Creating a Kid-Friendly Space While Remodeling Backyard Areas

If you're thinking about remodeling backyard areas then you have a lot to consider to create a space that you love to spend time in and it will include much more than simply adding a new fire pit or manicuring your lawn for your family to trample over. If you want a truly designer outdoor living space you can use to entertain guests in seating areas and a large usable space then you have to consider the most important things to you and your family and how you want a year-round space in the great outdoors. Any landscape architect will tell you that you need a kid-friendly space for any backyard renovations, even if you have a small yard with a deck.

When your family is your top priority, you have to make sure the kids have a place to enjoy themselves, complete with trees, grass, and kid-friendly pools they can use while you entertain the adults in a space that connects homeowners with outdoor kitchens, a mini fridge, built-in bbq, and fire pit. It's important to have a separate space for the kids and their friends while you're entertaining the grown-ups and most backyards can benefit from these projects without huge costs. If you think of your outdoor spaces as outdoor rooms, your backyard makeover will turn your backyard space into the best home improvement project you've ever taken on for your house.

Planning Your Backyard Remodel

The first step to your remodeling backyard project is to plan it all out and decide what you want to do before you start pouring a concrete patio or spending lots of money on outdoor furniture or an outdoor kitchen. Just like interior design, your backyard design should come at a cost you can afford so you can enjoy your yard without thinking about how much you spent on your patio or deck every time you see it. It's also important to decide if you want to include a pool or water feature that will be less than desirable for a kid-friendly area.

Many people who take on backyard makeovers don't consider outdoor hues until it's too late to come up with a landscape design that looks great and matches with the features you've decided to add to your landscaping project. When you're landscaping, added color is a great way to make your backyard pop and it's something you should have in mind from the very beginning. Vegetable beds and a matching seating area can give you a space that looks great and can be very friendly to any budget that you've set aside for landscaping.

Define Your Outdoor Living Space Goals

Next up, define your outdoor living space goals so you know what you want to add and take away to create the kind of space with plenty of backyard landscaping dedicated to adults, as well as the children in your family and their friends. Decide if you want a large outdoor kitchen or a backyard space with a large fire pit and a paver patio that makes you feel like you're in the great outdoors and not behind your house. You should also consider a hot tub space with multiple seating areas so you can enjoy different types of entertaining.

Keep in mind that landscape contractors are available to help you out and give you ideas on how to get the most out of your space while doing the job correctly so you don't go over the costs you have in mind for your backyard makeover. Decide early on if you want to add a pool to your house and the features you may want to go along with it. Create a checklist of the most important features you want to add and your landscape contractors will give you a landscape design with a budget to create your designer backyard landscaping dream.

Set a Realistic Budget for Your Backyard Remodel

One thing to keep at the forefront of your mind while you carry out the planning process for your backyard makeover is that money is real and you'll have to come up with a realistic budget, just like homeowners with an interior designer would do. Just because you're talking about a backyard patio or a pool doesn't mean that you can include costs that will put you deep in debt or drain your savings. Whether you're adding plants or concrete countertops, keep the costs in mind so your projects don't break the bank on your backyard landscaping projects.

There are ways for homeowners to stick to their budget, especially by incorporating existing features instead of trying to create something new when they have something that can be used with the new backyard landscaping ideas. For instance, if your previous patio allowed for lots of plants and entertaining, there's no reason to tear it down and use up your budget to build a new one. If you have gardening tools, consider taking on the work of adding plants to your yard so you can switch the costs over to features that you can't install yourself, such as concrete walkways or a water feature.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in a Backyard Remodeling Project

Every backyard remodeling project has potential problems that you can come across, so it's a good idea to ensure that you do everything you can to avoid them and save on the cost of fixing the issues that you end up creating. One of the biggest is adding a fire pit that's too close to the house, creating a fire hazard, as well as the potential for breaking the law in your area. There are fire codes in every community that dictate the space between a domicile and a fire pit, so make sure you're choosing a place in your backyard design where it won't be an issue or a danger to your family.

The hot tub is another landscaping feature that can cause a headache and it's doubly important to choose the right spot when you want to make sure that you have a safe space that's kid-friendly but easily accessible to your adult guests. Any backyard water feature has the potential to be a danger to children, so keep it far away from the grass and trees where your children play, and make sure your chosen model has a cover to keep them out of it. It's also important to keep it away from your outdoor kitchen to both keep the water clean and keep your cooking surfaces free from splashing water.

Executing Your Backyard Remodel

When it finally comes time to carry out your backyard landscaping project, get a good contractor who knows what they're doing and is willing to make your dreams a reality for a budget that you can afford while paying special attention to the kid-friendly spaces in your yard. Then it's up to you to prepare your yard and deck to get it ready for the professionals to come in and do their jobs without anything getting in the way or slowing them down. Backyards should be clear of all toys and entertaining spaces so they have full access to the entire thing, including your pool if you have one.

Your backyard remodel crew may have to pour concrete or build a patio, which means they'll have to bring in people and equipment to make it happen, so it's important to give them full access to your backyard with plenty of space for vehicles. Keep your young family members off the patio area and out of the yard when you're home and the crew is working, even if they're simply planting grass or working on your lawn. A footprint on a freshly sown grass field can quickly create a problem and mar your beautiful new backyard.

Hiring a Professional vs. DIY for Your Outdoor Space

There are, of course, some backyard remodeling projects you can do on your own, but nothing beats the help of a professional when you want to define a space for your children while adding a seating area and other features to entertain adults. Pouring concrete or building a deck is best handled by a contractor who knows what they're doing and you should never try to install a pool on your own unless you want to deal with problems in your yard. Any pool or backyard patio will always come out better when built by a professional, so don't waste money by trying to remodel your yard on your own.

A professional contractor is going to think about things like outdoor hues and a kid-friendly landscape design from the very beginning and that's something that most homeowners overlook when they're trying to complete the job on their own or with friends. Simply put, if you want a patio and backyard that matches your dreams, make sure you bring on a professional. You won't get the same result on your own, no matter how much you know about the backyard remodel process.

Finalizing Your Outdoor Space

Finalizing your backyard can be the most fun you have throughout the entire process and it's where all your designer ideas come together after you spend so much time planning it out and executing it. One of the most important things will be introducing your family to the trees and grass areas they get to play in and all homeowners look forward to it. Once you see your backyard completed with your entertaining and kid spaces defined, you'll never want to leave it.

It will be an oasis that you get to visit every time you get home and head to the backyard to rewind and let your children play in their new spaces. it will be an investment that you never regret and will serve you and your children for many years to come. Do yourself a favor and give your backyard an overhaul so you can spend your time at home enjoying your outdoor features!