As everyone becomes more mindful of how they use their living space, many look for ways to stylishly extend their homes to the outdoors. If you are lucky enough to have a bit of extra outdoor space, you may be wondering how you can renovate it to better suit your needs. Here are a few outdoor living area home renovation ideas to help you make the most of your outdoor space without spending a fortune.
1. Create a Cozy Seating Area
One of the best ways to increase the usability of your outdoor space is to create a cozy seating area where you can relax and enjoy the outdoors. This doesn’t have to be expensive — clearing a little bit of ground and adding comfortable seating and a few cushions or throws can make all the difference.
You can also get creative with your seating by repurposing old furniture or using pallets or other reclaimed materials to build DIY benches or chairs. If you want to get really creative, you could even build a treehouse or outdoor play area for the kids.
2. Add Some Shade
If your outdoor living area is in full sun, one simple way to make it more usable is to add some shade. This can be as simple as hanging a couple of inexpensive shade cloths from some PVC pipes or building a more permanent structure like a pergola or gazebo.
Again, if you are handy with tools, you could even build your own pergola using some recycled timber and posts — there are plenty of step-by-step tutorials online that can show you how. You could also plant some fast-growing vines or creepers to provide natural shade in the summer months.
3. Add Some Privacy
If you live in a busy area or your outdoor living space is close to your neighbor’s house, you may want to add some privacy screening. You can use composite fence panels to create an attractive privacy screen that also provides some wind protection.
These panels come in various colors and styles, so you can easily find something to match your home’s existing style. You could also plant some fast-growing hedges or creepers to provide natural privacy screening. Not only will this provide you with some much-needed privacy, but it can also help to cool down your outdoor living area in the summer months.
4. Build a DIY Outdoor Kitchen
Another great way to better use your outdoor living area is to create an outdoor kitchen. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy — even a simple BBQ station with a countertop and storage for your BBQ supplies can make cooking outdoors much easier (and more enjoyable).
If you are feeling ambitious, you could even build an entire outdoor kitchen complete with a sink, fridge, and storage — but this will require more time and money. So, if you are on a budget, start small and add more features as you have the time and money.
5. Install an Outdoor Fireplace or Fire Pit
Nothing makes an outdoor living area cozier and more inviting than a fireplace or fire pit. If you live in a cold climate, an outdoor fireplace can extend the usable life of your outdoor living area by months.
Fire pits are also a great way to enjoy the outdoors in the cooler months and can be used for cooking, warmth, or simply ambiance. If you are unsure how to build a fireplace or fire pit, plenty of DIY kits are available that make installation easy.
6. Add some Outdoor Lighting
Adding some lighting to your outdoor living area can make it more usable and inviting in the evening hours. String lights are a cheap and easy way to add some ambient lighting, while solar-powered lanterns or LED lights can provide more focused task lighting.
You could also install some motion-sensor lights to help deter burglars and make your outdoor living area safer at night. Not only will these lights make your outdoor living area more usable, but they can also help to keep you safe. Make sure to install your lights in a way that doesn’t create any trip hazards.
There you have it! These six tips can help you style up your outdoor living area on a budget. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to make your outdoor living area more inviting — even some simple DIY projects can make a big difference. So, get creative and start making your outdoor living area work better for you. You will be glad you did!