There’s an excellent chance that you and your family have several home improvement projects on your list. Since you enjoy entertaining, you may be thinking about updating or otherwise revitalizing your backyard with landscaping and other amenities. According to the 2014 Houzz Spring Landscaping Trends Study, a large percentage of their participants responded that backyards were “an ideal entertaining space,” which applied to 83% of the participants. If you’re in the process of exploring home improvement ideas, here are a few you may want to consider.
Add a Swimming Pool in Your Backyard
In addition to being fun and being a great way to cool off when it’s warm outside, swimming is an excellent cardiovascular exercise. It is also considered to be the most popular activity for both children and teenagers. Furthermore, it is the fourth most popular activity and sport within the country.
There are different factors that will determine what size and type of pool you would like to have built. Olympic-sized pools, for example, tend to be 50 meters by 25 meters, and can contain between 700.000 to 850.000 gallons of water. Other possibilities include custom pools, which can be built either above or below ground. In-ground pool liners will usually have a lifespan of five to 12 years when properly maintained. Above-ground pool liners will usually have a lifespan of six to ten years.
There are a few different options to sanitize your pool. According to recent data, chlorine remains a common choice for 85% of pool owners. For individuals that have chemical sensitivities, a pool service will be able to make recommendations for alternate sanitation methods. Salt water pools may be preferred by some individuals and their families.
Once you have a pool installed, it’s important to provide a safety fence. These four-sided isolation fences should be a minimum of five feet high and have self-closing and self-latching gates. When these fences are installed, they prevent access from your home and your yard. This can prevent children and pets from accidentally falling into the pool.
Add Outdoor Kitchens and Patios
Many homeowners enjoy the benefits of having outdoor kitchens and patios in their backyards. According to a recent Houzz study, for instance, 56% of the participants were in the process of updating their yards for entertaining. In addition to providing an inviting space to lounge after swimming, patios can also be designed to accommodate outdoor kitchens and dining areas.
Landscape architects that specialize in residential design responded to a request to rate the most popular outdoor design elements for 2014. These professionals indicated that outdoor living spaces, which included kitchen and entertainment spaces, had a 92% popularity rating.
There are, of course, a variety of specific outdoor design elements that may appeal to you. Houzz, for example, revealed data that barbecues and grills were one of the top three items being added to outdoor areas. Outdoor kitchens were added by 14% of the households that participated in the survey.
Schedule a Consultation With Your Local Contractor
Once you’ve decided to have a pool and/or outdoor kitchens and patios installed, it’s time to schedule a consultation with your local contractor. In addition to the ideas above, your contractor may have other recommendations to enhance your outdoor living space.
Whether you’re upgrading your outdoor spaces to enjoy for years to come or are planning to put your house on the market, investing in these upgrades will increase your property value. Furthermore, it’s likely that you’ll also receive a solid return on your investment. When you add an outdoor kitchen, for example, it can bring you a return on your investment of between 100 to 200%.