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9 Important Elements of a Relaxing Outdoor Retreat

Mar 10th 2023

woman leaning back relaxing on outdoor patio furniture

What does it take to create a relaxing patio or backyard retreat? Chances are, that depends on your favorite way to relax.

Do you enjoy a quiet summer afternoon reading or lounging in the pool? Maybe you prefer gathering with friends for dinner. Or is toasting S’mores around the fire pit your favorite way to chill? Then again, maybe your garden is your happy place.

Our yards, porches and patios can be beautiful and versatile places to spend time alone or make memories with family and friends, so how we design and decorate the outdoor living space of our dreams varies widely.

The fact that many Americans have only a few months each year to unwind and entertain outdoors makes us even more motivated to create the perfect setting. Here are a few suggestions for decorating elements to consider as the backyard of your dreams takes shape.

Furniture

pretty porch with rocking chairs and small table

Benches and Adirondack chairsBar stools and loveseatsHammocks and dining tables. There are so many types and styles of outdoor furniture, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

Your choices likely will be influenced by your tastes and budget, but you can narrow down your options by deciding how your space will be used.

Do you need a petite cafe table for a small balcony or a conversation set that can seat a crowd on your newly expanded deck? Are you drawn to classic rocking chairs, retro steel seating or resin wicker furniture?

Before you go too far in the decision process, it’s a good idea to take measurements of the space you’ll be filling. That helps avoid later regrets about patio furniture that might be inadequate, too large or too small.

You’ll also want a clear idea of how you plan to use your outdoor space. Make a list of your patio furniture requirements, divided into the features you “must have” and those that would be “nice to have.”

Be sure to factor in the care requirements for your outdoor furniture, as well as where you’ll store it for the winter.

Outdoor Rugs

deck with outdoor furniture and black and white outdoor area rug

While they may not count as a necessity, there are some good reasons to consider adding an outdoor rug to your backyard retreat. An outdoor area rug can unify your space and pull together your furniture, just like in your living room. Outdoor rugs make hot decks and stone patios more comfortable underfoot and add safety on potentially slippery surfaces like tile and stamped concrete. Plus, they’re pretty and add an element of style.

If you’re considering a patio rug, make sure you buy one made specifically for outdoor use that will resist mildew and fading.

Lighting

warm white globe lights on wooden fence at night

There are so many fantastic outdoor lighting options available! Outdoor lights are a practical way to beautifully extend the use of your outdoor living space after dark.

Layering in even just a few different kinds of patio lights enables you to create a truly magical backyard retreat. Start with Edison lights or warm white mini lights above your patio or pergola. Then, accentuate your garden border with rope lights. Illuminate a walkway with path lights and add candles or fairy lights in jars on the dining table.

And solar lighting is an energy efficient way to add light and character to your yard with little fuss.

Fountains & Windchimes

close up freeze frame of water splashing in stone fountain

Trickling water and softly melodic wind chimes are among the most relaxing garden sounds! These days, you can find a variety of beautiful water fountains for your garden in all sizes, styles and price ranges.

From a petite tabletop fountain to a natural looking cascading fountain for your flowerbed to contemporary designs for your patio, fountains with recirculating water are easy to set up. Some garden fountains also feature lights for additional nighttime enjoyment.

Bird Feeders & Bird Houses

blue weathered bird house hanging from tree branch

Speaking of relaxing sounds, bird song is naturally soothing. And bird watching as a hobby has continued to grow, even after the end of pandemic quarantines allowed us to leave our backyards.

From hummingbirds to songbirds, one of the easiest ways to encourage visits from our feathered friends is simply to create a welcoming environment with food, water and shelter.

Invite feathered friends to stay awhile by placing bird feeders, houses and baths around your yard. Bird houses and feeders come in many shapes and sizes. You can find brightly colored houses that will enhance your yard, as well as simple and rustic designs that blend well with nature.

Situate feeders, houses and bird baths near areas that offer good hiding places for birds, especially if there are outdoor or feral cats in the neighborhood. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology says outdoor cats kill more than 1.3 million birds each year. 

Statues & Decor

black stone statue of meditating figure amidst bright green leaves in garden

Accessorize your outdoor spaces, just as you would indoors, with statues for tables and garden areas, as well as wall and garden decor.

Garden statues can be bold and striking or demurely awaiting discovery in an out-of-the-way spot. They can be strictly ornamental or serve double-duty as bird baths and bird feeders. There even solar styles light up at night!

With everything from garden gnomes to stepping stones, statues and other garden decorations help you express your own style and personality in your outdoor spaces.

And if you have a patio, shed or fence, don’t forget to decorate vertically! Durable outdoor wall decor is another way to add color and personality outdoors. From fade-resistant and waterproof canvas art to durable metal and resin decor, there’s no shortage of outdoor wall decorations to grace your space.

Planters & Raised Gardens

white wooden planter filled with greenery sitting on brick patio against bright yellow wall

planter filled with flowers and greenery is a welcome sight no matter how large or small your outdoor space. Planters look great around the pool, along the patio, on the porch or by the door, but they also work well on balconies, railings, benches and tucked between permanent garden plantings.

Even better, garden planters come in so many diverse designs, there’s no reason to deny yourself a spot of living color.

When you are challenged by a lack of good ground, space or easy mobility, a raised garden planter is another great option. Many people reserve raised planters for their herb and vegetable gardens. But with the many attractive styles available these days, there’s no reason you can’t fill a giant planter with some beautiful flowers, grasses and trailing vines.

Gazebos & Umbrellas

outdoor dining table with bright green umbrella

Even when the weather is perfect, there are times you want to get out of the sun. If your yard lacks natural shade, gazebos and canopies let you make your own.

Gazebos and canopies are great ways to define a dining or seating area. Some even offer netting and curtains for protection against bugs, wind and sudden showers.

A gazebo or canopy enables you to set out additional seating on the lawn, but also can be a versatile solution to more expensive and permanent shade structures like pergolas and awnings.

Similarly, patio umbrellas are a popular option to keep your dinner guests from squinting in the sun. They’re available in durable, weather-resistant fabrics in a rainbow of colors to coordinate with your outdoor seating.

Many patio umbrellas offer adjustable height and width and are designed to provide coverage for common table sizes. Offset umbrellas are a great option to shade seating areas. Your offset umbrella may come with a wheeled base so it can be repositioned as needed.

Fire Pits and Heaters

overhead view of open deck with patio furniture and square fire pit table

Nothing beats gathering around a fire with friends, which is one reason fire pits have become so popular. A huge range of sizes and styles makes them as at home in the backyard or patio as they are at the beach or cabin.

While wood burning fire pits are traditional, many people prefer propane fire pits for their style and ease of use. You’ll even find small tabletop fire pits, as well as tables with the fire pit built right in.

For places and occasions when a fire pit isn’t appropriate or practical, many people set up a patio heater. Outdoor heaters are more efficient than fire pits at heating large spaces. And patio heaters are great for more formal outdoor gatherings when your guests don’t want to huddle around a fire or smell like wood smoke. Patio heaters are portable, adjustable and durable options to help add weeks and even months to your outdoor entertaining calendar.

Pulling it All Together

Your backyard retreat is what you make it. You can design and install it all at once or build and adjust it over time.

Admittedly, not every outdoor space requires an abundance of decoration to make it complete. However, a planter here or a statue there, lighting for convenience and a rug for comfort are the finishing touches that create a retreat where you and your guests can feel completely at home.

You may also like:

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3 Stylish Ways to Greet the Season with a Spring Wreath

9 Important Elements of a Relaxing Outdoor Retreat

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