5 Things to Consider When Planning Your Outdoor Living Space

Due to many people spending so much time at home this last year, outdoor living spaces have become increasingly popular. Outdoor spaces are great for creating an extended living space outside of your home. They can be used for relaxing, entertaining, and spending time with your family without having to leave your home. Here are a list of things to consider when planning your outdoor space.

Purpose

One of the most important things to consider when planning your outdoor space is its purpose. What will you mainly be using your yard for? Will you be entertaining guests often? Will it mainly be a quiet place to relax? These questions will help you determine the amount of seating and space you will need, and can also help you decide on the type of features you want to include in your yard. For example, if you would like it to be an extended living space for you and your family to enjoy, you may include an outdoor kitchen or a pergola with a table to eat at.

Lighting

You will want to consider how much lighting you will need depending on how much you plan to use your yard at night. Will a few lights for security and safety reasons be enough? Or are there certain parts of your yard that you would like extra lit up for night gatherings? It is important to take into consideration the time change in the fall, because you will want to be prepared for earlier sunsets.

Weather

In Southern California we get all types of weather from hot and sunny to cold and rainy. You will want to take this into account when planning the hard scape in your backyard. Maybe you want a pool for the summer time as well as some shade. You may also want cover during rainy times especially by the entrance or place you commonly walk through. These things are important to consider in order to create an outdoor living space that you can enjoy year round

Maintenance

Taking into consideration how much maintenance you have time for and are willing to do is important when deciding the type of landscape you want. For example, you may want a drought tolerant landscape that doesn’t require much watering or maintenance, as well as more hardscape than softscape. You should also plan on hiring a recurring maintenance service, such as Picture Build once your yard is done to keep it well kept throughout the year.

Aesthetic

Last, but definitely not least, you will want to know what the overall aesthetic you are trying to achieve is, including possible themes and color schemes. This will help you choose the styles of hardscape, softscape, and even type of furniture that best fit your home so it all flows nicely together.

If you would like a professional designer to assist you in planning and designing your outdoor space
contact us today.