Summertime means bonfires, pool parties, and barbeques in your backyard. From relaxing in your backyard by a fire pit to flexing your green thumb, there are a variety of backyard ideas to choose from. We've put together a list of five cool ideas to help you prepare for the summer season.

Cool Backyard Ideas

Prep For Hosting

To ensure your backyard is ready for summer hosting, you will want to take on the outdoor project of prepping and cleaning your entertaining space. Power-washing your deck, patio, and all outdoor surfaces will freshen up your backyard for those summer gatherings. You’ll want to remove the dirt, dust, and salt leftover from the cold winter months before you begin to use your outdoor space.

Your outdoor furniture has also been collecting lots of dust and dirt in storage over the winter, so make sure to thoroughly wash all your furniture. You can do this with some soap and water. Cleaning all surfaces and outdoor furniture will allow for you to enjoy your outdoor space for the rest of the summer.

Green Thumb

A backyard idea that is often overlooked is the lawn and garden itself. Caring for your lawn and garden can feel a little overwhelming and scary at first, but spring is the perfect time to prepare backyard greenery for summer. You will want to aerate and fertilize in the spring and then mow consistently throughout the spring, summer, and fall. If you do not have time to take care of your backyard garden, hiring a lawn-care business might be a great option for you (and your backyard) and is more affordable than you may think.

Flowers

Bringing life to your patio by adding planters filled with fresh flowers. It will make all the difference when preparing your outdoor patio for summer. Create a color scheme using your favorite flowers to give your backyard a sense of cohesiveness and a pop of color, just like a color scheme does inside your home. Opt for planters with designs to match your color scheme or go for a more natural look to let the flowers inside of the planter be the focal point. Add a few hanging baskets from your roof or flower planters to your deck stairs to bring color and dimension into the space.

Backyard Patio Furniture

Outdoor furniture helps add cozy seating to your backyard and give you a designated place for outdoor dining and relaxing. From dining chairs to Adirondack chairs, there are a variety of seating ideas that are perfect for hanging out with guests or curling up with a good book.

There are many types of outdoor furniture materials, but the most popular are wicker, rattan, aluminum, steel, plastic, wood, and synthetic wood. If your backyard tends to be very windy, you may want to consider heavier furniture made of steel so that the pieces do not blow around in the wind. If you know you will need to move your furniture frequently, aluminum or plastic are great materials to choose because they are lightweight.

Tip!

Don't forget to add shade to your backyard seating area. Add a pergola or umbrella to help shade your guests from direct sunlight.

Finishing Touches

Last but not least, you will want to decorate your outdoor space. String lights are a very popular way to create a really fun ambience for summertime parties and gatherings. Hang the string lights from your roof or use poles secured in the ground to hang the lights over your deck or patio. Decor accents like throw pillows, rugs, end tables, and blankets can really take your backyard space to the next level.

Emily Fritsch is an interior decorator, designer, and blogger who helps overwhelmed homeowners and DIYers bring timeless design and function into their space, so they can love their home and the life they are building within it. Follow along with her at liliesandlife.com and over on Instagram!