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Technological advancements allow us to be entertained and stay “plugged in” virtually anywhere, even outdoors. Because of these new possibilities, people are shifting focus toward upgrading their home’s capacity for outside entertaining. Outdoor living spaces are becoming a new American status symbol with exciting opportunities for luxurious home entertainment experiences in warmer months outside of the comfort of your A/C. With so many choices for upgrading your outdoor space with amenities like a wood fired pizza oven, it is important to make a clear plan of action before diving in. Here are a few considerations to make while drafting a plan to boost your outdoor entertainment game.
Create a Plan
Start out by evaluating the type of climate that your outdoor living area will be in. Do you live somewhere that supports using this space all year round, or will you be limited to enjoying your outdoor entertainment in warmer seasons? Also, take into consideration the amount of precipitation and wind you have around your home. With these things in mind, you can decide if you want to create an outdoor space that is open and uncovered or protected by a cover. If a cover is the right choice for you, you’ll also have to decide the type of covering you want. Gazebos, canopies, awnings, pavilions and sun sails are just some of the available options, each offering different features and levels of coverage to meet your protection needs.
While the geographic location of your home is an important factor to keep in mind while creating an outdoor entertainment space, where you decide to set up this space on your property it is equally important. Assessing your current situation will help you plan better for the entire process. The size of your backyard ultimately determines how many features you can add to the space. Whether you already have a pre-existing patio area or if you’ll need to create one will also affect the amount of time and money that is necessary to dedicate to the project. Look at what you do and do not have to gauge the level of focus you’ll need to put toward fixing up those features. For example, you may need to prepare your deck for new features by cleaning and refinishing it. Maybe your yard is uneven and needs to be leveled, or your fence needs to be upgraded to offer more privacy to your new hang out spot. Once you determine how much or how little you’ll need to do to prepare your yard, you’ll need to create a timeline for when you’ll make these upgrades. It may be logical to take advantage of the longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures of the summertime for your outdoor projects.
After you’ve mapped out your space and decided when to begin the project, you can start to create a spending plan. Think about how much money you are willing, and able, to spend on these upgrades. There is a wide range of upgrades that you can make to your backyard and with that comes a range of prices. For smaller projects, paying out of pocket may be manageable. If you are looking at projects with a higher price point that you may not be able to pay out of pocket all at once, it might make sense to look into financing options. The cost of your upgrades as well as your own credit score can help you determine if a personal line of credit or credit card is the right option for you. For those who have available equity in their homes, taking out a home equity line of credit is another payment plan to consider using.
Choosing the Right Features
Outdoor Kitchen
Your outdoor space has endless potential for crafting your ideal home entertaining experience. If you’re a foodie who loves to spend time in the kitchen, and who also wants to enjoy the summer weather, now you can bring your kitchen with you! An outdoor kitchen provides a unique space for you to prepare and enjoy your meals, and offers your guests a dining experience that feels both comfortable and luxurious. The best part is that you can do so while soaking up the sun or enjoying a cool summer breeze.
It is not new or groundbreaking to have a grill or smoker in your backyard, but you can elevate your outdoor kitchen by adding on a side burner for preparing your sauces, marinades and side dishes. For an even more lavish cooking experience, a wood-fire oven is a great choice. Aside from the better taste it gives to the food cooked in it, this type of oven adds an extra element to the overall aesthetic of your outdoor dining area. A wood-fire oven also promotes fire and temperature control while cooking. Like a wood-fire oven, an outdoor stove with a hood range helps control the heat radiating from the stove, which is especially important in enclosed outdoor spaces and spaces that are close to the home. A feature that adds even more heat control to an outdoor kitchen is a food warming drawer that allows you to keep food warm while other foods finish cooking. This comes in particularly handy when preparing meats that require different cooking times.
Along with controlling the heat in your outdoor kitchen, you can add features to keep cool. An outdoor refrigerator gives quick access to foods that need to be kept cold without taking a trip into the house. For those who like to relax with a cool beverage, consider adding an ice maker to your outside set up, or even a refrigerator reserved exclusively for storing cold drinks. An outdoor kegerator is another great addition to an outdoor living space that duels as a bar area at home. There are a variety of options that fulfill a variety of needs: some can be used to brew cold brew coffee, and there are models that are designed for outdoor use as well as those that need to be covered from the weather.
Entertainment
Once you’ve decided the facilities you’ll use to prepare meals for your guests, the next step is to find comfortable furniture for dining and hanging out. A good rule of thumb is to take your knowledge of interior design outdoors while keeping in mind the materials you use will need to have more resistance to the natural elements than an indoor furniture set. Depending on the space you’re trying to curate, make decisions about what type of furniture you’ll have. There are many possibilities for furnishing this area with weatherproof options: sofas, chairs, tables, rugs, bar counter and stools, and much more.
After enjoying a meal, you, your family and your guests may want to indulge in a movie. There are options for outdoor televisions on the market, but to upgrade your viewing experience, consider using your space for an outdoor theater. Outdoor theater essentials include projectors, projection screens, and sound systems. And if you prefer to enjoy the natural elements outside of your home, consider adding a firepit area with comfortable seating.
Another way to enhance your outdoor space is by adding water features. You could add a decorative fountain, waterfall or pond to add a decorative element, or you could install functional water features like a pool or hot tub. If you can’t decide between a pool or hot tub, a spillover spa may be a great choice for you. A spillover spa features a hot tub that is connected to and spills over into a pool. Keep in mind that this can potentially be a very luxurious addition—the cost of adding a spillover spa to an existing inground pool can reach up to $60,000 alone. If you don’t have a pool to begin with, this project will run you even more. If you don’t have the room for a whole pool, or just want a more sedentary relaxation center, an outdoor sauna may be a good selection. An outdoor sauna may be the best option for those looking to invest in building their own tranquil escape from reality in the comfort of their backyard.
Taking all of this into account, the sky's the limit when it comes to creating a luxurious outdoor entertainment area. The important takeaway for planning this project is to choose the plan of action that suits your needs. From adding a firepit and a few chairs to creating the ultimate stay-cation backyard resort, find features that satisfy the demands of your lifestyle and start planning!
