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You love to spend time outdoors when it's warm out. Throw some cold weather into the mix though and most people retreat indoors. It doesn't have to be that way.
Backyards can be just as comfortable and enjoyable in cooler weather if they're designed right.
More and more homeowners are treating their backyard like a living space, rather than just an outdoor area. Today's guide will show you how to do that too.
What's Inside This Guide
Why Year-Round Outdoor Living Is Worth It
The Features Every Seasonal Patio Needs
Luxury Hot Tubs Make Winter Your Favourite Season
Heating, Shelter, and Lighting Your Backyard the Right Way
Tying the Whole Outdoor Space Together
Why Year-Round Outdoor Living Is Worth It
This isn't about spending more time outside. Anyone can do that in the spring and summer.
This is about turning your backyard into living space you can enjoy all year -- or sell your house and net more money in the process. An incredible 98% of home improvement experts said outdoor living increases property value, and it's easy to understand why:
The whole point of upgrading your backyard is to create a space you enjoy being around. Who wants to sit around a crumbling deck surrounded by peeling paint?
A practical, nicely maintained outdoor living space gives your home curb appeal and offers real utility.
Homeowners have caught on. Interest in outdoor living spaces has jumped 50%+ since 2020 on home design platforms like Houzz.
Functional outdoor living spaces are the new backyard barbecue.
The Features Every Seasonal Patio Needs
Layering your backyard with the right features is how you get year-round usability. No one element will stand alone.
Take indoor spaces for example. Separate the rooms with walls and take away the heat. Light a fireplace instead of installing electric heaters.
It wouldn't take long for those spaces to go from cozy to uncovered hockey rink.
Essential features for every season backyard:
Shelter from the overhead rain, snow, and sun
Heating to keep everyone comfortable
Lighting to keep the party going after sunset
Outdoor furniture made from weather-proof materials
One feature that brings everyone outdoors, rain or shine
The "one feature" part is often where people struggle. They'll spend thousands on decking, pergolas, outdoor kitchens and fire pits without giving much thought to what will actually get people to spend time outside.
Luxury Hot Tubs Make Winter Your Favourite Season
Wait, hot tubs?
Outdoor entertaining doesn't have to be limited to burgers and propane. Luxury hot tubs are one of the most underrated features for transforming your backyard into an outdoor room that gets used all winter long.
It seems obvious when you really think about it. When's the last time you saw someone sit down outside without rain, snow, or sunshine staring down at them?
If people are going to enjoy themselves outdoors come winter, they need a good reason.
Hot tubs make chilly evenings enjoyable. There's something about soaking in heated water when it's cold outside that creates the kinds of memories you remember for a lifetime.
Imagine getting together with your friends and family every weekend not just during summer.
Hot tubs also create some privacy and separation from the rest of the yard. Depending on the model chosen, they can serve as the very centre of your backyard.
When you're focused on year-round use, luxury hot tubs rise above the pack thanks to larger sizes, resort-style features, and better materials.
Here are some features that matter when it comes to hot tubs for four-season usability:
Energy efficient models and built-in insulation
Properly sized hydrotherapy jets
LED lighting systems
Smart control systems
Efficient covers that lock in heat
Some hot tubs can cost more than your backyard barbecue grill. That's why it pays to work with a local hot tub retailer who specialises in luxury hot tubs. They can help you narrow down your choices based on size, features, budget, and energy efficiency.
Don't forget to invest in covers too. High-end hot tub models use special insulation and pumps to minimise running costs throughout the winter. A good cover seals in all that expensive heated air.
Heating, Shelter, and Lighting Your Backyard the Right Way
Throw out everything you thought you knew about backyards.
To get true year-round function out of your outdoor living space, start with these three things:
Shelter. You can have gorgeous wood decking and killer furniture, but if nobody can use your backyard patio once June ends you're missing something.
A covered area keeps the rain and snow off -- essential for enjoying your outdoor living space during every season.
Pergolas with polycarbonate roofing panels are popular. They allow natural light to shine through while giving you an actual barrier to precipitation.
Retractable canvas covers and awnings let you enjoy summer. Fixed timber or aluminum roof structures provide the most shelter from the elements.
Heat. Speaking of shelter... fire features like pits and fire tables are the number one recommendation from 58% of outdoor design experts. They're not wrong either.
It doesn't matter if your backyard is covered. Everyone loves feeling warm air on their skin while socialising outdoors. A fire pit or built-in fire table can fill an entire patio with both heat and ambiance.
Ceiling-mounted infrared heaters are another great option for covered patios. They don't heat the air around you like a fireplace. They heat you directly. That makes them perfect for backyards that see lots of open, semi-open area.
Light. Just because the sun goes down doesn't mean your backyard has to close early. Indoor-outdoor lighting creates ambiance while extending your day by hours.
Start with overhead ambient lighting. Layer in perimeter lighting for steps, garden beds, and walkways. Install a dimmer and suddenly you've got yourself a party...
Tying the Whole Outdoor Space Together
Building the ultimate backyard entertaining space for winter isn't difficult. It's about working backwards.
If you're starting from scratch:
Choose your permanent shelter & coverings first.
Install proper heating for year-round enjoyment.
Layer in lighting you can use day and night.
Bring in furniture that will last through every season.
Keep things flexible so the space can work for a party or small family dinner.
Studies show homeowners would prioritise outdoor living if they were to remodel. Now more than ever homeowners are taking those desires and running with them.
Homeowners that plan. That think outside the (patio) box. The ones who invest in shelter, coverings, and quality features like fire pits and luxury hot tubs.
Those are the homeowners that end up with a backyard they can actually use. And use year round.
Conclusion
It's never been easier to invest in outdoor living spaces that last. All it takes is knowing where to spend your time (and money).
Comfortable shelter that keeps rain and snow out. Heating that makes winter enjoyable. Proper lighting that extends your evenings by hours. Quality furniture and outdoor accessories that stand the test of time.
And something that will bring everyone outdoors rain or shine.
Hot tubs cover all of those categories. Luxury hot tubs do it best.
Invest in a sheltered area with infrared heaters, and your backyard just became one of your favourite rooms at home...all year long.
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