Common Outside Ideas to Improve The Home

A practical guide to outdoor home improvement projects that enhance property value and aesthetics, from wooden decks and patios to landscaping and gabion walls.

The following is a guest post from my bloggy friend Taylor McKnight on behalf of National Outdoor Furniture. Interested in having a guest post on my website? Click here for my guest post submission form.

Elevate Your Exterior: Smart Outdoor Projects for Every Budget

The easiest way to increase your home value is to improve it. Upgrading your home can be a big financial decision, but it doesn’t have to be daunting. Whether you’re building a new home or upgrading an existing one, there are plenty of outside ideas to improve the home.

The key is to start small and work your way up. It may seem like a good idea to jump in with both feet and make an expensive purchase, but if you don’t have the budget for it, that’s likely to lead to problems down the road. You can test out your ideas before making more significant purchases by starting small.

Why You Should Add an Outdoor Project to Your Yard

It’s not always easy to find the inspiration to get outside and work on the yard, but with a little creativity, you can make it happen. Incorporating an outdoor project into your yard could improve the property’s overall aesthetic. This is one of the most common outside ideas to improve the home. 

The first thing to do is determine what you are trying to achieve. If you are trying to create an entertaining area or a place to entertain friends and family, you can add an outdoor living space that is both functional and fun.

New ideas to enjoy your yard all year round are out there if you know where to look! The key is always to be open-minded and try new things. Try something different in your backyard. Your landscape will never be bored again, and neither will you!

Outside Projects That Add Value to Your Home

Build a wooden deck

The deck is the most often used feature in the home. It is an extension of your home, where you can relax, entertain, enjoy the outdoors, and a great place for having family and friends over. Wooden decks are common sights in many backyards.

They can be incredibly simple to build if you have the right plans, materials, and tools. Choose an area that gets enough sunlight for you to reap these benefits, and make sure you check with your local building code before you start the project.

Building a fireplace

Another idea is to create an outdoor living space with a fireplace or fire pit. Fireplaces add warmth and ambiance, while fire pits provide entertainment and relaxation during cool summer nights. If you don’t have room for an indoor fireplace, consider building an outdoor fireplace instead!

New Patio

A new patio is a big project and will cost you money, but it can add value to your house. If you have the money, a new patio can transform your backyard into a great place for entertaining and relaxing. You could even install a swimming pool. This is a highly visible change that people who visit your house will notice and appreciate.

New Roof

Although this seems like an expensive project, it will not only give your home a new look but also keep out the rain and snow and protect the inside from leaks. A new roof can add value to your home.

Fences and Hedges

These are good ways to keep children safe in the yard and dogs contained in their areas. They can also mark property lines and give privacy to homeowners living close together. Fences come in many styles, colors, materials, and designs, so they’re easy to incorporate into any landscape design you might already have or plan to have in the future.

Projects That Help The Yard

Planting ground covers

Create a beautiful yard by planting ground covers around your trees and shrubs to fill bare spots where the grass doesn’t grow well. Ground covers help create a soft transition from hard surface to plant life. If you do not want grass growing in certain areas, use ground covers instead. They are low maintenance and add beauty to your yard.

Planting deciduous trees

Plant deciduous trees that lose their leaves during the fall season so they don’t cover the yard with leaves all winter long. Place them strategically, providing shade during the warmer months while still allowing light to get through to plants on the other side. A tree with yellow leaves also offer bright color during an otherwise dreary time of year when most other plants have lost their green color.

Gabion wall

A gabion wall is made up of large rocks stacked in attractive patterns, giving an earthy and natural feel to your yard. They give an area of your yard a natural appearance and can add privacy and an interesting focal point.

Gabions are also functional because they can stabilize an area while allowing water to drain freely through or under them. This can prevent erosion or even flooding. Compared to other landscape wall options, gabions are relatively inexpensive and easy to install.

DIY Projects That Can Be Done to the Yard

Potting bench

A Potting Bench is the perfect piece of furniture for any home. Not only does it provide extra storage, but it also serves as a centerpiece for the home. It provides a place to store all gardening tools, pots, seeds, and anything else associated with the joys of gardening and a place where you can sit and relax while spending time outside the house.

Adding plastic figures

You can find inexpensive plastic or ceramic containers in almost any design imaginable at local discount stores or discount home improvement stores. If you have children, consider adding plastic figures of animals or people to the pots. Remember that not all plants need full sun, so you might want to choose what you’re planting based on the amount of light it needs.