Having an outdoor setting that lets you enjoy your yard and the weather is something that has become really popular of late. Every year as the weather warms up, people begin to spend more time in their yards, from activities, gatherings, and meals. 

Designing the right outdoor space for you takes time and can be a process to get it just right. And if you try to tackle the project without a plan first, you could spend way more time and money than you want to get your “just right” yard. 

The dream of relaxing, hosting, sharing time and space with loved ones is universal. Actress Rebel Wilson even went so far as to help a friend convert their backyard space to a dream outdoor “oasis.” 

While you may not have a friend willing to jump in and pay for a renovation of your backyard, it doesn’t mean that your backyard has to be desolate. There are numerous ways to keep your remodel costs low, whether you hire someone or it’s a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project. 

It shouldn’t be too stressful to convert your outdoor space into your dream. Take the time to plan how you would like to transform your outdoor “wasteland” into your outdoor “oasis” that you can enjoy and share. 

To help you plan your outdoor remodel, we’ve compiled a list of things you need to organize to help you get the dream yard you want. 

What’s Your Plan

Designing your outdoor remodel should start with understanding how you plan on utilizing the outdoor space you have. It doesn’t do you any good to prepare for a pool if you have a small yard, so thinking about the space you have, how you’d like to optimize its use, and the type of ambiance you want to create is essential. 

You can choose a design that focuses on privacy and calm for more intimate settings, such as having a waterfall, stream, or pond enclosure, or perhaps a lot of tall bushes, wildflowers, and trees.

If instead, you’re looking to host people over and want a more contemporary feel, having a gazebo, pool house, covered deck, fire pit, BBQ or other space that is open and engaging for your guests is entirely up to you.

Use Help Or DIY

Depending on the level of skill and sophistication needed to pull off your outdoor dream space, you can consider doing the work yourself. Utilizing YouTube and other online resources, you can develop a solid plan, learn how to Do-It-Yourself, and save some money in the process. The most significant expense will be your time, though even that can add up to a lot. 

If you are looking for major overhauls to your space, consider hiring a contractor specializing in outdoor remodels. Of course, to hire a contractor, it’s best to be sure of what you want and how much you can budget for the remodel. 

When discussing your ideas with a contractor, ask them a few of these questions:

• Do you have references from similar projects? 
• What do you anticipate the time frame from start to finish?
• What quote can you offer for the project? 
• Who will be coming and going from my house? Are they employees or subcontractors? 
• How will changes, if necessary, to the original project be handled? 

To Lounge Or To Party

Your outdoor space design should also answer how you plan on using the space. Is your strategy to let you have a nice quiet place outside, or is it to host dinners and other gatherings once they become a thing again?

Suppose you plan to have outdoor dinners, designing your space should include a colorful, friendly dining table, chairs, and umbrellas. The next phase of your planning your outdoor dining space is to set up the cooking station, and there are a variety of outdoor kitchens to choose from. 

You can choose from stainless steel multi-family designs with an outdoor kitchen and even get as granular in your planning as selecting the type of wood doors you have for your cabinets. 

The how and the why of your outdoor remodel is entirely a personal choice. By planning on how you want to convert your space into something magical and something, you would enjoy using, start with a plan, designate how you want to utilize the area, and set a budget.