Five Ways to Transform Your Backyard Into a Stellar Entertaining Space

Want to add some square footage to your living room and kitchen? Instead of contacting a contractor and building an addition, consider hiring a landscaper.

 

The outside yard has become an extension of a home’s living space. In Silicon Valley, lushly landscaped yards, patios, decks, and outdoor kitchens are now a staple to many luxury properties. If you’re selling your home, staging the exterior, in addition to the interior, is a great way to set your Peninsula listing apart from the pack. 

With the San Francisco Peninsula’s idyllic weather and beautiful scenery, outdoor home improvements are a no-brainer. Here are five ideas from Planet, a landscapers’ trade association, to help turn your backyard into top-notch entertaining space for year-round relaxation, family fun, and enhance your home’s salable factor.

 

Outdoor kitchens become the center of family life in the summer. Here in Hillsborough, you can enjoy those outdoor family moments almost year round, especially with patio heaters. Outdoor kitchens can be as simple as a patio with a grill and table or as lavish as a complete kitchen made of stone or brick, with a stove, oven, counter space, sink, refrigerator, and even big screen television. Include an outdoor bar and seating area for game day parties and weekend barbecues. 

Outdoor lighting shows off landscaping, illuminates walkways, and adds security. Increase curb appeal and safety with strategically placed lighting. So-called “night-scaping” can make your backyard a more welcoming place once the sun goes down. If you have good sun exposure, a set of solar lights add an eco-friendly touch.

 

Whether you opt for a portable fire pit or a sturdy stone fireplace, a cozy fire is a natural conversation aid. A fire pit is a back yard feature everyone can enjoy. Perfect for s’mores and backyard camping, your kids will make memories all year long. In addition to the family moments, entertaining guests outside is much easier during fall and winter; you won’t have to worry about chilly temperatures sending you back indoors during the evening hours.

 

Whether you opt for a portable fire pit or a sturdy stone fireplace, a cozy fire is a natural conversation aid. A fire pit is a back yard feature everyone can enjoy. Perfect for s’mores and backyard camping, your kids will make memories all year long. In addition to the family moments, entertaining guests outside is much easier during fall and winter; you won’t have to worry about chilly temperatures sending you back indoors during the evening hours.

 

Consider adding a water feature, such as a pond, a water wall, or a fountain. This amenity will instill your backyard with a sense of tranquility and can also attract wildlife. Keep water levels consistent and the pump running to avoid mosquito breeding.

 

Wildflowers and herbs are striking and fragrant, whether as container gardens or ground cover. These gardens also benefit the environment and small animals, which use a well-planted garden as a source of food and shelter. You can also use an herb garden to spice up your own meals. If cooking in an outdoor kitchen, nothing is fresher than a dish with herbs cut right next to you in the garden. Guests like to be included in the process. Ask them to choose their favorite herbs and cut them to add to the meal you are cooking.

Living on the Peninsula affords homeowners the luxury of enjoying our outdoor spaces all year long. Maximizing outdoor living space allows homeowners to revel in our glorious weather now, while also adding home value when ready to sell.

For additional landscaping, outdoor kitchen, lighting ideas and outdoor-care tips before a sale, contact me today at (650) 207-5291. I can show you how to maximize the benefits of your backyard budget.