Journal
Designing Your Oasis: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Luxurious Outdoor Living Space
Guest post by Natalie Akins
Our lawns are the most underutilized space on our properties. Either they're full of weeds and left to grow wild, or they're perfectly manicured but unused. Don't waste the biggest portion of your land!
Many are turning to creating an outdoor oasis that speaks to their personal needs, but how do you make this happen for yourself? These are some of the top ways to make it work.
1. Create a Budget and Timeline
One of the biggest mistakes bigger home renovators make is that they don't stop and plan ahead as much as they should. Long before you start, you should have a budget and a realistic timeline for how long this project will take.
When you set either of these limits, remember to be realistic, but try to give yourself a slightly roomy timeline and budget.
2. Focus on Building Specific Areas
One of the best ideas any homeowner can follow is to create sectioned areas of your property. This could mean using permeable paving systems to create unique spaces or using brick or stone pathways to divide regions.
Remember that you don't have to have a detailed plan for each area. You can have a general seating area or an outdoor kitchen, but don't be afraid to just have a space where you keep food-bearing plants or a fire pit.
3. Consider What You Can DIY
Don't be afraid to do research! Whether you need to look up how to clean concrete patio surfaces or you need to look into how to hook up an exterior lighting surface, the internet has thousands of answers out there.
DIY gives you the power to save money and create a property that feels like something that belongs to you. It's vital that you know your limits and avoid making any attempts at something that's beyond your capabilities. Although you may feel like you're able to take on anything, it's better to hire if it's a project that would cost too much to have someone correct if you did it wrong or that could cause physical damage to you.
4. Look At Your Grass and Plant Care
Grass and plant care is something that could take hours every week to handle. When planning out your yard, remember how much time you're setting yourself up for in the future. This might mean swapping to artificial turf if you're tired of mowing, or it could mean adding a rain garden that will absorb any extra moisture that hits your property.
Research any new plants you put in before you buy them so you can avoid signing on for something you don’t have the time or energy to keep up.
5. Invest in Native Plant Species
Native plant species are the best investment you can make in your yard! These are plants that belong in the climate you're in and can handle whatever you throw at them. Thankfully, this will keep you from having to water too often or deal with constant maintenance.
Native plants are also great for local pollinators and give back to your local environment.
6. Understand Exterior Lighting
Exterior lighting is key if you plan on spending a lot of time outside! Nobody wants to have a curfew for how late you can enjoy spending time with the people you care about. Exterior lighting also helps you keep up with your home's security and adds to your home's curb appeal.
7. Important Home Updates
It's vital that while you work, you create a property that will keep people safe. This means using tools like RDJ deck railing that will save visitors from falling off of higher properties.
If your roof or siding is looking rough, it could be time to stop and update those as well. Although this is a huge expense, updating them adds tons of value to your property and will keep your home as safe as possible.
8. Keep Up With the Maintenance
Maintenance is vital. If you can't maintain your property, it'll go back to whatever you had before these updates. Tools like a wet-look paver sealer will ensure this area lasts longer and looks great doing it.
Try to set a schedule for yourself or set reminders on your phone so that you'll be alerted of when you need to do maintenance, what maintenance is required, and how soon you have to get it completed. This could mean just clearing leaves off of your roof, or it could be an every-other-year reminder to reseal your deck. The remainder is up to your property's needs.
Every Lawn Can Be a Dream Come True!
Updating your lawn will change everything about how you perceive your home! Whether you're starting from scratch or updating an older property, consider working with Amy Youngblood to create the oasis you deserve.
Natalie Akins is a freelance writer that loves sharing her knowledge and expertise in interior design and remodeling. She also has a background in the Hospitality and Real Estate Industry. She lives in her hometown of Austin, Texas where she enjoys spending time with her husband and decorating with her children. Natalie’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisor, a new construction industry resource site.
