Porches And More: Creating An Outdoor Gathering Space At Home

If your home is your castle, then your yard should be your personal resort, but is your space set up for relaxing? Installing a front porch, building a desk, or laying a patio are all great ways to create leisure space around your home. Choosing which option is right for your family is all about understanding how you want to utilize the space.

One bonus you’ll get no matter which of these home add-ons you chose is that adding a porch, patio, or deck to your yard cuts down on the costs and environmental excesses of maintaining a lawn, increasing the value of your home. Get rid of your grass today and enjoy your yard more.

Consider The Kids

One of the main reasons that families maintain a grassy yard is so that the kids have somewhere to run around and play. This is a valid reason, and it’s worth considering how old your children are when deciding on a design for your home’s exterior. Grass is often a valuable buffer, reducing the likelihood that small children will get hurt while playing outside.

With young children at home, many families prefer to create a transitional space that can bridge between the indoors and outside. This space may include large windows for supervising children in the yard, or a porch with the same flooring as the neighboring room, which creates continuity while providing a space for adults to sit while the children play.

A Pleasant Poolside

For backyards that include a pool, you’ll want to format your yard so that there are dry lounge areas for entertaining nearby – but what this looks like will vary depending on whether you have an aboveground or inground pool. If you have an aboveground pool, one way to disguise the structure is by building a deck around the pool. Children can hang wet towels over the deck railings and adults can entertain poolside.

Decks aren’t too easy to install, but if you’re hesitant about pouring a foundation or digging post holes, you can try using a floating foundation instead. A floating foundation consists of large pier blocks – place them directly on the ground and build you deck on top.

If you have an inground pool, instead of a deck, your best choice would be to lay a patio, or even simply pave around the pool. In contrast to a yard full of plants, this is known as hardscaping. With a patio in place, you can then set out lounge chairs, large potted plants, or even install a water slide. Hardscaping is very easy to maintain and great for those who don’t want to worry about refinishing a deck every few years.

The best thing about adding a porch, deck, or patio to your yard is that you’ll spend more time outside for years to come. Each provides room for having a drink with neighbors, holding an impromptu barbecue, or simply basking in the sun on a beautiful day. There’s so much you can do when you create a bridge between your home and your yard, so take advantage of all the space your home has to offer.