4 Keys to Your Ideal Backyard

If a man's house is his castle, then his yard is his kingdom. Large or small, that kingdom is yours, and you should look after it accordingly. Is your backyard a simple square of lawn, not doing much to entertain or beautify your life? What can you do to transform that space into the haven you would like it to be? When you're considering how best to design and decorate your outdoor spaces, here are four things worth thinking about:

Water

Water is an excellent addition that can really take your backyard to a new level of cool. Water features can be peaceful and decorative, like small fountains, pools and streams, but they can also be functional. If you have kids or live in a very warm area, a pool might make an excellent addition to your backyard. Pools don't have to be aboveground eyesores; look at pool designs in Charleston or your area for ideas about how to turn your backyard into a watery oasis. From koi ponds to hot tubs, water is an excellent addition to any outdoor space. The trick is finding the right water feature for your space and your lifestyle. That said, take water consumption into consideration when making these choices. Watering a lawn is costly to you and the environment. Remember that there are xeriscaping options that can reduce your water consumption. 

Eating Area

Another must have addition to your outdoor space is an eating area. Choose this spot wisely and you will get all kinds of value from it. An outdoor eating space isn't just something that your family will enjoy: it's something that you can enjoy with friends and extended family. It allows you to have larger gatherings than your dining room might allow, and lets you get out and enjoy the sunshine. Everyone should have a place to barbecue and grill, a place where you can gather with friends and eat in the fresh air. That place should have plenty of seating, a place to eat, and ideally a space where you can prepare food and drinks, whether that's a small bar and grill or a full outdoor kitchen. 

Plantings

You should have plants that you enjoy looking at in your yard. There are plenty of reasons not to have a plain grass lawn, not least of which is that it's boring to look at and a pain to mow. Your plantings should express your personality the same way your house does. Attractive platings can be anything from a Japanese Maple to a planter of daffodils. Plantings can be functional as well as attractive: a stand of ornamental grasses can hide or even replace the fence that screens your property and there are plenty of herb and vegetable garden designs that are as useful as they are beautiful. 

Wildlife

Don't forget that you are not the only one who enjoys your backyard. Sometimes this is a curse as well as a blessing. You have to consider the wildlife when you are choosing your plantings. For example, if you leave in an area with lots of white-tailed deer, you want to make sure to take that into consideration and choose plants that they won't want to eat or sharpen their antlers on. If you have cats, you want to make sure that any plants you might bring inside aren't toxic to them. On the other hand, your backyard choices can have a tremendous, positive impact on the wildlife in your area. A butterfly bush won't just feed butterflies; it will also provide food for hummingbirds. Feeding the birds, or even something as simple as a birdbath can make your hard a haven for endangered and migratory birds. 

The ideal backyard is a haven: for yourself, for your family, and maybe even for some wildlife and plants that you'd like to encourage. It truly is your kingdom, and like any other domain, it takes care, thought and maintenance to help it reach its full potential.