Having plenty of outdoor space has become a luxury in the modern world, and if you’re lucky enough to have a spacious yard where your family can spend quality time together, you should use it wisely.
Even if you have a compact patio, you should consider optimizing it for family-friendly fun.
This home improvement project can be as elaborate or quick as you’d like, depending on your needs and budget.
If this is your first time embarking on this kind of journey, we’ll walk you through the basics as you prep and start working on designing a safe and fun area for your whole family.
Safety Comes First
While it may be easy to get distracted by all the different designs and elements you can add to your outdoor space, the first and most important thing to think about is safety for your kids and yourself.
Consider what you need to ensure your family is safe while spending their time in the yard, and have that as the foundation of your project. Here are some things to consider:
- Ensure your space is properly fenced and protected. When you have small kids and pets, it’s essential that your outdoor space has a strong and tall enough fence to avoid them going into the street. It’s also a good idea to use gates with childproof locks, especially if you have toddlers and preschool kids.
- Invest in quality lighting. Now that the yard is secure, it’s time to give it enough light so that it’s safe day and night. Use your favorite lighting fixtures to light up paths, play areas, and sitting areas so that with one click, you can clearly see all corners of your yard.
- Secure areas around water features. If you have a pool in your yard or some kind of water feature that could splash water around and make the ground slippery, invest in self-closing gates or a fence. If you have the budget, you can install pool alarms for that extra layer of protection. To go a step further, make sure that the area around the pool looks good and is safe for your kids by choosing the right flooring. The OUTERclé pool tile collection offers a perfect blend of aesthetics and anti-slip functionality, helping you create a visually appealing and secure outdoor space.
- Replace concrete with softer surfaces. This is particularly relevant if you have small kids who love running around. If concrete dominates your yard, think about replacing it with grass, some kind of mulch, or rubber tiles, so that your little ones can play and enjoy themselves safely.
Different Zones for Different Activities
The best way to make the most out of your outdoor space is to create designated zones for different types of activities.
If you have enough room, this is a great way to separate the sections where your children can play and where grownups can enjoy, cook, and relax.
Having a designated play area will quickly turn into your kids’ favorite place in the household. The more interactive you make it, the more fun they’ll have, and the more they’ll be able to develop their motor skills and creativity.
This could include slides, swings, a treehouse, and even a sandbox for younger kids, or a basketball hoop and a place to throw a baseball around for teenagers.
Dedicate a part of your yard to dining and cooking, and try to separate it from the play area, to avoid accidental run-ins with open flame and sharp objects.
Pick an outdoor dining table that you like, add in a barbecue station, and don’t be afraid to enrich the space with comfy pillows, maybe even a pergola, so that you can use it year-round.
Right next to your dining area, you can have a relaxation zone, where comfort should be your inspiration. Anything from super comfy chairs and sofas and hammocks to a firepit is on the table, the only limitation is your imagination and your budget.
Invest in Landscaping and Finding Durable Materials
While you’re in the middle of your outdoor space makeover, think about details you can add to make your yard more cozy and aesthetic.
A bit of landscaping can go a long way because it adds visual appeal that will inspire the family to spend more time outside.
Choose flowers, trees, and plants that are safe for children and pets and that, at the same time, add to the overall look and feel of the space, be it through shape, smell, or color.
Edible plants like berries, herbs, and fruit trees are a great idea. Create winding pathways with stepping stones or gravel, lined with lights, to add depth and shape to the space.
While you’re landscaping and handpicking furniture, be sure to opt for weather-resistant materials in your furniture and flooring, to avoid additional expenses.
For outdoor furniture, choose materials like teak, resin wicker, wrought iron, or aluminum that can withstand inevitable wear and tear from weather changes. For flooring, consider durable materials like natural stone or composite wood because they’re easy to maintain and won’t lose their luster over time.
Conclusion
If you love the DIY approach to life, creating a family-friendly outdoor space will be a challenge and a fun project in which the whole family can participate.
As long as you’re putting the safety of your family first, thinking about zoning out the space you have, and carefully selecting the materials you’ll use your yard or garden will be transformed into one of the focal points of the households where everyone can come to relax, enjoy, and bond, which is the ultimate purpose of this space.
