Top Reasons for Remodeling Your Outdoor Living Space

Remodeling your outdoor living space helps you get the best bang for your home investment buck. But don’t wait until it’s time to sell to make those upgrades. Arkansas’ temperate climate lets you enjoy your backyard all year long- but only if you’ve made the right improvements. Remodeling outdoor living space makes sense, especially because barbecue season is just around the corner. Here are some top reasons for getting the job done, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money in the process.

Home Value

Outdoor home improvements will add financial value to your property, but a big plus is a boost in curb appeal. New garage doors, lighting, decks, and windows promote your house as modern and low-maintenance. Painting the front door black can raise the home value by up to $6,000. Security lighting and smart locks are controllable by an app on your cell phone.

Decking Out the Deck

Imagine sitting outside on a warm summer evening, watching the stars as they dance in the night. When skies are overcast, you can still see sparkling from specially-designed deck lighting hung over the platform, wooden slats, pergola, and privacy screens. Lanterns, fairy lights, sconces, torches, and solar sticks bring a cozy ambiance to the backyard when hanging out at the end of the workday.

Splash

With temps in the 90s and above, Arkansas summers are hot. How often have you wished for a backyard swimming pool? Installing an in-ground pool may not be an easy decision, but there are many above-ground pools available in various price ranges and sizes. Consider adding a cabana and pool-gear storage. Remodeling your backyard with a swimming pool will make it a more pleasant place to be in July and August.

If you cannot make it to the Hot Springs in Arkansas, think about how nice it would be to have your own outdoor spa … it’s perfect for relaxing after a long day. Swimming pools and hot tubs are bound to bring your friends and neighbors over for a visit. Store a few snacks and drinks in an outdoor fridge.

Privacy

Keep prying eyes away from snooping on the property. Build a high fence, vertical garden, or layers of greenery. Landscaping ideas for backyard privacy include living walls and hedges, and trees like possum haw, persimmon, and paw paw (they practically “scream” Arkansas).

Native plants draw birds and wildlife, making the backyard a haven of serenity. Plant some yaupon holly, illicium, Carolina allspice, and beautyberry for sweet colors and aromas.

A sturdy fence adds to your property value by providing privacy and security. It allows you to let your kids and pets roam free and keeps roaming dogs and other critters out. Check with your HOA before deciding what kind of fence to install.

Outdoor Living

An outdoor kitchen and large deck or patio expands your home’s livable square footage and allows you to entertain outdoors. Instead of spending money dining out, you’ll enjoy more time dining outside in your own yard. You’ll also have a place for friends and family to gather for events like Superbowl parties and Christmas get-togethers.

Clean-up will take half the time after an outdoor shindig. You’ll also save time on landscaping chores. More hardscaping in your outdoor living space means there’s less grass to mow.

Fresh air is beckoning, especially during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and after the last couple of years of quarantine. Building an outdoor kitchen, structured barbecue, hardscaped seating, and a water fountain is more than adding a few aesthetics to the backyard. It’s developing a haven for enjoying the simple way of everyday living.

Barb Ambrose is a home stager and landscape design writer. She loves entertaining and playing in her backyard, but she despises yard work. She recently expanded her patio and added an outdoor kitchen so she has less grass to mow.