Create Yourself a Serene Outdoor Space With These 16 Ideas

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By Ashley Hanson

Updated: Jan 16, 2025

8 min read

Outdoor Sanctuary
Photo: @jin_jinal_landscape

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    Whether the outdoor space is big or small, creating an outdoor sanctuary is possible with minimal effort and investment. If the outdoor space is big, it's comparatively easy to implement the ideas. However, a small space needs imagination, creativity, and an eye for minor observation. Retreating in the outdoor space after a long and hectic day helps you unwind and dive into an oasis of beautiful landscape. It also boosts mental health because nature is the best healer. If you are looking for ideas to transform your outdoor space, here is the article for you.

    Add a Pop of Color With Potted Plants

    Outdoor Sanctuary With Plants
    Photo: @magdas_garden

    No matter what the size of the balcony or large backyard is, potted plants in different sizes and colors are the simplest and budget-friendly way to bring nature to the outdoor space. Add a pop of color with stunning flowers, vine plants, grasses, or shrubs in pots. For larger patios or yards, you can plant small trees around the path to make it more interesting. There are innumerable options to transform the outdoor area into a bright and beautiful space.

    Cover the Patio to Make It Useable Around the Year

    Covered Patio
    Photo: @hhipatiocovers

    Covering the patio is a functional way to use it all year round. It will save the surrounding area from rain and snow and create additional space to place pieces of functional furniture like a sofa. It'll work as an extension of the living or dining space, based on your requirements. A covered patio is a simple way to elevate the outdoor space.

    Enhance the Look With Hanging Baskets

    Hanging Plant Baskets
    Photo: @offgridworld

    Merely hanging baskets on the patio walls or balconies with ferns and flowers like geraniums and sweet potato vines is another way to save floor space for other items. Hanged baskets add drama to the outdoor space and keep you away from the stress of drainage of a pot. Keep in mind that this idea works wonders in places with less sunlight.

    Create an Inviting Ambiance With Comfy Seating Arrangements

    Outdoor Seating Space
    Photo: @liveouter

    If there's a covered patio outdoors, make arrangements for comfortable seating for sudden gatherings with friends and family members. Many times, near and dear ones turn up without prior intimation, and that calls for a space to enjoy the moment.

    Make a Perennial Flower Bed

    Perennial Flower Bed
    Photo: @hesslandscapenurseryky

    Create a luxurious landscape of perennial flower beds with beautiful and colorful flowers and trees with large canopies providing shade to other plants grown under them. Combine evergreen shrubs with bushes to bring nature to the garden.

    Make the Firepit the Focal Point of the Outdoor Sanctuary

     Firepit in Outdoor Sanctuary
    Photo: @zassocdesign

    Irrespective of the size of the yard, it gives immense opportunity to revamp the outdoor space into a serene and lively place to gather the best moments of life with near and dear ones. A brick or stone firepit is the best way to create a focal point to enjoy glasses of wine over old stories and casual chit-chat.

    Add an Outdoor Kitchen in the Backyard

    Outdoor Kitchen
    Photo: @kokomo.grills

    Add an outdoor kitchen in the backyard with a built-in grill, a small counter space, a mini refrigerator, a sink, and a stovetop. It's not necessary to buy all these items; you can decide on items based on your budget and requirements.

    Turn the Big Backyard Into a Relaxed Place

    Relaxing Backyard Space
    Photo: @bacqyard.design

    To transform a big backyard into a sanctuary of peace and relaxation requires planting colorful and stunning shrubs and flowers to invite nature in the form of butterflies and bumblebees. The best thing is its low upkeep, which keeps you stress-free.

    Create an Instant Ambiance With Statement Lighting

    lighting creates a perfect ambiance in the outdoor space
    Photo: @balsamcreeklandscaping

    The perfect lighting creates a perfect ambiance in the outdoor space, making it the most sought-after relaxing place during the nighttime. Apart from hanging pendant lights and other statement lights, tea candles lit in the lanterns can also create an instant soothing environment.

    Outdoor Sanctuary With Window Boxes

    Window Boxes
    Photo: @saltairenantucket

    If there's limited or no space in the outdoor area, window boxes or balcony boxes prove to be the functional way to create a sanctuary with minimal investment for maximum return. All you need to do is drill these boxes onto the balcony or under the windows or opt for drill-free boxes to hang on the railings and grow herbs to enjoy them fresh.

    Create an Alfresco Dining Area in the Outdoor Space

    Alfresco Dining Area
    Photo: @carlislehomes

    Summer is about Alfresco dining with friends and family over the weekend. If the patio is covered in your outdoor space, get a big-sized dining table and chairs to accommodate large gatherings. If the patio is uncovered, consider a pergola or trellis and cover it with climbing vines for protection from direct sun, followed by seating arrangements. Arrange dishes in a caddy for more mobility and easy access.

    Make a Distinct Zone for the Home Office

    Outdoor Working Area
    Photo: @tim_ung

    If you work from home and want to have a distinct working zone in the outdoor space to work in a serene environment, place some comfortable chairs on the covered patio. You can work in a relaxed ambience and add to the work efficiency.

    Extend the Kid's Learning Environment

    Outdoors Playing and Learning Space for Kids
    Photo: @swingset.nation

    Why limit kids to indoors for all the fun? Let them enjoy the outdoors and make learning fun in the lap of nature. Outdoor activities help boost their mental health and make them feel fresh and energetic. It can be done by getting a small pool, a compact swing, and beautiful potted plants. Kids' learning goes beyond the books and extends to real-life learning about nature and its relevance.

    Bistro Sets for Small Spaces

    Bistro Sets for Outdoor Space
    photo: @bcproducts

    For small spaces, bistro sets are the smartest way to create an outdoor sanctuary to enjoy morning coffee and evening drinks with a beautiful and natural backdrop. You can enjoy the cherished moment in a serene ambiance.

    Inject a Pop of Color

    Colorful Outdoor Area
    Photo: @brickwarehouse

    Infuse a pop of color with colorful rugs, cushions, and other accessories in the outdoor space. Inject a new life to the space with bold colors like blue, teal, or coral and different textures for an eclectic look.

    Create a Beautiful Walkway

    Walkway in the Backyard
    Photo: @elispaverpatios

    A walkway in the backyard will take you through the different zones of scenic beauty. To make the walkway comfortable, there are various options like a paved path comprising gravel or wood chips and planting colorful plants and flowers.

    Conclusion

    Creating an outdoor sanctuary gives you an opportunity to turn your imagination into reality with various ideas, from hanging flower baskets to covering the patio. The concepts discussed above will surely help in creating your own sanctuary.

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