Whether you own or rent, plan to add on to your home’s living space this summer. Making whatever outdoor space you have available more livable maximizes your home’s square footage and provides additional areas to cook, dine, relax, garden, or be active. It may also offer homeowners a nice return on investment.
If you own your home, your choices are limited only by your imagination, available space, and budget. But home renters, too, can enhance the beauty and functionality of their outdoor areas. There are countless portable, removable outdoor space-enhancing products. Even apartment dwellers, whose only outdoor area might be a tiny balcony or patio, can spiff up those spaces with a few compact and well-arranged outdoor items.
There are so many options, so let’s get started.
Create a Plan and Budget
Where to begin? Mike Wolfe, owner of Wolfe Construction and Home Repair, has some advice.
“Start with a well-thought-out plan and set a budget. Ask yourself how you plan to use the space,” he said. Another consideration: Do you have a particular concept or style in mind? (One of Wolfe’s clients wanted an authentic tropical theme for a poolside patio; he custom-built a tiki hut as a focal point.) “Just about everyone enjoys having outdoor spaces. They are a smart move and a sound investment,” Wolfe said.
Design and Furnish
When it’s time to design and furnish your outdoor space, think in terms of individual nooks or “rooms.” Maybe your space will be like a big studio apartment, with furniture groupings, outdoor rugs, or portable trellises defining each area. Or maybe it will spread out into distinct rooms, each defined by the type of “flooring” under it or “ceilings” above it, with pathways, shrubs, and fencing serving as walls to visually separate each space.
Kitchen
Having an area for outdoor cooking is a must for many people. The space you create for cooking outdoors might be as simple as designating a spot for a tabletop grill. Or it can be as elaborate as creating a kitchen with features such as a sink, garbage disposal, refrigerator, icemaker, countertops, and a grill or two. Most people will settle on something between these two extremes, said Brendan Rost, designer at Rost Landscaping.
“There is a huge range to what people want,” he noted. “Fifty percent want a full-service kitchen of some kind; fifty percent want an area designed with a slip, a nook to park your grill.”
Columbia-based American Outdoor Brands offers a DIY approach to creating your outdoor kitchen with its Grilla products, which are designed and engineered on-site. You can use AOB’s online planner or visit their showroom and outlet store to select the components you want, and AOB will deliver them to your door. Marketing Manager Ethan O’Keefe noted that the modular design makes each piece movable and interchangeable.
When you’re cooking outdoors, having fresh herbs handy is a treat. “Oregano, thyme, mint, and chives are good choices for garden beds or planters, suggested Gabby Borthacyre, a store manager at Helmi’s Gardens. “Just don’t plant mint in the ground. It will take over.”
Dining Room
An outdoor table is a popular spot to gather for drinks, food, and conversation. It can also double as an outdoor office desk. Choose yours based on durability, maintenance requirements, and how you will use it. Need a table for two or a table for a whole crew? There are plenty of choices. A folding table or small trays might be all you need for occasional use.
Recreation Room
Having a place for the dog to run or for the kids — and adults — to play some yard games may be a high priority for you. If so, consider the wear and tear the surfaces will endure and plan accordingly.
Rost says the big trend right now is artificial turf. “Today’s artificial turf is aesthetically attractive,” he said. “Its low maintenance and permeable surface make it ideal for play areas, including backyard putting greens.”
Of course, should your space and budget permit, you can always opt for a summer recreation classic: a backyard swimming pool.
Living Room
When it’s time to just sit back and relax, you’re going to want some comfy seating. There are so many options for outdoor furniture — from simple folding chairs to large sectional sofas — that you may find the decision process overwhelming. If you need a little guidance, consult a designer or talk with someone at a local furniture store.
Rob Medcalf, a store manager at Lifestyles Furniture, has helped both homeowners and building professionals plan and select outdoor furniture from the store’s two special-order suppliers. His advice for furnishing an outdoor space? “First define what the space will be mostly used for: outdoor dining, lounging, fire pits/games,” he explained. “Next select the pieces and colors that complete your idea.”
Adjust the Temperature
Cool Down
Yes, Missouri’s summer weather can be brutal. But a few smart strategies will allow you to enjoy your outdoor space even when heat and humidity spike. If possible, position your outdoor living areas under shade trees or on the east or north side of your house to avoid intense afternoon heat during July and August.
A covered porch or pergola can protect you from midday sun. Add some drop-down blinds on the south and west sides of the structure to shield from afternoon rays. Outdoor umbrellas offer flexible, portable, and affordable shade and come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Pop a tiltable one into the center of a patio table and adjust it according to the sun’s position. Use a large, cantilevered umbrella to shade an entire seating area
On those days when shade alone just isn’t cutting it, a fan can be your best friend. Install ceiling fans to covered structures for a nice breeze. Alternatively, you can buy a movable outdoor fan to get a blast of cooling air wherever you’re seated. Bonus points if it’s also a mister.
Warm Up
Missouri has some gorgeous autumn weather and even the occasional balmy winter day. To make the most of your outdoor space for more months of the year, consider adding a few outdoor features to ensure your comfort when temperatures drop.
A built-in fireplace adds a timeless ambience and warmth to an outdoor room. Patios with a built-in wood-fired or gas-operated fireplace are great, but there are a lot of good portable firepits out there, too. Simple propane heaters can also provide warmth, although they do lack that “gathering around the campfire” vibe.
Make It Beautiful
Plantings
Deciding what greenery to add to your outdoor space can seem daunting. Thankfully, Columbia has a number of nurseries with knowledgeable staff to help you select the plantings that are right for you — from total landscaping to stunning planter arrangements.
“Planters or even a small garden bed filled with annuals give a pop of color that people notice,” said Borthacyre. Her suggestions for flowers that best tolerate Missouri’s summers? “Lantana is exceptionally heat and drought tolerant. Vinca loves it hot. Calla lilies will bloom all summer.”
Lighting
It’s easy to focus on how you will spend nice sunny days in your outdoor space, but remember to give your space nightlife, too. “Outdoor lighting goes a long way,” Rost said. “It rates as one of the highest improvements in customer feedback.”
You could hang strands of Edison bulbs overhead, install lights at ground level, or attach sconces to walls. For added ambiance, you might light some tiki torches or citronella candles. Solar lights are easy and inexpensive, but Rost noted that low-voltage wired lighting tends to offer more value and longevity.
Extra Touches
Weatherproof decorative items such as concrete statuary, metal sculptures, fountains, and glazed yard balls add interest to outdoor spaces — plus, they can be enjoyed year-round. Birdbaths and birdfeeders are fun features, too.
Make It Entertaining
Televisions are increasingly popular additions to outdoor areas. They’re great for watching the big games or having a quiet movie night. Attach one to a wall and protect it from the elements or mount it on a rolling cart for greater portability. Another entertainment option is mounted or movable outdoor speakers for playing party tunes or dancing under the stars.
Consider your outdoor space, imagine how it might be more family- and guest-friendly with a few additions and amenities, and start planning and shopping. There are plenty of options for all sizes of outdoor space and for all budgets.
ROI FOR OUTDOOR REMODELING PROJECTS
According to the 2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features released by the National Association of REALTORS Research Group, homeowners can expect the following return on investment:
- 217% Standard Lawn Care Service
- 104% Landscape Maintenance
- 100% Overall Landscape Upgrade
- 100% Outdoor Kitchen
- 95% New Patio
- 89% New Wood Deck
- 87% Tree Care
- 83% Irrigation System Installation
- 59% Landscape Lighting
- 56% Fire Feature
- 56% Inground Pool Addition
