As the weather improves you might be finding new ways to get outside and shake off the winter blues. Check out some of our previous posts on outdoor decks, patios, firepits and more. This post is all about unleashing the true potential of how to enjoy your outdoor space for recreation. Here’s a list of wild and fun ways to personalize your backyard!
Swing Away!
Take a seat and swing away. Somehow a swing brings out the kid in all of us. Whether it’s adding a porch swing for adults, or a swingset for kids, keep in mind safety first! Installing a porch swing, swinging daybed, or even a swing off a tree branch, needs to be done correctly. Anything that’s being suspended from above, needs to be supported not only for the weight of the swing and any potential swingers, but it also needs to withstand the force of the movement. Strong support can help prevent various materials from crashing to the ground. Make sure you consult a professional to make ensure the hardware you’re using is rated for more than ample weight. Also, make sure that whatever walls or posts you’re screwing pieces into are strongly reinforced.
Enjoying a good book, a glass of lemonade (or wine?) and relishing the warm breeze is all you can ask for with this cozy porch swing.
These contemporary swings have sculptural appeal as well as adding a sense of fun to this exterior!
Tight on space? I love this smartly designed back patio with a small landing pad of grass for little ones. It creates room for entertaining for the entire family.
We installed this swing right into the garden providing a fun way to view the yard and blooming flowers.
If you’ve got the space for it, an outdoor swing/play set for your family can be a fun investment. Safety and correct mounting are key. Make sure everything is well anchored into the ground to withstand the elements and importantly doesn’t lift up off the ground on those extra big swings. Ensure the ground is soft; adding some mulch for extra padding is a great idea and can help avoid those pesky grass stains that are bound to happen!
I love the way this playhouse is also a combo tree house!
The golfers in the family won’t mind supervising the kids if they can practice their short game at the same time!
Kid Kraft is a great resource for swingsets and playhouses for kids of all ages.
Get Fit
If you’re a fitness junkie, you might know motivation can dip when you need to be inside working out when the weather is so enjoyable outside. Try finding ways to take your routine outdoors – or let the outdoors in!
Having nice big windows with an outdoor view is a bonus, and opening them up to feel a refreshing breeze is great. How about expanding your workout space to spread out onto your driveway or a patio?
These full-view windowed garage doors offer a year-round view and provide fresh air on a nice day!
This gym opens right up to the homeowner’s tennis court!
Sky High
Who doesn’t dream of the ultimate treehouse as a kid? Whether you imagined a private space to get away from the house or to have outdoor sleepovers up in the trees, childhood dreams can come true. Maybe as an adult, you’re now fantasizing of an outdoor fitness space? Get imaginative, swings and slides for kids, monkey bars, and maybe some pull-ups bars for the fitness fanatic. If you can dream it, you can build it! (Or a skilled carpenter can! 😉)
Do I spy a spiral staircase AND a rooftop deck on this treehouse?
I love this treehouse, with some ropes courses that can challenge kids young and old, it can grow with the family!
Game Time!
For families that have young, successful athletes or maybe you just really love to play sports, here are some drool-worthy inspiration photos of how to make your outdoor space become a dream come true!
These outdoor putting greens are a golfer’s dream come true.
Bocce Ball anyone? I love how this adult playspace integrates so nicely with the landscaping.
I love the look of this turf tennis court.
How about a half basketball court?
This outdoor sports court multifunctions for both tennis and basketball.
A half-pipe for skating, a basketball hoop, a beautiful swingset using interesting materials and design. For those who want everything – you can have it!
For The Modern Glamper
If you’re a rustic outdoorsy person, or want to have a fun backyard retreat in a more wooded area, check out these amazing raised platform tents. Who needs an Airbnb when the getaway is right in your backyard? A friend of mine had a large bell tent on a wooden platform, with an adjacent picnic table, campfire area and would from time to time even set up a projector screen. It was great entertaining for adults, kids and pets. Summer camp is at home for these campsites:
A small raised deck provides a great outdoor campsite that can stay set up for weeks at a time.
A dreamy getaway – get fun decorating the inside of your tent with bohemian outdoor rugs and pillows.
This structure can stay up year round, and the soft tent material gets installed seasonally.
Dream Big
Whether you’re looking to install a small swingset for the kids, or the ultimate sport court for burgeoning young athletes – let us help you! I can’t wait to see what you’ll think up once you realize the possibilities are endless for enjoying your outdoors space. Please contact a HomeSquare professional today if we can help you realize new ways to enjoy outdoor activities right at your own home. And remember to check out some of our previous posts like this one, for inspiration.
Katie Canfield is the founder and principal designer at Studio KC. Studio KC got its humble start in 2015 when Katie was just 23 years old. While she was freelancing with other interior designers in the NY and CT area she also became a go-to designer for local contractors and trades that needed a designer’s help for their clients whether it be for custom cabinetry drawings or plans for a gut renovation on an entire home.
Katie Canfield’s design aesthetic is eclectic and flexible. She delights in the marriage between old and new- keeping spaces approachable but still matching each client’s unique aesthetic and family narrative. Her passion for design keeps her motivated and constantly on the hunt for new trends and materials. Her broad experience includes an art history background, study at the Accademia Italiana in Florence, a stint with the renowned Manhattan firm Amanda Nisbet Design, as well as collaborations with builders and designers across the tri-state area. She’s seen it all: from gutting prewar Manhattan apartments to new construction in the ‘burbs.