The COVID-19 lockdown led many of us — including me! — to rethink how to make use of every square foot of our homes, both indoors and outdoors. Now, with ongoing economic uncertainty, it’s smarter than ever to maximize the potential of your yard with outdoor living space ideas.
So, how do you start creating an outdoor living space you’ll actually love? And how do you do it without spending a fortune?
If you’ve got a hefty budget, you can hand everything over to a landscape architect and cross your fingers for a big reveal. But if you’re like the rest of us, you’ll need a bit of research, creativity, and planning to get the backyard you want without breaking the bank. Here’s exactly how we did it — and how you can too.
Gain Perspective on Your Outdoor Living Space
Most of us know how to decorate a room because the “frame” already exists — walls, floors, doors, windows. But when it comes to designing a backyard or patio, you’re starting with a blank slate for your outdoor living space. That’s why it helps to break your yard into two categories:
- Hardscape: patios, fences, sheds, walkways — anything man-made and structural.
- Softscape: plants, trees, shrubs, flowers — the living, breathing parts of your yard.
The collaboration between your hardscapes and softscapes working together will create a functional, beautiful outdoor living space.
- Walk around your yard and imagine how these two categories can balance. Do you need more greenery? A place to sit? A walkway to connect it all?
- Think “Zones”. Do you need a space for a fire pit, a dining area, play space for the kids, a quiet, or a private area for adults?
Get Inspired by Watching Outdoor Living Space Ideas on TV!
Remember how we all binged on TV shows during COVID? Instead of Tiger King, we dove into garden shows like Backyard Builds (big budgets!) and Garden Rescue (smaller budgets, big ideas).
These shows are entertaining, but also incredibly useful for:
- Seeing different design styles.
- Setting realistic expectations.
- Learning about costs for hardscapes and plants.
- Sparking creative backyard ideas.
Another fun and informative TV show is: I Hate My Yard with Sarah Bendrick. Highly recommended if you want outdoor living space ideas that are relatable, real-world transformations.
Visit Local Gardens for Real-Life Inspiration
TV shows offer great inspiration, but nothing beats walking through a real outdoor space. Wherever you are located check-out botanical gardens to inspire outdoor living space ideas that make you smile. We explored several nearby gardens in our locale in southwest Virginia specifically, that gave us fresh ideas:
- The Wildflower Garden at Mill Mountain Park (Roanoke, VA)
- Hahn Horticulture Garden at Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
- Virginia Western Community Arboretum (Roanoke, VA)
Each offered a peek into what’s possible — whether it’s plant combinations, paths, or seating areas. Seeing it live made it easier to picture what would work in our own yard.
Tap Into Local Knowledge & Garden Clubs
Your community is a hidden treasure chest of outdoor living wisdom! Look around your area. Chances are, there are clubs, plant sales, or even community gardens where you can learn directly from passionate experts.
- The Mill Mountain Garden Club (part of the Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs) has a mission to preserve and enhance natural beauty.
- The Hahn Horticulture Garden isn’t just gorgeous — it’s a teaching resource for landscape concepts.
Use Your Public Library for Outdoor Living Space Ideas
Public Library:
Don’t underestimate your local public library! Ours had dozens of books on landscape design, from DIY greenhouse building to lasagna gardening. I started checking them out but eventually created my own personal collection. Having books on hand gave me:
- Step-by-step design guidance.
- Real examples of different styles.
- Quick references for comparison.
Build Your Personal, Private Library:
Having a collection of gardening, landscaping, and outdoor living space ideas publications offers you the opportunity to get inspired anytime you want while building your own little “landscape library.” Browse the books we have for sale — landscaping, gardening and other outdoor living space topics.
Ask the Right Questions
After watching TV shows, reading books, and making garden visits, we did the most important thing: we walked around our yard . . . A LOT. Then we set up a little “design meeting” at our bistro table with cocktails and our own Sausage Wonton Cups. We asked ourselves:
- What’s most important in our outdoor living space?
- How much money we might want to spend, can afford to spend, or budget to prevent over spending on a home improvement?
- What parts are Do-It-Yourself (DIY), and what parts should we hire professionals?
We used the process above to create our LivingOnThePatio tools — resources designed to help you figure out your own dream space. Neither is a step-by-step landscaping plan (that’s where the books come in), but both resources identified blow are invaluable in helping you bring your outdoor dreams into focus. These tools will help you and all members of your family ask the right questions and determine what you/they want in your outdoor living space without breaking the bank.
Of course you should write down your answers — they’ll guide every decision you will make. And that’s where the tools we have developed come into play. Check them out:
- Guide to Creating an Ideal Outdoor Living Space
This in-depth PDF has all of the questions you should be considering and space to document your decisions, as well as including three 30-minute one-on-one navigation sessions (90 minutes total) to guide you through your patio vision step-by-step. By completing this tool you will define your goals, decide what to DIY or delegate, and start creating a functional, beautiful space. - The LivingOnThePatio Starter Kit
Get everything you need to kick off your outdoor space project – includes planning worksheets, a budgeting guide, and a composting instruction sheet. This tool is best suited for the accomplished DIYer in your household.
And what’s the value of using our award-winning Outdoor Living Space Ideas tools to prompt your thoughts and allow you to document your decisions as you create your plan? The “best” design is one that:
- Fits your budget.
- Reflects your personal style.
- Shows a clear vision of the finished product.
6 Takeaways for Planning Your Outdoor Living Space
Get started today! Here’s your “To-do” list:
- Think of your yard as one unified outdoor living space (balance hardscape + softscape).
- Get inspired by binge-worthy TV shows featuring garden and outdoor living space ideas.
- Visit local gardens for hands-on ideas.
- Research styles and techniques at your local public library or better yet, build your own private library.
- Ask yourself the right questions before you spend to make sure you stay within your budget and get the space you want.
- Use tools like A Guide to an Ideal Outdoor Living Space or the LivingOnThePatio Starter Kit to organize your ideas.
With a little planning, you can have a gorgeous outdoor living space without spending tens of thousands. We’d love to share more experiences with you — so grab a glass of wine (or a cocktail), dream big, and start living on your patio!
Outdoor Living Space Ideas FAQs
How do I start designing an outdoor living space if I’m totally new to it?
Begin by walking your yard and separating “hardscape” (structures) from “softscape” (plants). Then, gather inspiration from TV shows, books, and gardens before sketching out ideas.
Can I create a beautiful patio on a small budget?
Absolutely! Start small — think lighting, container plants, and a simple seating area. Add larger hardscape features later as your budget allows.
What’s the most common mistake people make?
Jumping into buying furniture or plants without a plan. Always start with a vision and a budget first!
Please Leave a Comment
Was this information helpful? Leave a comment below and tell us if this information was of value to you or tell us what we missed and can add to this post. Are you planning on adding or upgrading your patio or outdoor living space? Do you know all of the questions you should be asking yourself? If you’ve started, how is it going? If you haven’t begun, was this post helpful? Please share your thoughts and impressions. And tell your locale — we’re in Roanoke, Virginia, USA. Where are you?
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