embrace the front yard as a place to congregate and socialize.  A few carefully placed adirondack chairs, or a sweetly positioned bistro table with a set of chairs, a tree swing, or a quaint bench, are all excellent options to utilize in creating a front yard zone that will make your yard an inviting gateway to engage with your neighbors and friends in a casual and spontaneous way.

6. Bigger ticket items:  
   1. Technology and Outdoor kitchens:  have you dreamed of having a television outdoors so you can get your vitamin D at the same time that you watch your favorite sports team?  Install a special outdoor television! Then, add some boosters to strengthen your WIFI signal outside. Invest in a projector so you can show movies outside under the stars!   Spend some extra money and upgrade your simple grill into an entire outdoor kitchen so the whole meal can be made without stepping foot inside.  .
   2. New pavers to enlarge a patio or to create a path.  Maybe you need an additional space for the fire pit, or you want to ensure that your guests have an easier walk to the back of your house.  The bonus of creating both of these things is that you will wind up with less grass to mow!  The possibilities are endless with what you can do with pavers or stones.  
   3. Completely redesigned and enlarged deck space:  have some extra time and money one your hands?  Don’t just replace the deck you have…redesign it!  Now is the time to enlarge your outdoor living space to accommodate more people who are going to frequent you place to take advantage of that outdoor TV and your outdoor kitchen.  While you are at it, go ahead and incorporate updated outdoor lighting into the design, and built in planters.  

7. If you want to create ambiance in the front OR the back yard, you could invest in a fountain.  You can purchase something new to install, or create your own with a few supplies.  A fountain provides ambiance with soothing sounds and the water attracts birds, which is always a fun show to watch.

8. Invest in products NOW that will extend your outdoor living season later:  rugs, heat lamps, firepits, extra lighting, extra blankets to share.  Several of these items can be utilized in the warmer months as well.  Extra lighting can make the dark evenings safer by illuminating paths and walkways when moving from one area to another.  Outdoor rugs can help divide up outdoor spaces and add an extra pop of color.  Fire pits can be used anytime to add light and ambiance and to make s’mores year round!  Extra blankets can be arranged for additional seating as needed.

9. Other small fixes:  new cushions for older furniture, new planters with easy to grow flowers,  repurpose those christmas lights (or buy some specifically designed for the porch area…lots of fun designs), add some new bird feeders to attract different species throughout the year…there are no limits to what you can do with your outdoor space!  The hardest part is deciding what comes first!  

There is always something we can do to take care of our homes so that they serve us better.  Little things can make a big difference. Whether you are improving the interior or exterior spaces of your home, don’t hesitate to talk to an F.C. Tucker Emge REALTOR® if you need suggestions on professionals to help you or are concerned about how what you do will affect the resale value and marketability of your home in the future.  Let’s Talk!