How to Create An Outdoor Oasis In Your Backyard

The summer heat is pounding down on your shoulders, scorching your skin. You need an escape, but you need one now— one that doesn’t require a plane ride to a beach resort.

Why not look to your very own back yard? No matter how small, your back yard can be turned into an amazing outdoor oasis. Want to know how? There are numerous design elements that, when combined together, create wonderful outdoor escapes.

Let’s look at tips and tricks that will help you create the cozy retreat you crave. The end result will be an escape that you can use everyday — without the plane fare. In addition, read 11 Hottest Fresh Outdoor Trends in 2014 You Must See

Create A Relaxing Atmosphere In Your Backyard With Music

Atmosphere is everything. You want to feel like you are on vacation; you want a space that allows you to hide from the world (and pesky, prying neighbors).

Creating a relaxing oasis where you can unwind is an essential element to your back yard escape. In order to transform your yard into a relaxing retreat you should consider adding the soothing sounds of music. Imagine your favorite song drifting through the air while you sit and sip on a glass of Grigio.

There are numerous outdoor speaker systems that will bring your music outside. It can be as simple as one wireless speaker or as elaborate as an outdoor stereo system. There are even wireless, weatherproof speakers that disguise themselves as rocks! If a speaker system is not possible, then at least add a water feature that will help negate noise.

Whatever technology you choose, bring peaceful sounds outside— drowning out all your daily distractions and worries.

Shine A Light On Your Yard

Adding luminous lights into your backyard escape can create a warm welcoming atmosphere. Lighting can be added through candles, floating pool globes, solar landscape lighting, and overhead chandeliers that dangle from pergolas or gazebos.

Avoid harsh spot lights and neon-bright LED lights— they only add an eye-straining glare that is anything but relaxing. An inexpensive idea, courtesy of Pinterest, is to put battery operated tea-lights inside balloons, then float the inflated balloons in your pool, giving a budget-friendly floating globe effect.

There are also new outdoor paints on the market that omit a wonderful evening glow after being exposed to sunlight. These paints can be applied to outdoor planters or stones, lighting up your night in a whole new way.

Create a romantically-lit outdoor oasis by using numerous lighting sources in your backyard.

Comfortable Outdoor Seating

This one seems a bit more typical and obvious, but comfortable seating is required in your backyard oasis. Whether it is a hammock, porch swing, or recliner— you need a comfy spot to sit back and relax.

If you have an area covered from the weather, then consider bringing indoor furniture outside, achieving the ultimate home environment. It can be very inviting to bring indoor textiles outside.

Look around inside your home and see if there are pillows, tables, rugs, chairs, lighting and even artwork that you can transport to your outside oasis. There are also plenty of outdoor fabrics that mimic indoor ones — consider reupholstering an indoor chair in a sturdy, yet pretty, outdoor fabric, allowing you to bring the chair outside.

A cozy chair is always a perfect accessory for your outdoor retreat.

Create Privacy In Your Back Yard

Without privacy, one cannot truly let go of the cares of the world and de-stress. Creating a place where the prying eyes of the world cannot see you is difficult when you live in the city or in a crowded subdivision.

Sometimes you need to be inventive when it comes to ways to wall yourself off from the world. Landscaping can certainly come in handy when you want to hide. A well-placed tree or bushy hedge can help create a discreet outdoor area. Reading, 10 Landscaping Mistakes Not To Make This Fall, may also be of interest.

Just like indoors, draperies can block views outside, too. You could hang outdoor curtains around a pergola, or grow a natural curtain of flowers with a trellis and some climbing clematis.

If budget is not a concern, then consider covering your deck with a permanent roof; it can be a great investment that guarantees outdoor privacy.

Add A Water Feature To Your Backyard

The soothing sounds of trickling water can wash away all your cares, leaving you relaxed and feeling very zen.  There are numerous ways to add an element of water to your outdoor oasis.

It can be as simple as adding a small fountain that sits atop a patio table, or it can be a huge project such as installing a  gushing fountain in a backyard pond or pool. Either way, the sound of water will fill your ears and add a soothing element to your backyard retreat.

Simple water fountains or pond kits can be purchased at most hardware stores and are quite easy to install.  If you decide to get a backyard pond, then you can add fish and floating lilies. What an amazing outdoor oasis that would be!

Certainly, any style of water feature is better than none. You may also be interested in reading 10 Pool Maintenance Tips That You Need To Try Right Now.

Bring a TV Outside

Why not bring a TV outside? Televisions are everywhere else in your home.  Adding a TV to your backyard can certainly entice you to sit and stay awhile.

Outdoor, weather-resistant TV’s can be purchased online and range in price and size, just like indoor units. A massive flat-panel  television would set a great scene for an outdoor gathering —especially if the big game is on.

Take a cue from the outdoor man-cave that’s featured below. This space is ideal for backyard get-togethers.

Building an outdoor space complete with a television,  certainly seems like a luxurious idea.

Build An Outdoor Shower

In addition to a waterfall feature, you should consider adding an outdoor shower to your backyard oasis, as well— especially if you have a pool.

Outdoor showers are not only a cool concept, they are a functional one, too. Washing away all your lotions and perfumes before diving into the pool is always a good idea. On the other hand, washing away all the chlorine and sun tan lotion after swimming is also a great idea.

How luxurious it would be to hop into an outdoor shower while the sun radiates its warmth on your body and you admire the garden views.

An outdoor shower is a lavish accessory to consider adding to your backyard —just make sure its tucked away from unwanted eyes.

With the summer sun high in the sky, it seems the perfect time to start building your backyard escape. No matter how big or small your yard or terrace, you can add the elements of music, lighting, seating, water and privacy to any outdoor space. A backyard oasis is not out of anyone’s grasp — it can be achieved by following the guidelines set out above.

If you are so lucky to be able to add the outdoor shower and television, then consider that a luxuriant bonus— the final piece of an amazing oasis in your very own backyard.

What would you like to add to your backyard retreat?

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