Say Goodbye to the Harsh Winter, Say Hello to Your Beautiful Backyard!

As winter ends, we start wanting to spend more time in our backyard with our friends and family, entertaining, relaxing, spending carefree time in the warm, scented air.

Imagine a beautiful outdoor space that features a cooking and dining area, a deck or a pergola, a fireplace, and an inviting landscape – all adding versatility, enhanced lifestyle, and value to your home.

The concept of an outdoor kitchen, dining and lounge area truly offers a beautiful and effective transition from indoor to outdoor living. Enjoy backyard BBQ’s and grilling all-day, as well as during pleasant summer evenings, and hang out with family and friends as you prepare food, instead of being crammed in your kitchen.

Here are some backyard ideas to inspire you to create your own backyard oasis!

Start with planning and defining the outdoor space depending on your needs, lifestyle, and budget. Having a vision and solid plan will help ensure that your outdoor kitchen, a grilling or entertaining area, is in the right location for your yard – something a professional outdoor kitchen contractor can offer valuable advice on. For instance, you ideally don’t want your outdoor grill to be right next to where you throw a ball with your kids or play fetch with your dog.

You can keep things simple by building an outdoor kitchen with a gas or charcoal grill, a sink, and a small refrigerator; or, you can build a dream kitchen with specialty appliances, such as warming drawers, smokers, hibachi grills, and a beer tap. Make sure your contractor connects your outdoor sink to a water supply, hooks up your gas-powered grills, and installs your electrical connections, so that your outdoor kitchen is up to code.

The cooking station should provide sufficient storage and plenty of counter-space for food prep and setup, which can be turned into a buffet as needed, with a layout that can include a grill, fridge, sink, and pizza oven.

A U-shaped outdoor kitchen is ideal, but if you don’t have enough space for it, opt for a grilling station that features a double side burner, sink, under the counter refrigerator and drawer/door combo underneath. An outdoor sink can double as an ice bucket for drinks, or you can turn your sink into a beverage cooler with a teak top.

You can consider a fully equipped outdoor kitchen design that can be separate from the rest of the outdoor dining/living space, featuring two different functionalities – so you can prep and cook in one area, and have your guests enjoy the shade and comfort in a separate area, while still being able to hang out together.

Creating more living outdoor space means more chances to entertain in warm weather and less maintenance landscaping. A deck is a great low-maintenance option.

If you prefer more minimalistic entertaining, consider a simple outdoor living space and a compact grilling station on a sleek deck with an awning, a pergola, or another shade device.

A wooden deck will add value to your home, and enhance the look of your landscape when inlaid against natural setting. If you already have a deck, you may want to consider expanding it, or building a side deck or patio for your outdoor grilling. Opt for durable flooring material that is easy to clean, pressure wash, and withstand lots of traffic and extreme weather conditions.

A multitier deck is ideal for creating different areas for eating, lounging, and other outdoor activities.

Love to spend your warm summer nights outside, but enjoy watching TV too much to give it up? You’ll be happy to know that one of the latest trends in backyard design is to fit it with a television set. Your yard or patio can now be both the place to cook, eat, relax and entertain, never missing your favorite TV show. Just make sure it’s properly installed away from heat and safe from the elements. 

Don’t forget outdoor fireplaces and fire pits – they are the perfect place for family and friends to gather and roast s’mores, providing a warm and inviting gathering spot when the temperatures drop a little, as well.

Covered porches, pergolas, and other shading devices can ensure more shade and privacy; pergolas especially can also add a romantic touch to your backyard.

And, make sure you have adequate outdoor lighting – you may want to party late into the warm, summer nights. Hanging lamps and bistro lights can create ambiance for the evening enjoyment.

If you have a tiny backyard, the good news is that you don’t actually need a lot of outdoor space to have a lovely and efficient area – start by focusing on designing the functional outdoor kitchen and a dining space, and then transform the remainder of the space into an appealing garden. Instead of an extravagant full outdoor kitchen – consider building a BBQ island, which has a grill and countertops but is a better fit for a smaller space and budget.

Small or spacious, your backyard can truly be your oasis. There’s no limit to the possibilities that await you – your backyard can be transformed into a Zen retreat with rock gardens, manicured greenery, and a koi pond; into a well-thought out cooking and dining area; or into an attractive escape with fountains and comfortable sitting.

Finally, do not forget to add greenery and/or flowers into your backyard. If you love to have a veggie garden but not enough space, you can use planter boxes for fresh herbs, tomatoes, and other garden fare. Also, you can free up floor space and add visual appeal with lovely hanging baskets.

As a locally owned residential construction company providing Quality General Contracting Services in the Greater Philadelphia and Chester County PA area, at Harbor Stone we have a reputation for completing projects that meet or exceed expectations, on time and on budget. We pride ourselves on superior workmanship, stringent compliance, and quality control measures with a work ethic that is second to none.

Whether you decide to go for a well-designed outdoor area that’s functional and aesthetically appealing, or just want to add a deck or patio that will be perfect for outdoor entertaining – now is the best time to plan for and create a beautiful backyard!

From total and partial renovation to transforming your backyard into your dream space, trust Harbor Stone Construction Company’s residential contractors for all your home improvement and remodeling needs.

Contact us today to discuss adding or upgrading your outdoor kitchen, deck, pergola, and other home projects.