Heyo! Currently, I’m working on the design for our new backyard (if you can call it a yard😆) and I’m writing to you who’ll be asking yourself this question either now or in the future: 👇
As we move into our own new house at the beach, the outdoor spaces is one of my top priorities.
If not THE main priority, because I’m just a 10% nicer, happier human being when I’m outside. (What’s that, Matt? You’re saying the percentage is higher? Well, I’m the one who does the writing so mwahaha, I get to say the percentages!🤣)
Yes, get the yard clippers ready!
(All of you who’ve been following us for years, remember when we bought The Big California House and literally Day 1, Jess was out there with a baby strapped to her back and extra-large loppers in both hands, clearing out the overgrowth so she could see the view of the mountains?🤣)
This time, however, our outdoor space isn’t nearly as big. (Large Southern California beach lots are expensive, so there’s not much room to spare unless you have $20 million for a beachside acre or two.)
In fact, most of you would probably beat us out on size of actual outdoor space you have to work with.
I love this challenge! It’s like, “Can Jess do MORE with LESS space?” You bet your britches she can!
However, cost is also on my mind. Even though we managed to do a huge reno last time for a phenomenally low amount compared to what the average homeowner would’ve spent, I still don’t want to fork out more than what’s smart. I’m older, wiser and just plain feelin’ ballsier this year.😉
(Plus, the yard feels like 5% of what we had before, so should we make our budget 5% of that #?🤔)
BACKYARD DESIGN PLANNING
3 Reasons It’s Not a Simple Formula!
Recently, Matt and I have been asking ourselves,
“How much should we spend on our (new-to-us) outdoor spaces?”
Honestly, it’s a difficult question to answer for each of us reading because
- It’s not like indoor square footage of a home where you can easily calculate the value added to the property.
- We all live in different areas of the world, with different climates and different Outdoor-Usage-Time (O.U.T. I’m going to trademark that now, thank you😊).
- Some of you want to live in your house forever, some of you know you’ll be moving in a year or two, and the rest of you are everywhere in-between!
There are also some of us who need to be outdoors as much as possible, therefore we get greater personal enjoyment from having our outdoor spaces done really well, whereas others barely notice what means “done well” and what doesn’t.
So really, there’s no simple formula to calculate how much
- value a well-designed outdoor space adds to your home
- enjoyment a well-designed outdoor space adds to your home.
It’s highly personal. And while I joke that my job as a Design Architect includes working as a therapist (so much psychology in residential design working with human beings!), I really do love that part of getting to know our clients and what they truly, genuinely want and need.
BACKYARD DESIGN PLANNING
The 3 Things We’re Doing (That You Can Glean From Too)!
What I can share (simply) today are these 3 things Matt and I are doing ourselves to step through this:
- I fill out my own worksheets HERE because I swear by this #1 step, even for professionals. Yes, I literally use it myself, on myself (and then laugh at how I thought I was too smart to use my own guide because all human beings can so easily forget what’s actually important)!
- Based on those answers, I’m creating multiple design drawings with a variety of potential layouts.
- We’re talking through them together to narrow it down to 1 winning layout & plan.
Next…
We’ll compare A (DIY) to B (paying others) to execute the plans.
If you need specific help on choosing patio furniture or deciding on things like a patio vs deck, start by browsing our FREE yard design help! It also includes some peeks at client projects we’ve done, from extra-large to regular-sized!
If you need SPECIFIC exterior/outdoor layout help, design solutions, or even want us to review the cheap design you got from a place like Yardzen (we have new clients come to us begging for help after they do things like that!), we 100% specialize in that and would love to help you. Go here to book that before they sell out again! The video consults are completely sold out through the rest of the year but the smaller consults are available as we can slot them in here and there! (And once you have a phone consult, you have the potential to get space with us as full clients if you need more help!)
PS: We’ve put together the best ways to save major money on outdoor projects HERE!
PPS: If you’re looking for another one of our guides, plans, or 1:1 consults, that’s on THIS page!
