It’s easy to enjoy your backyard in the spring when the flowers begin to emerge, and it’s time to do some planting and get things ready for the summer months. Summer is great too, when the sun shines, you can light up the barbeque for garden parties and everything’s in full bloom. Even autumn has its charms with the bright colors of the fading leaves and the last lingering warmth from the summer. But then winter arrives, with longer nights and low temperatures which make going outdoors less tempting. But you don’t have to abandon your backyard altogether in the winter — these 7 simple ideas will help you to keep enjoying it all year round.

1. Keep Warm With a Fire Pit

There’s something about an outdoor fire that brings out a kind of nostalgia for the simple living of our distant ancestors. Of course, you can have a traditional firepit installed in your backyard — a hole in the ground with brick surround that you build a fire in — but there are cleaner, safer and more modern alternatives available. Fire pit tables are gas-fueled and keep the fire well-controlled on top of a sturdily constructed table that keeps the flames away from pets and small children. They’re also super easy to clean, so a great option if you don’t have the time to clear away ashes and build a new fire.

2. Bring The Wildlife Closer With Bird Feeders

During the warmer months, you can usually see plenty of wildlife in your garden, but much of that natural beauty disappears over winter. However, you can bring some of it back by investing in bird feeders. Hang these in positions that are out of reach of neighborhood cats or your own pets and fill them with appropriate food to get birds through the winter. Foods that are suitable include sunflower seeds, which are rich in protein, nuts, nyjer seeds, fat balls, peanuts and fruit. You also need to ensure that the food is replaced regularly to remove any that might be spoiling. With these and a supply of fresh water, you’ll have birds in your backyard all through the winter.

3. Keep The Weather at Bay With Motorized Screens

Your patio might be a lovely place to sit in fine warm weather, but cold, rain or high winds will usually send you feeling indoors. Installing motorized screens means that you can use the space year-round, no matter the weather. Motorized screens can be transparent so you can still see the world outside in your backyard or shaded to keep the bright glare of the low winter sun at bay. Either way, they’re a great investment that allows you to keep getting the most out of your backyard through the winter.

4. Enjoy Physical Activities With the Kids

When it’s cold outside, you can add extra layers of clothing, bring in some heat — or engage in some physical activity. Kids don’t usually mind the cold as much and will be happy to shoot some hoops, throw a ball around or play soccer in the backyard, even in the coldest months of the year. To help with this, you could install a basketball hoop, put a soccer goal on the lawn or even purchase an outdoor trampoline.

5. Enjoy the Snow

If you live somewhere where snow is common in winter, then why not embrace the weather and enjoy it? There are a few fun activities you can take part in in your backyard when it’s covered in snow. If you don’t have kids, why not let your inner child out to play? Once you’re wrapped up warmly, you can have a snowball fight, make snow angels or build a snowman.

6. Stay Cozy on the Patio With an Outdoor Heater

Outdoor heaters are an excellent way to keep the cold at bay and enjoy your patio during the winter months. There are many options available these days, and they don’t all require huge amounts of energy. Gas and propane heaters are now on the market that hang from your patio roof and have tinted ceramic glass fronts that maximize efficiency. They’re also safe in winds up to 40 mph. If you’re not comfortable with gas heaters or don’t have the space for storing fuel, you can also get infrared heaters that put out between 1,500 and 6,000 Watts of heat and are very sturdy.

7. Take The Dog Out

Even if you don’t particularly enjoy the cold weather, your dog will still love to get outside and there’s no reason you can’t enjoy time in the backyard with them too. You can play fetch with a ball, frisbee or stick, or if you have the space and you’re feeling adventurous, you could design an obstacle course that your furry friend will love. Just remember to have plenty of water and treats for them at the end!

Whether looking to enjoy your yard with family or throw a fun party with your friends, inviting outdoor space is a great way to experience entertainment to the fullest. No matter the current state of your backyard, a few tweaks can transform it. Here are inspiring tips to get you started.

Use Retractable Patio Screens to Maximize Your Outdoor Space

Motorized retractable screens are an excellent addition to your outdoor entertainment space. They turn your backyard into an inspect-free, enclosed area while maintaining a top-notch view.

If cold, heat, or rain impacts your outdoor space, overcome this by adding a motorized retractable screen.

Consider Your Outdoor Space Size

Evaluate the size you have for your backyard entertainment space to determine how you’ll work with the area. This allows you to create an appropriate plan and decide what can fit in your backyard.

Establish Mood with Appropriate Lighting

Lighting is an effective and affordable way to transform your backyard entertainment. This is a must-have addition if you intend to host guests at night. People would want to enjoy food and drinks and chat in an inviting atmosphere with proper lighting.

Consider Fresh Plants

Patio plants, such as flower bushes, trees, climbers, decorative planters, and pot plants, can enhance your backyard entertainment area. They make your space more welcoming and fresh, and guests feel immersed in nature. Enhance your outdoor space’s vibrancy with bromeliads, ponytails, or ferns.

Smart Technology

Smart technology is hot-selling for homes, but you don’t have to limit it to indoor space. You can add finishing touches to your backyard with internet and Wi-Fi-enabled devices.

The party doesn’t have to stop at sunset. Use automatic smart lighting to turn on as soon as darkness sets in. Smart technology can make your yard effortless and sophisticated.

Bold Colors

Bold colors come in handy when designing an outdoor space as they give your backyard an exceptional fun flare. You can purchase differently sized and shaped plain planters and paint them according to your design needs.

Paint your lanterns to match your backyard entertaining space design. If most of your furniture is wicker-made, brighter pillows will match. For a covered patio or pergola, hanging pots or lanterns would do.

Consider Durability

When designing your outdoor entertainment space, select long-lasting items. While your backyard could be beautiful, dilapidated decks or old fencing could impact its appeal. Fencing and decking may require regular updates.

Choose durable products for enhanced safety and lifespan. Composite and vinyl are excellent. You could go for wood, but this may need treatment for protection against harsh elements. For your furniture, pick pieces with products that could withstand the outdoor space and is quick drying.

Layout and Design

The layout should be a priority for your backyard entertainment design. Your goal is to make the space more fun and welcoming, allowing your guests not to feel awkward and cramped.

Create unique and separate zones for different entertainment activities, such as relaxation, drinking, eating, and cooking. This optimizes your space for optimal use. It creates a good floor for people to mix and mingle freely without bumping into each other.

It’s a great idea to cover your patio. While this leads to additional expenses, it offers shade during the winter weather and summer sun, enhancing the entertainment area’s usability.

Add an Outdoor Kitchen

Fit your backyard entertainment space with an outdoor kitchen to make it more enjoyable. Prepare home-baked meals for memorable moments with your family members. An outdoor kitchen makes your backyard an excellent place for parties and gatherings.

Install an outdoor bar fridge, burner, and barbeque grill for a stress-free food supply and drinking during entertainment sessions. Fit a cabinet and install a sink for a complete outdoor kitchen. This allows a more convenient cleaning up and serving.

Install a Fire Pit

Add a fire pit to your backyard entertainment space for increased comfort during the colder months. Use your fire pit to roast some marshmallows with your guests while sharing stories or listening to music. Your family and friends can enjoy the outdoor space when the temperatures are low.

When installing a fire pit, position it in an appropriate area in your backyard. Burning can produce soot and mess up your outdoor furniture, so you should find a place where eliminating the burnt material is straightforward. Consider purchasing a portable fire pit for easy movement within your backyard.

Wall Accents

Utilize your outdoor space walls to make the yard livelier. You could consider adding signs, pictures, and containers to plain walls. Add atmosphere by hanging string lights on the walls. Consider adding proper signage for increased fanciness if you have an outdoor bar.

Design Your Ultimate Backyard Entertaining Space

Creating a great outdoor entertainment space shouldn’t be challenging if you have the right ideas. Get started with the outlined tips.

Your backyard can be more than just a patch of grass you mow often. Green space is always welcome, but it is no fun if all you can do most of the seasons is stare at it from afar. Functionality is equally significant as aesthetics for outdoor spaces.

You can add certain features to make your Georgia backyard a practical, livable space for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Here are creative things you can add to your enclosure and lawn.

Build a Pergola

Pergolas are the perfect relaxation spot and alternative for indoor spaces. You can fill it with comfortable outdoor furniture and fairy lights for day and nighttime activities with loved ones. You can never go wrong with a pergola in your backyard.

Pergolas cast enough shade enabling you to enjoy warm afternoons outside. You can always install a retractable shade to control the amount of light getting into the space. Pergolas also create the perfect focal point for your yard, breaking the monotony of grass and planters.

Install an Outdoor Fireplace

A fireplace extends your outdoor season, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors for months. They are also very flexible spaces with plenty of designs and aesthetics. You can have wooden or gas firepits or wooden or gas fireplaces. The best part about fireplaces is you do not need to worry about ventilation.

Fireplaces exude warmth and make your space inviting for friends and loved ones. You can have the hearth on your patio or build an exclusive area as your entertainment hub. Alternatively, you can maximize comfort by designing a shade around the fireplace and surrounding the space with comfy outdoor furniture and lighting.

Build an Open Air Room

The outdoor air room is a gazebo with a permeable roof that casts exhilarating shadows while providing ample shade. The structure rests on a raised deck. You can surround it with planters or a resting wall for an enclosure. Fill the space with outdoor furniture that can withstand the elements when the roof lets in a few raindrops.

Build a Tree House

A tree house is an excellent nature retreat. It is a perfect solution if you have kids, ample space in your backyard, and trees. The treehouse adds to your outdoor aesthetics. It is a feature that most people will not fail to spot. Furthermore, a tree house will encourage your children to play outside, enjoy the fresh air and engage in physical activity.

You can make it more captivating by making it themed, installing hanging lights, or having an exciting entrance. Let your kids be part of the design and building process for additional bonding time.

Set Up a Dining Al Fresco

Al fresco dining should not be a feature for hotels or eateries. You can have it in your backyard. Set up a dining al fresco in the shade if you have a leveled backyard with trees. Make those dining moments memorable while you enjoy your meals in nature with the cool breeze.

You can also enjoy nighttime activities with low-light garden lights and tree-hanging lights or add a fireplace for warmth. A dining al fresco setup is also perfect near a lit pool area. The pool provides a captivating and serene background as you enjoy your meal with friends and loved ones.

Install Motorized Patio Screens and Awnings

The unpredictable weather patterns can put a damper on enjoying the outdoor space. While you cannot control the weather, you can make adjustments to make your outdoors habitable again.

One way to enjoy your pergola, gazebos, outdoor fireplace, and patio is by having screens and awnings. Motorized screens adjust depending on the weather, enabling you to control the amount of sunshine in your outdoor space. Most importantly, the screens do not interfere with the outdoor aesthetics and ambiance. You can maximize your outdoor space because of this element of control.

They also act as shields from the elements, allowing you to enjoy outdoor spaces for months. The motorized screen is a barrier to bugs and other pests encroaching on your outdoor space. There is no need for chemical control or destabilizing your lawn’s ecosystem.

motorized screens

Creative design ideas for your backyard include motorized screens which help protect you from the elements and maximize your outdoor space.

 
Having a patio gives you and your family tremendous scope for outdoor activities. However, the weather here in Atlanta is not always ideal, and your patio might go months at a time without being used at all. Of course, this doesn’t have to be the case if you install motorized screens, keeping you protected from the elements when needed.

But once you have your motorized screens, you might just realize that you don’t know what to do with all that patio time you and your family now have. So here are a few ideas for you to try out.

One: Outdoor Movie Nights

With large-screen TVs now an affordable luxury for most, why not install one outside and enjoy a family movie night? If you don’t want to leave a TV out, you can always buy a projector and get the whole experience. Then, grab a few snacks, make popcorn in the kitchen, and relax with a refreshing beverage. Whether it’s a family flick with the kids or a rom-com with your significant other, movie nights have something to offer for everyone.

Two: Patio Dining

It’s lovely to relax and eat on the patio, whether a simple snack at lunchtime or a big event with family or friends. But, when those cold Atlanta winters hit, and there’s a foot of snow on the ground, that’s not so much fun! With motorized screens, you can keep the outdoor dining experience year-round. So there’s more time to try new recipes, invite more friends around and get the most out of the space.

Three: Family Game Night

Playing board games with the family is usually something you do in the comfort of your living room. However, with motorized screens on your patio, you don’t have to worry about the wind blowing your monopoly money away. And, if the weather is good, open the screens and enjoy the outdoor air as you fight to achieve victory over the rest of your family. Another advantage is that you may have more open space on the patio than in your living room, so you can try new games that take up more room, such as Twister or tin can bowling.

Four: Take Up Pottery

The patio is ideal for situating your potter’s wheel, and fresh air is excellent for polymer clays that dry in the sunlight and don’t need an oven. Moving it out to the patio is an excellent idea if you’ve never tried this hobby before because you don’t have the space. You’re bound to improve quickly at this art if you can keep it up all year round and seeing your own handmade work around the home is very rewarding.

Five: Painting

If you’re of an artistic temperament, you probably love the idea of painting the landscapes outside your home. While that’s lovely on a warm summer day, cold and rain aren’t conducive to making the best art. But with motorized screens around your patio, you can still clearly see the scenes you want to capture. So get out there and capture that beautiful view of your snowy garden or the autumn rain rippling across your pond and make a piece of art to grace the walls of your home.

These are just five ideas for enjoying your patio year-round with motorized screens, but we’re sure you could come up with more. Whether it’s playing your favorite musical instruments, spending time with the family pet, or just relaxing and enjoying the garden view, the possibilities are almost endless.

Transforming your outdoor living space into an area you can enjoy is sometimes a big undertaking. But, it’s one that can be a lot of fun. You need to be sure that the space is functional for your needs, but that it’s also appealing to the eye.

Before you get started on your project, be sure you define your wishes. Some people want a large entertaining space where they can host gatherings without worrying about messes indoors. Others want a relaxing oasis where they can enjoy their time and unwind after work. Some may only want a space that has good curb appeal because they want to sell the home.

If you’re considering making some changes to your home’s exterior in 2022, be sure you consider these trends.

Contrasting Color Choices

Exterior home colors are taking a darker tone this year. Primary paint colors like deep navy or even black are common. Accenting those with lighter colors is popular. Matte finishes on these exterior paint jobs are also very popular this year, especially with darker paints.

Some homeowners are even choosing to put bright roofs on their homes. This gives the house a pop of color in a very unexpected place. For example, a red roof on a navy blue house that has white trim with a red front door is all the rage this year.

Retractable Shades and Screens

The pull to retractable shades and screens is simple. They add an extra layer of depth to the exterior home that comes with a valuable purpose. These shades can keep the sun’s harsh rays out of the home during the summer. They can help to keep heat in the home in the winter.

Some shades simply block the sun while allowing you to still see what’s going on outside. These screen mesh shades come in a variety of colors. Once you put these on the exterior of the home, you can sit inside and enjoy the beauty around your home from the comfort of indoors.

Retractable shades are a hugely popular selling point for Atlanta homes this year. Buyers appreciate the ease of raising and lowering these shades. They enjoy the privacy and comfort they bring to the home. Since many buyers are looking for natural lighting, retractable shades enable them to get this by simply raising the shade during the day.

Shaded & Dry Entertainment Areas

Decks and patios are extremely popular this year. One difference this year is that many people don’t want these spaces wide open. They want outdoor shades that can block the sun’s harsh rays when necessary and an under deck drainage system to keep the area dry for use in wet weather. Using a cable-guided system enables you to raise and lower the shades around the space so you can block the sun or even get a little privacy from your neighbors.

These outdoor shades come in various colors, so you can choose the one that goes with your exterior décor. This provides a cohesive appearance that improves the curb appeal of the home.

Functional Outdoor Entertainment Spaces

The backyard is becoming a popular place to hang out with friends and loved ones. With this in mind, the functionality of the outdoor living space is starting to trump the appearance of it.

Think about what types of entertaining you want to do. For example, an outdoor kitchen might be ideal if you want to host dinner parties on your back deck. You might even add a stone pizza oven to the area.

As you’re thinking about this area, be sure to consider the pathways around the yard. Stone pavers and freestanding lanterns are trending this year. Some homeowners are using pea gravel to fill in between stone pavers that are placed 6 to 8 inches apart on the walkway.

Write Out Your Plan

These trending points should be a good starting point for you to decide the changes that you want to make to your Georgia home’s exterior. It can sometimes be overwhelming to try to put it all together.

Write out your plan for the exterior of your home. Consider having a 3-D model made or a sketch drawn so you can see what it will look like. Once you know exactly what you want, you can find the professionals to come in and make it a reality. Peachtree Blinds of Atlanta designs and installs shade products for patios, porches and decks in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas. Please contact us today to get your questions answered and for a free estimate on revolutionizing your outdoor space.