Backyarding Bliss: Crafting the Perfect Outdoor Space

Spring and backyarding – the act of doing indoor activities such as dining, working, entertaining, and exercising in our own backyards – go hand in hand. As homeowners prepare to create the yard of their dreams this spring, the TurfMutt Foundation, suggests the first step is to identify your backyarding personality type.

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Nature Lover: Favorite thing is watching birds and backyard wildlife
Work from Home Pro: Seals business deals in the sunshine
Landscaper: Makes neighbors green with yard envy
Tips to turn your patio into a comfortable outdoor room
Outdoor Athlete: Likes to stay active in the fresh air
Entertainer Extraordinaire: Loves nothing more than treating great friends to delicious burgers in the backyard
Zen Master: Wants an outdoor space to relax and unwind
Kid Zone Creator: “Fun” is your middle name, and creating kid space is the name of the game
Pet Pamperer: Designs their yard as a pet sanctuary

“Knowing your backyarding personality type can help you be better prepared to craft a yard that is not only beautiful but is also purposeful and specifically suited to how you backyard,” says Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation. “There really are no rules; Create outdoor living spaces that reflects your unique personality and style while supporting the things you like to do in your green space.”

Here are TurfMutt’s backyarding personality types to help inspire you to “yard your way” this spring:

Nature Lover: Favorite thing is watching birds and backyard wildlife

Photo credit: OPEI and TurfMutt Foundation

The perfect backyard for Nature Lovers will feature native plants in bright colors that bloom year-round to attract, feed, and shelter birds and backyard wildlife. The Nature Lover will also need to find the perfect perch for backyard wildlife viewing.

Work from Home Pro: Seals business deals in the sunshine

A quiet corner of the yard complete with seating and shade (and a strong Wi-Fi signal) is the start to a beautiful and functional outdoor office. Other creature comforts like an outdoor heater, string lights, curtains, a warm rug, or even a semi-enclosed patio can enhance the space.

Landscaper: Makes neighbors green with yard envy

Put the right plant in the right place so your yard is always thriving and consult the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to find plants that will do well in your location with minimal input. Having the right outdoor power equipment is key to success for Landscapers, who know when to call in the professionals to help with their backyarding to-dos.

Tips to turn your patio into a comfortable outdoor room

Q: My husband and I love to entertain but are short on space. How can we make our exterior patio feel like an extension of our home and decorating style by creating an outdoor room?

A: Creating an outdoor room that is an extension of your home is a smart project. Whether you have a patio or deck, or simply want to set aside a space on your lawn, there are many weatherproof elements that can be combined to create an inviting outdoor room space.

The first step in creating a comfortable outdoor room is to define the visual borders of that area. This can be done with furniture, awnings or trellises.
You can also create a tented ceiling for your exterior room. To do this, install two trellises or arbors at either end of your new space, and use bamboo from your local garden center to run the length between the trellises. Place one at the top and then two on each side where the curve starts. Then, lay panels of your favorite fabric over the top piece of bamboo. It will run toward each of your two side pieces. Place the fabric between the two pieces of bamboo on the sides. You can billow the fabric panel as much as you like from the top to the side pieces, making sure there is enough clearance for folks to walk around your outdoor room.

It’s important to make sure that any furniture you place in your exterior patio room is weatherproof, including the fabrics for the furniture or any type of awning you may create. A great website for exterior furniture and fabrics is Giati. All of the fabrics are 100% solution dyed acrylic fabrics and are guaranteed not to crack, fade, split, or peel. They are also scrubbable and mildew resistant. Fabrics like these can customize your outdoor room without sacrificing any of your style.

Finish off your space by adding a cheap fire pit to your outdoor room and you’ll have all the elements to enjoy the updated backyard space well into the fall.

Outdoor Athlete: Likes to stay active in the fresh air

The Outdoor Athlete’s gold medal backyard might include a strip of grass for running sprints, built-in outdoor fitness equipment, or even a lap pool to channel your inner Michael Phelps.

Entertainer Extraordinaire: Loves nothing more than treating great friends to delicious burgers in the backyard

Ambiance is everything for this backyarder. String some lights, build a fire pit or fireplace, and even create an outdoor kitchen if the budget allows. Patio furniture and outdoor seating with comfortable cushions are a must, and colorful flowers in pots add a just-right touch.

Zen Master: Wants an outdoor space to relax and unwind

A hammock strung between a couple of shade trees, a soothing water feature that also beckons backyard birds, and simple, manicured plantings are just a few ways to create a peaceful setting outside.

Kid Zone Creator: “Fun” is your middle name, and creating kid space is the name of the game

Photo credit: OPEI and TurfMutt Foundation Happy family playing cricket together in backyard

Safe space that lures kids away from their screens and into the great outdoors right outside your home begins with a large patch of turfgrass, perfect for sports practice, cornhole, or pitching a tent. Trees are great for zip lines, treehouses, and swings. You can even plant a garden to teach kids about the origins of the food we eat.

Pet Pamperer: Designs their yard as a pet sanctuary

Who needs a dog park when you have a pet playground in your own backyard? Hardy turfgrass, sturdy plants, lots of shade trees, and shrubs that naturally section off pet “business” areas from the rest of the yard are some of the features you may want to consider. (Be sure to select non-toxic plants that are safe for pets.) Go all out with a splash pool or a sandbox for digging.

For more, sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation here. To learn more about creating the yard of your dreams, visit TurfMutt.com. Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog television show.