There’s something to be said for living in the moment. But it’s also good to be prepared.
Now that we are embracing winter, taking steps to plan the backyard for the spring and summer can make darker, colder days seem more enjoyable. Besides, given that deliveries of outdoor furnishings can take months, preparing now means you can start enjoying spring on time.
To get started, get detailed dimensions of your yard and new home from the builder. Be sure to learn distances from the home to each property line and learn the height of any fences that will be installed.
Based on doorways and areas of sun exposure, mark which spots might be good candidates for shade cover. Items offering shade might include pergolas, gazebos, roof overhangs, loggia-style roofing or shade sails that can attach to fixed structures in the yard or on the house.
Ask the builder if custom patios can be installed during construction. And if the home includes a California Room, consider how you want the space beyond it to feel.
Next, meet with some landscape and patio or hardscape contractors. Tip: Ask the builder’s design center if any of their team members have expertise in outdoor design or if they or other buyers can recommend stores or design centers.
Provide the map of your lot as a guide. Mark the direction of the house as well as information on the height of the roofline, any fencing and any neighboring structures, if known.
Imagine how you’ll want to use your new property. Designers will help you envision your needs for permanent items such as shelter from sun, wind and rain as well as outdoor kitchen or barbecue areas, built-in fire pits and planter beds.
Explain how much gardening you’re able to manage. Could you plan a vegetable garden? Would grass or artificial turf be better? Would a fully paved yard with a few planting areas around the perimeter suit your style? What kind of irrigation makes sense for your needs?
After that, move to patio surfaces, factoring in aesthetics and durability. Could a mixture of surfaces add needed dimension? How would stamped concrete or large stone tiles look compared to poured concrete and where could each go in the yard?
Designers may have ideas on linking the aesthetics of each part of the outdoors to the others, including seating areas, planting beds, fire pits or built-in barbecues or kitchen features such as plumbing and electric.
While the landscape and hardscape teams are pulling together those plans, start browsing for furniture and other accent pieces. Note the various styles and uses of fire pits, for example.
If your existing home has an outdoor space suitable for a fire pit, choose one that you can enjoy during the winter while the new house is still being built. Explore everything from stand-alone, portable fire pits to furniture-style sets or permanently installed fire pits.
And if you’re not sure about a fire pit, then look at sets of sturdy, contemporary, outdoor furniture, with or without a fire pit. The better the quality, the better sense of permanence, elegance, comfort and flexibility for seating areas.
Even a small yard or deck may have space for multiple relaxation areas of various sizes. Consider a dining table and chairs under a roof overhang or umbrella and a cozy seating nook in another corner of the yard.
Families with two or more generations may even consider a third, small seating area so everyone can congregate with their own friends. A rubberized concrete coating offers a soft landing for children’s play where needed.
Think about outlet placements throughout the space, including around any decks or patios. The right amount of outlets and necessary voltage will provide flexible design options for placement of lighting, video screens, speakers and other small appliances.
Finally, look at options for lighting that can increase ambience. Save the lighting purchase — and any smaller, accent decorations such as blankets, pillows and tabletop pieces — for after you move in. Once you see it all in place, you’ll know which touches will perfect the look and feel of your outdoor sanctuary.