Create a backyard oasis

from At Home Places Spring 2021

Beer, wine, spirits abloom in Washington County

Above: With many vacations canceled in 2020, homeowners are investing getaway funds into a backyard transformation. Photo courtesy Casey Fence & Deck Below: A fire pit brings charming light and warmth to a backyard oasis. EP Henry photo courtesy Sunny Meadows Garden Center written by LAUREN LAROCCA

People are spending more time at home, and as the weather warms, outdoor spaces are being utilized more than ever before.

“A lot of people canceled their vacations last year, so they have extra disposable income to put into their outdoor living space — and they’ve been stuck at home, stuck inside, and they have that desire for extra space,” said Brendan Casey, owner of Casey Fence & Deck LLC in Frederick, Md. “I also think a lot of people are finding that by investing money wisely back into their home, they’re also increasing their home resale value.”

If you’re considering expanding or updating an outdoor space to make it more inviting, several options await. Whether you’re thinking of adding a new patio, deck, a fire pit or lounge area, local experts weighed in on what folks are doing to make the most of their outdoor spaces. Here are some ideas.

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A patio area underneath a second-story deck creates a nice, dry space to enjoy, even if it’s raining. Photo courtesy Casey Fence & Deck

Bring your vacation to you

When people began canceling vacations in 2020, Casey said he noticed pretty quickly that clients wanted to re-create their ideal vacation locales at home.

“People who would have been going to the beach are looking for that tiki bar kind of beach atmosphere,” he said. “They’re adding string lights to give them that beach party effect. Then you get clients who like being in the mountains and might’ve been headed up to Deep Creek (Md.) who are adding patios in and fire pits to create that bonfire effect like they’re camping. This is what clients want. We’re turning their backyard into their vacation destination.” Create patios under second-story decks

Casey said a lot of clients have been asking for under-deck drainage systems recently. With drainage systems keeping rain and snow out of the area underneath a second-story deck, a patio below becomes a nice, dry space to enjoy, even if it’s raining or snowing.

It’s also a great escape from the heat because it provides some shade. It’s a simple way to make the most of the space you have.

“People are trying to find ways to use more of their outdoor space because they can’t go somewhere else,” Casey said. Dine in your backyard

Derrick House, owner of Nature Boys Landscape & Construction in Boonsboro, said since people aren’t going out to eat as much, they want to enhance their backyard spaces to include dining areas.

Working with clients, Nature Boys can help realize their visions and create new spaces “where the family can gather for barbecues and family fun in a time when options are limited,” he said.

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Extend the seasons

“In this area, there is a big trend toward extending the season(s) to spend (more time) outside,” said Shawn Eby, manager of the Outdoor Living Division at Sunny Meadows Garden Center in Boonsboro.

He noted that while adding a fire pit brings charming light and some heat, installing a radiant infrared heating system can add about an extra month of use on both ends of a season and costs only about $1 to $2 per hour to operate, depending on the size of the project.

On the same note, Eby said a lot of people are heating small areas around their outdoor kitchen so they can use a grill year-round. Light it up!

Landscape lighting is another trend in backyard spaces. “You might be thinking of spotlights shining on the front of the home,” said Eby, but also “small lights for your backyard living space, not only for enchanting nights with friends, but also for safety on walkways and steps. There are myriad options.” With LED, low-voltage lighting available, you can add a lot of lights with little use of electricity. — Places

Low-voltage lighting is used for safety on front steps. Photo courtesy Sunny Meadows Garden Center