Whether the big backyard was a feature you intended to have or just plain luck, what you do with that awesome space has endless potential! Your outdoor space is a versatile opportunity for growing and making food, various recreational activities, storage space, and relaxation any time of the day. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking about what you want out of your extra space!

Start Gardening

Gardening is popular for its aesthetic charm, therapeutic effects, and of course the rewarding produce it offers. Garden boxes keep your plants high enough off the ground to protect them from ground snails, harmful weeds, and lack of drainage. Planting directly in a garden bed area allows for larger areas of planting and greater space between plants. Whatever you choose to use, look into the types of produce, herbs, or flowers you are interested in planting and research the best times, soils, and climates to grow them in. This can become a hobby you thrive with, and something that can even save you money on produce in the long run!

Cook Meals

Invest in a grill or smoker or fire pit (or all three!) and enjoy the delicious options available in cooking outside. If you are a fan of cooking—or just would like to be—use your outdoor area to develop new skills in cuisine prep and experiment to your heart’s content. This hobby can be as simple or as intricate as you want it to be, plus you get a fun and unique mealtime experience out of it every time! This is also a great way to gather people and enjoy each other’s company while also enjoying food! Create an eating area with plenty of space and whatever furniture necessary to allow family and guests to relax.

Relax and Enjoy the Fresh Air

Even if food is not involved, you can design an area of your outside property to sit back and enjoy the fresh air. Make this a space you can be comfortable in! This may require installing something to help cool you down or keep you warmer, like fans or heaters. Think about what kind of decoration will create a relaxing mood. Consider couches (made with materials that will withstand outdoor elements), hammocks, chairs, or even swinging benches. You will likely need to provide some form of shading for this space, so look into the costs and benefits of features like pergolas, shade sails, and umbrellas.

Store Your Possessions

Another great way to utilize your extra space is to create some storage areas to keep the clutter out of sight and out of mind! If you don’t want to pay for storage, a modular garage can save you money. Monthly fees add up quickly, but investing in creating your own storage space will pay for itself in no time. Determine how much space you need for whatever you intend to store—building materials, equipment, emergency items, toys, whatever—and how frequently you will need to access those things. That will help you decide what type of storage to invest in and how large it should be. Sheds can cost as little as a couple of hundred dollars, up to thousands for a modular garage that you can reserve for your vehicles.

Make a Nighttime Hangout

Outfit your relaxation area with the tools that will make it a great place for evening gatherings as well. Creative lighting fixtures are a fun addition to these spots to provide moody or functional lighting, allowing the fun to go on even after the sun goes down. Fire pits are another great way to get this lighting in and provide a source of heat for when the temperatures drop. If you’re a film or music fanatic, consider projector screens or sound systems to add an easy activity that everyone will love !

Try a Greenhouse

Greenhouses are a creative, beautiful addition to any property. Why not add one to your yard? If you do pick up gardening (or already love it) as a pastime, a greenhouse allows you to continue that all year long. Flowers, produce, and herbs all thrive in the increased humidity and warmth that greenhouses provide. And surprisingly, greenhouses don’t have to cost that much! Plastic coverings still trap the same rays glass panels do. Recycled windows are another creative, fun way to piece together a “house” that your plants will thrive in. Look into some fun ways to make your plant haven!

Go for a Swim

Something everyone will love during the warm months of the year, regardless of where you live, is a pool! If you have the extra space, pools are a perfect way to add value to your home and give you a fun activity to cool down whenever you want. Dedicate as much or as little of your yard as you want— an above-ground pool might be a good option if you don’t want the pool to take up any room during the colder months, and it costs much less due to the lack of excavation fees. Keep in mind the maintenance (of your pool itself and the landscape around it) that comes with each type of pool.

Create a Detached Mudroom Area

We’ve already mentioned the potential for sheds to provide storage, but they may also be a great getaway for you! Maybe you want your own private, quiet area to enjoy to yourself whenever you need a break from the stresses that come with your regular home. Design this to be as functional or as vacation-like as you want, just design it to be what you need it to be. Take advantage of the opportunity for loads of natural light and air, in a setting that protects you and everything inside the area from harmful natural elements.

Depending on what you are passionate about and what you want or need to help you achieve the vision for your home you want, consider using the extra outdoor space at your disposal to create a space of relaxation, gathering, or a place to explore and develop your hobbies!

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