Creating Your Outdoor Oasis

Checkout these books and more here at the library or visit landscapingnetwork.com to see more ideas like the one above.

Winter is finally coming to an end, and if you’re like me, you can’t wait to get started on outdoor projects. Whether you are looking for outdoor entertainment, a children’s play area, an outdoor cooking space or even a pool, we have lots of books with great tips on getting started this spring.

Adding pavers and sidewalks to your home can add significant value and greatly increase curb appeal. Pavers are an excellent way to transition from your garage to the front door or porch. They can add color to your yard and can used for entertainment spaces too. Check out some of the books here in the library for ideas on materials, how to plan and estimate cost of your space, which colors to bring out your home yet still tie in with the rest of your yard, and most importantly a design that will work for you.

Helpful Tip: If using pavers, remember these are harder to cut than most materials. When choosing a design, keep this in mind to minimize the need to cut pavers or check with the store you purchase them from to see if they can be cut at the store.

If you aren’t looking for pathways and walkways, how about a porch or deck? The home neighborhood has a great selection on picking out the right size for your deck and gives great instructions on how to design the right space for you. Even if you already have a deck or porch we have a great selection on outdoor makeovers, some that can even be done on a budget.

Helpful Tip: If you have a popped nail on your deck, hammering it down is only a temporary fix as it will pop again or allow the board to warp over time. A more permanent solution is to drill a deck screw right beside the nail with the top of the screw just covering the edge of the nail. This will keep the nail from popping again and reinforce your deck or patio.

Maybe after this long winter you want to get the kids out of the house for the spring and summer. A great way to do that is with a treehouse! Having their own area for playing can be great for your peace of mind. We have several guides on choosing a design, picking the right tree and how to get the kids involved in the building process.

Helpful Tip: Tree houses don’t necessarily require a massive tree. A one story tree house can be built on a tree with branches larger than 8 inches in diameter. If you aren’t sure the tree has enough larger branches, try adding more anchor points to support your tree house.

One more thing you could add to your home is an outdoor entertainment space. This could be something as simple as a spot for grilling or if you want something more extravagant, a large outdoor pool. These spaces can add value to your home and allow you to host larger parties for your friends and neighbors. Fire pits are great on summer nights to add extra heat, a conversational area and allow a great place to make s’mores!

Whatever your spring and summer plans are, check out the home neighborhood for some great ideas to improve the outside of your home today.