You can treat your outdoor space in many ways—as an extension of your home’s interior design, as a hotel-quality amenity complete with a titular infinity pool, or as a European-inspired garden. The important question you want to ask yourself is how do you want your outdoor space to make you feel?

Space, climate, and budgets may limit what you can do with a back or front yard, but you’d be surprised at the difference a few outdoor upgrades can make to make your home more comfortable and versatile for entertaining family and friends.

Front yard

The front yard should focus on curb appeal. Your home’s exterior—its color, condition, and landscaping—should feel well-kept and inviting. Repair cracks in driveways, walkways, and sidewalks, and consider fresh paint for the trim and front door. If you don’t have a porch, adding even a small one with seating can make a big impact. At the very least, seasonal planters by the entrance can add charm. Clear debris from the yard, roof, and gutters; clean outdoor light fixtures; and update your house numbers with a metal plate and a modern font.

Plant greenery that changes or produces color seasonally like the Japanese Maple, Hillside Winter Gold white pine, Hydrangeas, Holly and the Common Lungwort.

To find plants that are ideal for your home, learn about plant-hardiness zones, which will tell you which plants will grow most bountifully in your area—then double-check with your local nursery for the best plants to purchase now. A good landscape architect can also come up with a design schedule that you can follow for seasonal plantings. Don’t forget to add fresh mulch to cover the dirt around plants and flowers.  

Back yard

When it comes to the back yard, bring your dream space to life—whether that means adding a water feature, a playground, or an outdoor kitchen and dining area. Aim to engage all five senses: plant fragrant herbs and flowers, create habitats that attract birdsong, design spaces with both sun and shade, and incorporate textures and sounds that invite relaxation.

Among many tried and true favorites, The Spruce recommends improvements that remain with the home, such as building a pergola, a stone firepit, screening in the back porch, sparkling water features, and an outdoor kitchen and dining area.

Pergolas 

A pergola is an open-air, open-roofed feature typically shaped like a pavilion and composed of treated wood or ironwork. As the weather nationwide has grown hotter, many are adding fiberglass roofing or covering the roof with vines and cascading flowers and other trailing plants. A pergola is an ideal spot for a dining area, or a cozy nook for two. It can be attached to the home instead of an awning, or it can stand alone as a focal point of the garden.

Fire Features 

Depending on your local open-fire ordinances, you may be restricted in the ways you can design a firepit. You’ll need a yard of a certain size, usually 25 feet or more to accommodate clearance from your home, other structures and trees. The pit itself should be made of fireproof materials such as stone or steel. Be sure to level the site so you can install a pathway and seating. For a smaller yard, you can install a smart electric fireplace into a wall that doesn’t require ventilation and can be turned on with an app or by Alexa. And, of course, there’s always the built-in gas or wood-burning option, more work but worth it for the ambiance.

Covered and screened porches

A covered and screened porch provides additional living space that’s not included in the home’s square footage, so it adds value as a desirable feature, similar to a garage or a porte-cochere. 

Water features

Any water feature—whether it’s a fountain, koi pond, or swimming pool—can add soothing sights and sounds to your outdoor space. But keep in mind, they’re often high-maintenance and don’t always increase your home’s resale value. If you decide to install one, do it for your own enjoyment, not with future buyers in mind.

Fountains are typically the easiest to maintain and can double as sculptural art. A well-chosen, well-placed, and well-lit fountain can elevate any garden. Durable materials like cast stone, concrete, sculpted granite, marble, or limestone are common, as are metal options such as copper, bronze, stainless steel, tempered glass, or glazed ceramics.

 Perhaps the most debated outdoor upgrade is a swimming pool. Unless you live in a region with at least three months of warm weather—or you’re willing to pay for heating—you may not get much use out of it. That said, pools and spas can beautifully complement features like pergolas and outdoor kitchens. In cooler months, consider adding lights or small fountains to keep the space visually appealing year-round. Just maintain proper circulation, chemical balance, and ensure pumps are winterized.

Outdoor kitchens

Outdoor kitchens are a great way to make the party fun, casual and upscale. You can do as little as a built-in grill, sink and prep area, or go all in with a pizza oven, beverage snack bar, bar seating, refrigerator, ice makers, and a separate dining area. 

To create a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors, bring in a few interior design touche