By Amy Collett
If you’re tired of hearing the kids complain about being bored day in and day out, it’s time to reconsider your backyard space. With a little ingenuity, you can go far beyond a trampoline and an above-ground pool. Today on the Crane Realty blog, we’ll share tips on how to have a backyard that no one wants to leave, even for vacation.
Start With Backyard Lighting
First things first: make sure that your backyard is safe. This begins with ensuring it is well lit. The added benefit of doing so allows you to use your new recreation area well into the nighttime hours. If you’re not familiar with best lighting practices, spend some time reviewing lighting for stadiums, arenas, and other large structures. This can help you wrap your mind around the steps and equipment you’ll need to illuminate your yard. While you likely won’t need the exact same lighting as a college or professional baseball field, seeing how the pros do it can help you get a better idea of how to ensure your own entertainment area is safe.
Water Features Are Fun
Everybody loves to play in the water during the summer and in warmer parts of the fall. Even if you already have a pool, however, you may be missing out. Consider adding a backyard splash pad, which the Backyard Refuge blog explains isn’t as difficult as you might think. It involves some digging and leveling, but it’s a great addition to your backyard that kids of all ages will appreciate. If you have a larger space that goes downhill, another fun option is to build a permanent ground-based waterslide. This will also involve digging, but you can easily hollow out a trench by hand without excavation equipment. Pro tip: smooth out rough concrete with an epoxy seal.
Extreme Entertainment in the Backyard
There are many different options for those days you don’t want to play in the water. One idea is to design and build a unique treehouse geared toward older children. The process begins the same way: with a plan and a foundation. However, your treehouse can feature slides and stairs, a projector, or any other feature you choose. If you have any type of engineering experience, you might even consider building a backyard roller coaster. Coaster 101 recently spoke with a retired Boeing engineer who gave lots of great tips on how to ensure a safe experience.
Unrivaled Relaxation
Your backyard does not have to be a place where you pump your adrenaline up if you don’t want it to be. You can enjoy a private space of solitude with a few amazing additions. One idea is to add a barrel sauna to your space. These are not as expensive as you might think. As My Sauna World explains, home saunas come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials to suit your needs and budget. Another idea is to build a dome on your property for glamping. These structures are safe and durable, and NASA has even considered whether they are a viable living option for future space colonies.
Your backyard should be a place that you want to stay. With the tips above, your kids may never ask you to spend the money on a theme park again. Whether you want to relax, ride your own roller coaster, or beat the heat with your own splash pad, the options above can help make your yard the best in the neighborhood. Just remember to make sure it’s well lit so you can enjoy your outdoor space year-round, day and night.
If you are looking to buy or sell, contact Crane Realty at 585-536-0755.