Summer is in full swing and with all the beautiful sunny days it’s a great time to get outdoors! Your backyard can become a great place for you to escape and recharge and it doesn’t need to be expensive. Here are my tips for an easy backyard makeover to create your own “Summer Escape” oasis!
Backyard Must-Haves for a “Summer Escape”
Create a Kids Area! If you still have children (or often have grandchildren) at home then it is essential for your backyard to have a play area for the kids! My children’s favorites include a water table, balls, bikes, and sidewalk chalk! You can double up on creative storage and a place to “hide” toys out of the way so they don’t overflow your space by adding in a bench that gives storage space. You can even create your own bench using cement blocks and a sewn or purchased top cushion placed on top of a sheet of plywood. Or, use a sturdy, large toy box.
A place to sit!– Having a couple of chairs and a small table in your backyard is essential if you plan to do any backyard entertaining. Even most small yards can accommodate a bistro set with a small table and set of two chairs. This will give adults a place to sit and watch the children play and socialize. The table is great for snacks, meals, a place to set drinks, or even a place for your books or magazines.
Cushions & Pillows– A simple way to make your outdoor living space feel like an extension of your home is by adding cushions and pillows into your space. Be sure you select outdoor appropriate fabrics that can stand up to your local weather. You can store away pillows and chair cushions in a storage bench to keep them looking like new. Curtain panels are another way to a cozy feel to your area if you have places that would be appropriate to hang panels.
Umbrella– If you live in an especially sunny location, like I do, adding in an umbrella will give you a ton of shade which will let you enjoy your backyard space even on hot days. It is amazing how much cooler you will be in the shade so this is essential if you know you’ll have many hot days this summer and need to be able to stay cool and still head outdoors!
Make it Unique! Add in some fun lighting, candles, decorations, a water feature, garden characters, or whatever shares your personality and creativity and makes your space uniquely yours! You can make easy crafts with your children to help decorate your space such as stepping stones with your little ones hand prints or create your own wind chime or bird house! For us, we love to garden so creating a gardening space was the perfect way to make our backyard uniquely our own! Our pathway is still a work in progress.
For more tips and ideas, Sears has created a digital catalog that you can browse to check out of inspiration and to view their products.
So, now that you have seen my tips and ideas, what are your must-haves for the perfect backyard oasis?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sears. The opinions and text are all mine.
@rkosully
Thursday 12th of July 2012
Backyard essentials include strings of lantern-lights for evening parties, a great grill, a colorful umbrella over a large table & chairs...and gorgeous plants & flowers!