Just how many homes have a backyard that’s completely unused? You basically have just a shed there where you keep the lawnmower and your tools. That’s it.
What if your backyard suddenly turned into the number one family gathering place in your entire house? A place where you hang out with friends pretty much every time. The most popular place to organize parties such as birthdays, Thanksgiving, etc.
This is very much doable. And all it takes is having a well-placed, well-designed porch or deck. That’s literally it.
Sure, you can take this to the next level, but simply having a porch or a deck can bring that ‘open-concept living’ into your house, even if you thought that wasn’t possible.
Outdoors That Quietly Reshape Daily Family Habits
Let’s view your backyard as an addition to your living room. When you feel cozy and relaxed, that’s when you enjoy spending time with close ones the most. It’s what your yard should feel like.
When analyzing psychological aspects, routines change when they feel most accessible and easiest, which is also probably why you still don’t have a habit of going outside throughout the day.
But when you bring children into the picture, this gets to another level. This is most notable today (in the modern world) simply because of the fact that kids who like to play outdoors will spend less time in front of their phones/tablets/TVs. And that’s a good thing.
The goal here is to create a space outside, where kids WANT to spend time. Basically, a space where they’ll want to go without you having to negotiate them into going every day. A place where it’s fun to be.
Finding simple ways to improve your yard is as important as anything else; no matter if it’s hot or cold, you should always keep it as an option.
Small Design Choices That Have a Huge Impact On Family Life
Still focusing on the ease of a routine, small changes each day make big differences in the long run.
Following the same principle, small design choices may not seem as important at the beginning, but over time, you and your family will start seeing the difference.
- Covered spaces change how often families go outside
If you happen to have enough space in your yard, take it as the perfect opportunity to build a summer kitchen.
Organizing family gatherings or making small cookouts will never be easier with extra space that is also nicely decorated. Don’t forget to add your personal touch to make even the outside feel like your own.
Another benefit of having a separate space from your house is that it enables you to spend more time with your kids while cooking, resting, or doing your daily chores.
- Defined zones reduce daily friction
Creating clear boundaries is another big step.
While organizing your outdoors, you clearly set a playzone, areas where you eat, where you rest, where you have shade, a place for a pool perhaps, a deck/porch – things like that.
Don’t make the mistake so many people do when you cramp everything together just so that you can fit that one extra feature into the plan. No. Always have them apart just enough so that you don’t have a panic/anxiety attack every time you walk outside. Plus, the kids will have more room for running.
Having them too far apart is also no good.
Imagine this:
You’re sitting on your deck with your family and a few friends. You’re drinking cold beer and chit-chatting, while all your kids are hanging out on the playground and playing around the shed. You’re all close enough together while everyone is doing their own thing.
And the most important part is that you can see the kids, and you can see what they’re doing, enabling you to be a responsible parent while still keeping up a good social life.
- A space that works doesn’t need constant supervision
Setting an intention to be more relaxed and present in moments with your family and friends often starts with how well your backyard meets everyday needs.
Most parents would agree that every parent’s wish is to be nearby without constantly hovering and worrying over their kids.
Creating that peace is possible if you get yourself a reliable, good-quality contractor. It’s not a bad idea to add features such as low-step decks or patios, or even a nice porch, where children can play safely, and parents can rest with friends (while being able to keep an eye on the kids). Who wouldn’t want that?
And if you go about it correctly (e.g., not rushing into the project, having a good plan, a good layout, getting the best contractor to do the job for you, researching beforehand to see what’s popular because perhaps you’ll find a couple of things that you like a lot, pick good-quality materials that will last you a long time, etc.), you’ll have less maintenance/attention requirements later on.
And to check all those boxes, plus check on boxes you haven’t even thought about, you need a reputable builder that specializes in outdoor living, such as Fortress Construction. They’ll surely give you plenty of ideas on how you could use the space you have.
Perhaps they’ll inspire you with a few ideas/layouts you never thought possible.
Long-Term Benefits of Having a Deck/Porch
At the surface level, parents usually think:
- Outside place for social stuff.
- My kids can play here.
And there’s nothing wrong with that, but in today’s world, one of the hardest tasks is raising kids who are aware of their surroundings and teaching them to be present in the moment. The easiest way to accomplish that is through play outside, where there are limited distractions.
However, in the long run, creating a safe space where they could be completely themselves, which also stands for parents, will certainly make family time more enjoyable and not rushed or tense.
Another important aspect is teaching your family to be active as a normal part of the day, not having to worry about obesity or additional health problems.
Conclusion
Lots of houses today (new builds or renovations) steer towards this open-concept space living idea. And yeah, why wouldn’t they? It’s a great idea to have a massive living space. Plus, when you think about the fact that lots of gatherings usually gravitate towards the kitchen, you get to realize that you spend most of your ‘family’ time like this.
Unfortunately, not all homes can afford such open spaces (usually because of bearing walls). So, what is there to do in such situations? Easy – get a deck or a porch.
These spaces are perfect for some good ol’ quality family time.
And what’s best is, lots of parents aren’t aware of how easily outdoor areas can be reshaped. So, plan your outdoors a bit, imagine how it would look, and if you aren’t sure about it, best call a local builder and have them paint the picture for you. That should help you make the decision.
Image Credit: depositphotos.com
