Summer is getting closer and closer each and every day. As Edmontonians all know, we have to make the most of our warmer months in the city to make up for all the time spent indoors in the winter.
After all, in the summertime, everything is better outdoors. Having a family dinner? Better outdoors. Reading a book? Better outdoors. Chatting with friends late into the evening? Better outdoors. Having a water gun fight? Definitely better outdoors.
As we all gear up to spend every possible moment outside in the coming months, it’s important to get our backyards up to par to support this. And, here’s the best part: it can definitely be done in a highly cost-effective way.
Sure, creating the backyard of your dreams is an investment and will require some time and money. But, once you’ve curated this perfect outdoor space, if you play your cards right, it can last you a lifetime.
Today, we’re going to chat with you about four of our favorite cost-effective additions that will help you turn your backyard into the outdoor oasis of your dreams! Not only will these additions last for years to come, but they’ll also let you take full advantage of your outdoor space each summer.
1. A Vinyl Privacy Fence
Getting a vinyl privacy fence installed is the first step towards the outdoor oasis of your dreams.
At the end of the day, no matter what you have in your backyard, if it’s not a private, clearly outlined space, it loses that intimate feeling. No matter how fun your family BBQ’s are, if all of the neighbours and every passer-by can see right in, it doesn’t truly have that cozy, close feeling.
Vinyl fencing, especially vinyl privacy fencing, will create an excellent enclosure for you that will make your backyard feel like an intimate, private space just for you and your loved ones to enjoy. As you host friends and family alike, you’ll be able to enjoy your space without thinking of peering eyes.
Now, you might be wondering ‘how is getting a brand new fence a cost-effective solution?’ Honestly, that is a fair question. Here’s how: Vinyl fencing is actually one of, if not the most cost-effective fencing solution on the market right now because of the following reasons:
- Vinyl fencing will last you on average 40 years (yup, you read that right)
- It won’t rot like wood fencing
- The paint won’t chip or fade like it does on wood fencing
- It can handle the regular pressure of family life in a backyard
- Vinyl fencing is extremely low maintenance (if not no maintenance)
- It’s easy to clean
- If any damages do occur, it’s extremely easy to fix
- It maintains its look without upkeep requirements
- Installation of vinyl fencing is very quick and easy (and therefore very cheap)
- The way that vinyl fences are built makes them very easy to install
- If replacements/adjustments are necessary, you can simply replace a slat or two without having to take down the whole fence
- Labour costs are very low
Once your backyard is properly fenced in with a vinyl fence, you can begin to beautify and enhance the yard itself.
2. A DIY Fire Pit
One of the cheapest and best additions that can be made to an outdoor space is a fire pit, especially one that you build yourself! In fact, according to this HGTV YouTube video, you can actually build a fire pit in your backyard for less than $100! Check this out:
Now that is a steal of a deal that will make a world of difference to your backyard space. The oasis is coming together!
As your friends, family, and other loved ones gather in your backyard, they’ll be able to roast a marshmallow and warm up as the sun begins to drop. Fire pits facilitate gatherings of any kind. People love to cozy up around a fire chatting and sipping their drinks on a nice evening.
A fire pit will also mean that your backyard can be more useful during the early spring and late fall months as well! The extra warmth that fires provide is all it will take to convince your I’m-always-cold-mom or your it’s-too-cold-out-friend to spend the evening in the backyard with you. You and your loved ones may as well enjoy your outdoor oasis as much as possible!
Not only do fire pits provide extra heat and light for those late night chats under the stars, they also add a visual element to your space. The flickering orange and yellow flames are entrancing and make your backyard that much more cozy.
And, you can do it yourself all in one afternoon! Let there be light!
3. Patio Furniture
No matter how privately enclosed your backyard is or how warm and cozy the fire looks, most people won’t stay long if there’s nowhere to sit or put their drink down. High quality patio furniture is essential to turning your backyard into an outdoor oasis that you can enjoy.
Patio furniture is also an investment. Whether you go for the go-to spots like Amazon or Walmart for your outdoor patio furniture or you check out a higher-end furniture store, there’s something for everyone.
No matter what purpose you want your outdoor oasis to play, it’s essential that you find high quality furniture that complements this.
If you’re more interested in laying out in the sunshine and soaking up the vitamin D with a good book in one hand and a lemonade in the other, zero gravity chairs might be the way to go.
But, if you just want to have all of your kids and grandkids over for a big family BBQ on Saturday, a patio sectional and a bigger outdoor dining set are definitely worth the investment.
Patio furniture will take your backyard from enjoyable to look at and/or walk around in for a few minutes to a space where you and your loved ones can truly spend hours on end. Afternoon naps in the sunshine and evening heart-to-hearts in the firelight will become normalities in your outdoor oasis.
4. Ambient Lighting
We can almost guarantee that every ‘outdoor oasis’ photo you see on Pinterest will have some kind of ambient lighting in it. Although a DIY fire pit will add some light to your backyard during the night time, ambient lighting will take it to the next level.
Twinkling string lights create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in your outdoor space. As the sun sets and your backyard becomes dark, turning on these lights will extend the usability of your space (and also how much you want to use it)!
Permanent lighting products such as those that our sister company, Five Star Holiday Decor, offers, are a one-and-done lighting solution. Once installed, permanent lighting solutions don’t require takedown or storage and often require little to no maintenance.
Haven’t been able to find the perfect colour for your outdoor lighting? Don’t worry. Permanent lighting solutions from Five Star Holiday Decor offer over 16 million different colour options and combinations. (Yes, that’s 16,000,000).
Your permanent lighting can also be controlled entirely from your cell phone. That means that even if you’ve had the lights a fun bright blue shade at the beginning of the evening, you can still switch them to a gentle yellow tone as the night wears on.
Your backyard will truly transform with these four cost-effective additions. All four of these additions, despite requiring time and money upfront, will help you curate an outdoor oasis that will last you for years and years to come.
By investing in vinyl fencing, a fire pit, patio furniture, and permanent lighting, you’ll take your backyard from drab to fab. These long-lasting solutions will provide you and your loved ones with years and years of outdoor enjoyment in your private space.
If you’re ready to take the first step towards your intimate, cozy outdoor oasis today, feel free to contact our team. We’d be more than happy to get started on your vinyl fencing installation and provide you with the privacy and quiet that you deserve. Give us a call today at 780-651-1562!