13 Creative Ways to Use Your Back Yard
Homeownership is a really cool thing. There are many reasons for this, but one of the most notable is that you own your own space with which you can do just about anything. To use an art analogy, your new house is your blank canvas, and you can use it to express whatever you want, however you want. This expression could be indoors with the furniture and decorations with which you fill your home. This expression could be down in the basement, whether you decided to finish it, use it for storage, make a man cave out of it, or anything else. This expression could be outside in one of your yards, which are literally nothing but a green canvas waiting for you to take action. This post is going to focus on your back yard specifically and provide many of the best ways you can effectively utilize your back yard space. There are ideas in this post for everyone, spanning all budget levels and lifestyles. Hopefully you find one that suits you!
However, before we get into the actual ways to best utilize your back yard space, we first want to point out that not every idea is for everyone. Everyone has different goals and intended uses for their back yard, and this means that some ideas will resonate more with you than other ideas. That is fine! After all, the whole point of this post is to demonstrate that your back yard is your own space, and you can utilize any of these ideas to truly take ownership of that space. You may even decide that all you want for your back yard is a wide-open green space – and that is perfectly fine! At the end of the day, the only opinions that matter on your back yard are yours and your family’s.
1. Build a Gazebo, Pagoda, or Pavilion
If you want some rest and relaxation, a gazebo is one of the best ways to do it. Whether you opt for a round, smaller structure like a pagoda or a more rectangular, larger space like a pavilion, having some sort of open-air, roofed structure is always a great idea for those looking for an outdoor retreat. Gazebos make for great conversations, can be used as dining spaces, and can be the perfect place to put your feet up and read a book with a glass of wine while soaking in the sun or the breeze.
Gazebos are also a great way to upgrade your back yard without breaking the bank. You can get a decent gazebo for just a few thousand dollars and decorating it does not require very much more. For a “bang for your buck” upgrade to your back yard, a gazebo or other type of pavilion structure may be your best bet.
2. Build or Buy a Firepit
Honestly, can you think of anything better than a summer or autumn evening around the fire with some s’mores and friends? Firepits are one of the classic upgrades to any back yard, and they are also very easy to make. All you need is some stones, some gravel, and whatever it is that you plan to sit on! If you are not a do it yourself kind of person, you can also buy firepits at very affordable prices at large stores like Home Depot and Walmart. Before building or buying a firepit, though, you should make sure that the use of firepits is legal in your area or neighborhood. Some neighborhoods have ordinances against the use of open flames, and it would be a shame to see your purchase or hard work go to waste!
3. Design and Put Together an Outdoor Kitchen
Why cook indoors when you can cook outdoors? Just kidding – of course you need a real indoor kitchen. However, all joking aside, outdoor kitchens are becoming a very popular amenity in back yards, and for good reason! People have always loved to grill, but with other appliances like griddles and smokers becoming more popular, the idea of a full outdoor kitchen becomes increasingly popular. This is especially true if you live in a place like the beautiful South Carolina, where the weather is pleasant and warm for most of the year. If you live in a place where you can eat outside for the majority of the year, this ought to be extra appealing! Outdoor kitchens pair very well with pavilions, too, as the roof can protect all of your appliances, food, and dining area.
4. Construct and Stock an Outdoor Bar
If the idea of an outdoor kitchen doesn’t sound appealing to you, maybe you would be more interested in an outdoor bar! Outdoor bars have always been a popular thing, from tiki bars to pool bars and beyond, and they make a great addition to any back yard. Having a nice outdoor bar and keeping the fridge well-stocked is bound to make your back yard a hit among friends. Just like outdoor kitchens, outdoor bars pair really well with pavilions. Imagine this: you are sitting outside on the couch on a cool summer night in your pavilion with a TV mounted on the wall in front of you. To your right is a grill sizzling with some steaks, and to your left is a keg tapped up with crisp, cold beer. What a perfect setting for game watches, Netflix shows, or and family movie nights!
5. Build a Deck or a Patio
Depending on the setup of your house and yard, you may be better suited choosing to build a patio or a deck than a pavilion. While pavilions have rooves, decks and patios provide more room for sunshine and active activities. Pavilions, with their rooves, don’t make for good basketball courts! Patios are a very affordable option, too, as all they typically require is a concrete slab. When it comes down to selecting between decks, patios, and gazebos, there really is no right answer. You need to think about what exactly you want to do in your back yard and select the kind of space that will work the best for you. Patios are great if you have kids that like to play sports, decks are great if your house is built onto a hill or if you want some good sunshine to lay in, and pavilions are the best are the best if you plan to use nicer furniture, have a TV or rug, or install an outdoor kitchen or outdoor bar.
6. Grow a Vegetable or Herb Garden
If you’re looking for a backyard space that is beautiful, productive, and potentially even therapeutic, you should consider planting some sort of garden. Gardens are a great addition to your backyard in so many ways. Firstly, gardens are beautiful and help to add a look of nature to your back yard. Secondly, gardens are productive. A sizeable garden can help to offset your grocery costs, as you can simply pick most of your fruits and vegetables from right in your back yard! Gardening is also very therapeutic for many people, and it can be very rewarding to watch your garden slowly grow. If you have children, gardens are a fantastic way to teach them about responsibility and reaping the rewards of their efforts.
7. Create an Outdoor Dining Space
We have already mentioned outdoor kitchens and outdoor bars, but have you ever thought about putting together a classy outdoor dining space? This usually comes in tandem with some sort of pavilion or canopy, as you typically would want to protect your table and dining wares. Outdoor dining isn’t appealing to everyone, as some people would much rather eat away from the heat, bugs, and weather. However, if you are someone who would enjoy outdoor dinners and you live in a place with pretty favorable weather, building an outdoor dining space could be a really nice idea. Personally, I think that nothing beats a nice meal outside in the fresh air with a crisp glass of white wine. Do you agree? If so, you should build an outdoor dining space in your back yard!
8. Purchase Some Lawn Games
This one is nice because it can be either permanent or temporary. Lawn games, like corn hole and croquet, are a fantastic way to bring people together, break the ice while hosting events, and provide easy fun and fresh air outside. You could set up semi-permanent games, like leaving croquet rings in the ground, or you could simply purchase games to store in a shed and bring out when necessary. While being able to tuck the games away into storage is always nice, you will probably find that lawn games get played a lot more when they are left out. Out of sight, out of mind is a really applicable concept in this case. Keep that in mind when you think about what lawn games you would or would not like to buy. Sometimes cheap and simple can be just as great and expensive and elaborate, especially when they are being stored outside!
9. Hang a Tree Swing
This is one of the easiest and most creative items on this list, and for obvious reasons, it is not for everyone. If you don’t have a big tree, you can’t hang a tree swing! Tree swings are great, though, as they require a lot less space and money than an entire swing set and they blend pretty well into the natural surroundings of your yard. If you ever want to hide the swing for any reason, you can simply place it on top of the branch from which it is hanging. All you need is some rope, hardware, and a plank of wood. It doesn’t get much easier (or cheaper) than that!
10. Or an Outdoor Bed Swing
Much less common but much cooler than traditional tree swings are bed swings, which are essentially outdoor mattresses suspended by a branch, tree, or man-made structure. While they are much larger and more involved than regular tree wings, bed swings are a relatively easy addition to your back yard space. A night staring up at the stars from a bed swing sounds pretty good to me!
11. Or Just Build an Entire Treehouse
While this is one of the most involved undertakings on the entire list, treehouses are undoubtedly cool projects that can lead to a ton of memories for you and your kids. Again, if you don’t have the right kind of tree, you will not be able to build a tree house. It is as simple as that. If you do have the right kind of tree, though, building a treehouse is an undoubtedly great way to encourage outside playtime for your kids! While it may seem fun to design your own treehouse, you might be better off using a design or hiring a professional. Considering that your children will be playing in it and it is several feet off the ground, you probably want to be absolutely certain that it is safe and secure!
12. Build or Buy a Shed
If your yard is big enough for some of the things on this list, it means you will probably need a place to store things! While kitchen appliances can stay where they are, lawn games and pool supplies probably need a place of their own to call home. Building or buying a shed, big or small, is the solution to this. Many stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s offer free delivery of sheds, and they will even assemble them for you for a fee. Personally, I think putting a shed together is a lot of fun, but if that is not your thing, be sure to leave it to the professionals!
13. Opt for a Pool or Hot Tub
Pools and hot tubs are two of the most classic uses for your back yard, and it is pretty obvious why – they are a blast to use! There is no better way to cool off on a hot summer day than with a dip in the pool, and a pool is one of the easiest ways to make memories both with family and friends. One thing that you do need to be aware of is that pools come with a lot of responsibility, both in terms of financial and time commitments. Pools require virtually constant care, and while the effort is very worth it if you use the pool enough, it feels very tedious if you keep cleaning a pool that hardly gets used.
Hot tubs are great alternatives to pools in this way, as they require significantly less maintenance. While the water in a hot tub needs to be continually treated to keep it clean, the surface area of a hot tub is much smaller and therefore much easier to keep clean. Additionally, most hot tubs come with lids, which help to keep dirt, bugs, leaves, and rain out of the water. This also makes your maintenance efforts much easier.
Thank you for reading our post about the best ways that you can utilize your back yard space. We hope that this post has been helpful for you as you think about what to do with your back yard, whether you just moved into a new home or have had the same yard for years. Back yards are a space that you can truly make your own, much like a blank canvas to an artist. From cultivating a great space for hosting to building a fun, safe world for your children to play in, the different routes you can take when developing your back yard are very broad and different.
Still, there is no single best thing to do with your back yard, and what you should do fully depends on what you want to do in the yard, who you plan on doing it with, and other external factors like the climate in which you love. With so many variables at play, the best way to utilize your back yard is simply by turning it into whatever it is that you want it to be. It is that simple!
If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.
No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!
Written by Greg
