Your backyard should be an extension of your Toronto home, providing a sanctuary from the stresses of life. If your backyard has become an eyesore, here I share some designer hacks to transform that boring backyard into an awesome outdoor living space.
Get Things Tidy
Although tidying the backyard is not a fun job, it’s worth the effort. Just tackle one job at a time:
- Mow the lawn
- Cut back overgrown bushes
- Remove weeds
- Toss old planters and broken patio furniture
These steps create a clean slate for your transformation.
Simplify Gardening
To simplify gardening, consider laying down landscaping cloth in garden beds, and then covering them with mulch. This gets rid of weeds fast while adding a sense of harmony to your garden. You can fill space with cheap and cheerful annuals, and slowly create a more permanent landscape design each year. Speak to your local garden centre for advice on plants suited to your backyard environment.
Choose Seating
There are tons of outdoor seating options available today. Whether it is affordable and colourful Muskoka chairs, or gorgeous outdoor couches and easy chairs, you can create a lovely lounge area suited to your backyard size and budget.
Create a Dining Area
Dining al fresco on warm summer evenings is always a pleasure. If your backyard is particularly small, you might have to choose between a seating area and a dining area. Whether you love to entertain, or are all about family dinners, an outdoor dining set allows you to linger at the table and relax. If space is an issue, add a small bistro table with two chairs for intimate dinners or a place to sip your morning coffee.
Add Shade
Direct sunlight makes it difficult to enjoy your outdoor space during the day. Adding shade is a breeze, from gazebo tents to pergolas and from massive umbrellas to trendy sun shade sails.
Personalize Your Space
Add these finishing touches to complete your backyard transformation:
- Area Rugs: Area rugs help ground your outdoor living space, creating a cozy look. They also cover up boring concrete patios, outdated interlock or ho- hum decks.
- Pillows: Outdoor pillows come in a wide variety of patterns and colours allowing you to express your sense of style.
- Decorative Planters and Hanging Baskets: Tropical palms, containers bursting with an assortment of colourful annuals, hanging baskets with ferns, and urns with elegant cedars create a sense of home. They also make a space feel more intimate and private.
- Lanterns or Lighting: Flickering light adds a magical feeling to your backyard when the sun sets. Solar lighting makes it easier to entertain, illuminating the space, paths, and steps for safety. You can also add ambience with cheerful strings of retro patio lanterns, fairy lights, or candles.
- Water Features: Water has a calming effect while also blocking out the sounds of city traffic.
These tips help transform a boring, chaotic, or outdated backyard into a welcome retreat. Because the typical Toronto backyard is small, you can create an awesome outdoor living space without a major investment.
If you’re selling a home in Toronto, I can advise you on budget-friendly staging tips to help get top dollar. Let’s chat.
Photo by Shaun Montero on Unsplash
