We’re gearing up for another #hotmum summer which involves our kids running amock in the backyard and us sitting in our tropical garden oasis sipping Prosectto and watching them. Bliss!
But not when your backyard looks like a barren wasteland or a forest of untamed weeds. The good news is that there are plenty of backyard ideas that are actually easy to do yourself and affordable. Landscape Designer and Adbri Masonry ambassador, Jason Hodges, shows us how to recreate an outdoor space that reflects your personal style.
Small outdoor projects and DIY-friendly tasks are an investment in your homes’ ‘kerb appeal’ and can increase the value of your home,” Jason tells Mum Central.
Below are five easy backyard ideas to spruce up your space just in time for summer.
Hamptons Garden
What’s a Hamptons Garden? Think coastal-chic styling, bought to life with a colour palette of whites with ocean blues, neutrals and stripes. Ah yes, the Hamptons style has inspired renovation projects across the globe.
Key design themes for a Hamptons garden include:
- Lush green lawns
- Privacy hedging
- Paved patio areas with styled outdoor settings
Balinese Sanctuary
Discover the laidback lifestyle of Bali without having to board a plane by bringing the essence of Bali to your backyard.
It starts with a villa experience, a personal sanctuary away from your typically busy life.
Homeowners can create a dream Bali-inspired oasis by following some simple design inspirations, colour schemes and clever planting that will make your outdoor space look lush and enjoyable all year round.
Key design themes for a Hamptons garden include:
- Textured charcoal stepping stone pavers
- Bamboo screens
- Decorative statues
- Smooth pebbles
- Plenty of greenery
Choose agaves, and frangipanis or bird of paradise plants to keep the tropical theme,” recommends Jason.
Palm Springs Modern
The fancy pants of backyard ideas, the Palm Springs look is a little bit celeb and a little bit coastal chic combined into one. Think soft pastels and features décor pieces for a resort-style feel.
Palm Springs is a design theme that perfectly suits the style of our homes with a focus on the outdoor areas and making the most of the climate,” says Jason.
The essence of Palm Springs style is a seamless indoor-outdoor transition that leads to generous outdoor spaces where clean lines are prominent. So an outdoor dining and serving area is a must!
How to create the look:
- Iconic Californian fan palms
- Agaves through the garden bed
- Cactus garden
- Clean lines
- Light tiles and features
Japanese Zen Style
Australians’ love affair with Japan has been on the rise for years. I mean, who wouldn’t want their very own Zen-style garden to chill out in and hide from the kids when their demands for snacks get too intense?
Zen gardens are low maintenance, relaxing and enjoyable to be in.
How to get the look:
- Varied textural elements
- A contrast between hard and soft landscapes such as gravel and grass
- Stones of varying sizes
- step stone pavers in greys or charcoals
- Ferns, ferns, and more ferns!
- A water feature to really set the mood
Australian Rural
The Aussie rural look is ideal for larger backyards and provides that ‘camping’ feel without actually having to pull out a swag or pack up the car. The great thing about this backyard idea is that it’s suitable for year-round, especially with a fire pit to keep things warm during the cooler months.
The key feature of an Aussie rural backyard look is alfresco dining.
In adding a fire pit, you can make this area the central entertaining spot. Install some casual seating in the way of log stools and make maintenance easy by bordering the garden with a simple concrete LawnEdge paver. Create some shade with a eucalyptus tree which will give you a special spot to enjoy throughout the day,” advises Jason.
Building the firepit is an easy DIY project using Adbri’s Miniwall blocks. We’ve also got a hilarious how-to build a fire pit right here.
