Having a premium outdoor living space is one of the best ways to enjoy your backyard and the company you keep.
Whether you love entertaining friends and family or need a space to escape the craziness of everyday life, investing in premium options for the backyard makes sense. Just like the interior of your home, the exterior should also be well-designed.
“The latest landscape trends reflect a desire to bring the indoors outside, creating comfortable landscapes that are both functional and beautiful,” says Adbri Masonry brand ambassador and expert landscaper, Jason Hodges.
“There are seemingly endless ideas to transform a boring backyard into an amazing, luxury space. If you have the time and a budget to work with, then it is worth the investment in the long term.”
Here Jason Hodges shares some design ideas to consider:
Resort living in your own backyard
More and more Australians are enjoying villa life in holiday destinations like Bali and love the idea of having their own beautifully landscaped backyard and plunge pool, so much so, that Adbri’s Great Australian Backyard Survey found that a pool is one of the top five things Aussies want in their backyard.
A pool can add real value to the home, while providing endless entertainment and enjoyment for homeowners and their families. The key to making the most out of a pool and its surrounding space is to take the time to enhance these areas.
The most important consideration is safety. Be sure to use a slip resistant paver that suits wet areas and meets the Australian Standard. Pavers such as Adbri’s Euro® range, including Euro® Classic, Euro Slate and Euro Stone, boast a coarser texture and are a top choice for both aesthetics and slip resistance, making them ideal for this type of environment and application. Choose a colour that complements the home.
In terms of fencing, if the budget allows, go for glass as it doesn’t disrupt the view or create barriers within the backyard space.
Cabana – the outdoor room
A swimming pool often becomes a focal point of a home’s exterior, making the location and design of the pool and the adjacent covered areas key considerations. Adding a cabana to your backyard not only offers guests an inviting space to relax, freshen up and dine, but it also makes hosting duties a cinch. Consider a cabana with a bathroom and dressing room. That way guests won’t traipse water through the house after a swim.
It’s important to carefully consider cabana openings. Installing concertina doors on one whole side of a cabana will double the available entertaining space for parties and open the room up to the paved pool area. Using the same pavers in both the pool and cabana area will not only ensure a slip resistant surface, but it also creates the perfect indoor-outdoor flow.
Fire tables are on trend
Fire tables are one of biggest trends in 2016 for homeowners wanting to upgrade their outdoor living spaces. A premium alternative to the fire pit, the table provides warmth and a great centrepiece while entertaining friends and family. In today’s smaller backyards, fire tables are more preferred than fireplaces due to their size, affordability and point of difference.
To construct a fire table, use concrete masonry retaining wall blocks to create a wall around the turn-key hardware. Choose a block like Adbri’s AB Courtyard which has specialty corner units to save you cutting the block. This block is easy to stack, does not require any mortar or glue and gives a great finish – a dream for DIYers who are looking for their next project. To finish off the fire table, use pavers or a sealed concrete slab for the top.
When it comes to transforming your backyard into a luxury space, it can sometimes be hard to know where to start. However, with an overall plan and some premium design options, you can create an amazing backyard to be enjoyed by all.
