Staycation Landscape

Staycation Landscape

The recession in the US has caused many people to forego vacations for "staycations.” Instead of booking a plane flight and a hotel, you can invest in a few landscaping ideas and make your yard into your own resort. You'll save money and add value to your property that lasts long after your "staycation” comes to an end. So, take a look at our suggestions on how to get creative within your own backyard and get cracking! Your very own year-round vacation home awaits you!

Start with a Splash of Color

Every resort hotel you visit or vacation home you see will have similar garden features, including nice grass, bright flowers, and clean grounds for strolling. You can start giving your home that same resort feel with the following low-budget yard-beautification projects:. Start out by adding lush green grass to bare dirt areas of your yard. You can do this the traditional way by purchasing a good topsoil and some grass seeds and watering them daily. Or, we recommend you check out an inexpensive synthetic grass that looks great, requires almost no maintenance, and will never run up a water bill or shrivel up in summer heat. If you go with the synthetic grass, then you'll want to leave a border of planting area around your yard for some new flowers or trees. Look up Bloomingbulb.com for one of the cheapest online wholesalers of flower bulbs or check out Nature Hills Nursery for a wide selection of discount trees, bushes and shrubs. Finally, you can complete your garden upgrade with a rock path made of multi-colored stones that lead you on a winding adventure from one end of your garden to the other. Be creative and have fun with this first step! Make your backyard into a place in which you actually look forward to spending your relaxation time.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Once you have turned your backyard into a beautiful new landscape, you can strategically place garden accent lighting in various colors to give your property a bit of pizzazz. Try visiting a fancy hotel in your own city to get ideas. Take a stroll through the hotel's gardens and outdoor pathways to see how they use discreet lighting on the ground, in trees or on the walls to highlight beautiful flowers and other greenery. Solar-powered Rock Lights are a great addition to any yard because they blend in with the rest of the scenery during daylight hours and harness the sun's energy to keep the "rocks” lit for hours of light at night. You'll be pleasantly surprised to see how even just a few simple light installments will add elegance and charm to your home garden. Carefully placed outdoor lighting will also add to your "staycation” by extending the time you are able to enjoy your yard beyond daylight hours.

Make Merry with Music

Another easy way to make your home feel more like a vacation spot is to add an outdoor speaker system so that you can enjoy your favorite music from anywhere in your backyard. Like outdoor garden lighting, speakers can be placed discreetly throughout your property on trees and under the eaves. You can pump up your favorite club music for a fun party atmosphere, or waft some soft classical music through the air to add a sense of relaxation and tranquility to your "staycation” home.

Get Sizzlin' With a New BBQ

Adding a classic outdoor grill area will encourage you and the whole family to spend time outside enjoying each other's company and the beautiful outdoors. Check out the Wrangler Charcoal Grill for a good-sized BBQ that won't break the bank at only $109. The Wrangler grill comes with 435 square inches of cooking surface, 188 square inches of warming rack, and wooden shelves. If you live in an apartment building that doesn't allow charcoal grills or you're simply tired of messy charcoal and running out to refill your gas tank, try an electric grill. The Meco 9325 is a great option for grilling, searing, or slow cooking your favorite foods, and it will only cost you $189 from QSN Electric Grills. Happy cooking! BBQ shown is available at Walmart.

Make It Hot, Hot, Hot!

Who doesn't enjoy relaxing in a Jacuzzi with a cold beer or glass of champagne after an especially grueling workday? If that sounds good to you, check out Snorkel's Wood-Fired Hot Tubs. These beautiful outdoor additions are great for the energy-conscious because the Jacuzzi is heated by an underwater woodstove that only requires "wood, water, and a match” to give you as much relaxation time as you want. These hot tubs are stylish and easy to maintain and won't add to your electric or gas bills. What could be better?

Add That Final Resort Touch

If you're looking for that final touch to make your home truly feel like a resort, look into adding ponds, waterfalls, or fountains to your backyard. Check out this Antique Brown Cascade Solar Fountain for a beautiful addition to your garden that won't break the bank. The sound of its trickling water is guaranteed to add serenity and relaxation to any outdoor area. If you want to put a little more work into a water addition, putting in a small pond is a great weekend project. You'll need to buy a preformed liner and then dig out a hole slightly larger than the liner. Pack dirt tightly around the liner and then add water, a circle of stones around the pond, and voila - vacation style landscaping right in your own backyard!

At the end of the day, you want to make your backyard into a place where you can entertain your friends, but also enjoy a quiet evening on your own or with family. As a final touch once you've redone your yard, add a myriad of candles in glass hurricane lamps and turn on your favorite musician, pour a glass of wine, and enjoy your "staycation” with those who matter to you most.

Show Some Shade

Every yard needs a comfortable place to relax that's out of the sun's reach. If your backyard set-up doesn't have much existing shade, try one of these cool options. Shade sails add a modern look to any yard and can be tied over almost any area for permanent shade, including entryways, patios, and dining or play areas. Garden gazebos are another way to add style and shade to your yard. This one from Buy.com only costs $95 with a fully folding steel frame that makes it easy to set up or take down in minutes. If you're looking to invest in something a little more permanent, Ace Hardware makes a beautiful Pergola Arbor Bench that lets you grow vines up the sides and across the top. Wisteria vine works well to add beauty and shade over pergolas.