Here in Arizona, we tolerate the scorching heat of the summer so that we can enjoy the incredible months of October through May. This is when we blend the outdoors with the indoors, open the sliding doors, and entertain while the cool breeze blows through. This is also a great time of year to upgrade your outdoor spaces and make the most of the perfect weather. To help you with your outdoor projects, we’ve put together five of the best upgrades you can make that will not only bring you the most enjoyment but will also have a huge impact on your resale value. As a bonus, we’ll give you five more easy, budget-friendly ideas to help spruce up your yard without breaking the bank.
Building your dream outdoor space starts with thinking about how you want to experience and enjoy it. We do live in Arizona, after all, and shade is worth a premium! In early fall or late spring, the sun can still be pretty toasty. Building a shade structure or even adding a retractable screen to an existing patio will allow you to make the most of the outdoors while still giving you a retreat from the sun. To really help you book-end the seasons and extend the magical times of the year, add a misting system to your shaded areas, and this will easily drop the temperature by 10-15 degrees.
Whether entertaining friends & family or just enjoying a leisurely weekend at home, nothing quite brings it all together better than great food and drinks. Cooking indoors when it’s 72 degrees outside is a crying shame, so bring the kitchen outside! Build an outdoor kitchen or BBQ, complete with a beverage fridge or even a keg on tap. Consider adding ample seating areas with high-quality lounge furniture with weather-resistant fabrics so you and your guests can relax and take in the good food, conversations, and beautiful weather. As a quick aside, don’t skimp on the quality of your outdoor furniture, because remember that those 115-degree days of summer will be back and will turn your $100 couch into dust! Sunbrella fabrics and high-quality metals with a durable finish are worth the spend in the long run!
Some of the most incredible times here in Arizona are in the mornings and evenings, when the temperatures are chilly and the birds are either just waking up or going to their little sleeping villages. These are the hours for hot coffee as the sun rises, or as the day turns to night, a glass of wine and silence, or deep fireside chats. Build yourself a fire pit, chimney, or install outdoor gas heaters so you can take in the best that the Sonoran Desert has to offer. To really create an enchanting space, add a water feature for a fully immersive auditory experience! Nothing will bring you peace like the breathy coo of the Mourning Dove and the gentle sounds of running water.
If all of this sounds wonderful but just a smidge out of budget for you, don’t stress. There are still so many amazing ways to enhance your outdoor space without going overboard. Make your outdoor space beautiful by enhancing what’s already there. Start by refreshing the gravel, turf, or grass, and define the different areas of the yard to separate play spaces from your relaxing space. You can add well-placed plants (both potted and planted), boulders, and inexpensive slatted fences, which will create visual separation.
Add solar pathway lights, string lights, or even spotlights to create ambiance and allow you to use your yard as the sun goes down. Grab a hoodie and a few Adirondack chairs and sit by the fire of a portable gas or wood-burning fire pit. With enough thought about layout, design, and usage, you can transform your outdoor space for hundreds of dollars, not thousands. Whether you go all out or you refine a space you already love, this will bring you and your family the enjoyment you hope for and will pay dividends if you sell your home in years to come. If you’re looking for more ideas for your home and would like help, please give me a call. I’d love to offer you my thoughts on your backyard paradise and can even connect you with contractors to make it possible.