Show of hands who loves their backyard? 🙋 You’re not alone. According to a survey by Adbri Masonry, there’s been a boom of over 41 per cent of Aussies who are seriously considering how they can make wise investment choices in their backyards and outdoor living spaces. Not surprising when you’ve got weather like ours, really, is it?
Our favourite landscape gardener from Better Homes and Gardens TV, Jason Hodges, has some super handy tips on just what to do to make the most of your outdoor space and amp-up the family time.
1. Create a space for family time
“Your outdoor space is a blank canvas and you need to start somewhere. I suggest installing a paved courtyard that leads into a turfed area so the area can be used in all weather conditions. Look for concrete pavers that are designed for use outside, they will be slip resistant so safe when wet and can live up to the elements. Stone pavers the ‘slip-resistant’ box, is easy to install and adds a designer touch to your courtyard”,says Jason.
Click here to see how to put pavers in at your place.
2. Create your own home office
According to Planet Ark research, there are significant health and environmental benefits to incorporating nature into your daily routine. 86 per cent of Australians who have a close connection to nature are significantly happier with just 10 minutes spent outside helping to improve mental health and wellbeing.
With the number of people working from home on the rise, so too is the popularity of the outdoor office. Create a workspace that will allow you to be inspired, focused and help to promote a low carbon lifestyle. After a solid foundation is paved, use easy to maintain garden beds, vertical green walls, and water features to transform the yard into a relaxing, welcoming space.
Here are 8 other ideas to create a dreamy home office.
3. Create a social hub
“My top tip for maximising the enjoyment factor of the outdoor environment is to think about how often the space will be used and by how many people. I regularly see people clutter their precious outdoor space with oversized dining settings that dominate the area. I suggest furniture selection to suit how the space will be most often used. If you’re looking for a true feature point for entertaining, consider a concrete block fire pit, which will become the number one place for socialising for homeowners that can spare the space.”
Click here to see how you can make your own!
4. Create a healthy outdoor room
Make use of unused space and create an outdoor sanctuary, perfect for growing an edible landscape. Growing and preserving your own produce including herbs and vegetables can be wholesale family fun along with a number of health benefits on offer. Raised garden beds are a great way to start your growing adventure as they provide an opportunity to bring in premium and organic soils rather than digging into the ground.
Click here to see how you can make your very own veggie box, that will do just the thing.