Australian Outdoor Living

Planning Your Backyard Swimming Pool Location

 

 

When you plan on putting a pool in your backyard, you’ve got to think about more than the enjoyment your family is going to get from it. The placement of your pool changes the convenience, but even more than that, it also has an impact upon the overall feel of the backyard. 

 

One of the most important things you need to consider is the placement based on the size of your property. Of course, the shape of your yard can have a bearing as well, but in most cases, positioning your pool close to your home will be the most suitable choice. This is simply because a decent-sized pool will take up the majority of any small backyard.

 

In these circumstances, a round or oval pool may fit better within the space. This is specifically because a pool will often need to look as though it’s just another part of the house when it is in a small yard. Choosing a patio or deck to surround the pool that is similar in colour and style to the décor of your existing outdoor living space will therefore be necessary to create a cohesive outdoor oasis.

 

If you have a large yard, you have much greater flexibility in your approach to a pool design. You really don’t need to consider matching it to your home – the sky is the limit. If you’d rather have an atypical shape, you can do that.  In fact, choosing tile to surround the pool that is very different from the home will define it as an entirely separate part of your yard, provided you choose to set it a distance away from your home.

 

If you would rather have your pool set close to the home in a large yard, then the same rules apply for outdoor design as they do with the small yard. Just remember, that the closer to the house, the more noise from the pool you’ll hear when you’re indoors!

 

The Environmental Benefits of Artificial Grass/Lawn

 

If you choose artificial grass as opposed to natural lawn, there are a wide number of benefits, including some environmental! These days, with so much more awareness about what we can do to reduce our toll on the environment, any opportunity to do something for the ‘greater good’ is a positive move.

 

 

 

Choosing artificial grass over the natural variety, is one area where it is possible to reduce your family’s toll on the environment, while still getting the look and function of natural lawn which can be ecologically harmful. It is important to recognize that artificial grass is beneficial in the following ways:

 

* You do not need to water your lawn, using excess water for virtually no reason. During the hottest seasons in Australia, you could water a natural lawn virtually 24/7.

 

* Pesticides and other chemicals are not required, which leech their way back into the ground and water sources over time. These products, designed to kill weeds, and keep grass in optimal form, can contaminate waterways and cause harm to other plants, trees and animals.

 

* You do not need to mow artificial grass, which is typically, required once every week or two with the natural grass. If your lawn mower is gas, this utilizes the earth’s oil reserves, and emits toxic gases back into the air. Even electric lawn mowers have an ecological toll when a power source is required. Artificial grass, of course, does not need to be cut, so there is no environmental impact in this regard at all.

 

 

In each of these cases, the impact upon the environment is reduced or eliminated entirely when it comes to your lawn. It can also save you on maintenance fees on an ongoing basis, which is just an additional bonus!

 

How To Decorate Your Outdoor Area

 

Once the construction is completed on your verandah or pergola, you’re ready to start making it into a real outdoor living space complete with furniture and décor.

 

While you want an outdoor living space to incorporate the comforts of home, there are also some special considerations, because what works inside just won’t always work outside!

 

 

Choosing Your Outdoor Furniture and Décor

 

1. Ensure that you get furniture that is designed for outdoor use – the last thing you want is furniture that is going to become wet and mouldy when weather conditions allow water to get into your verandah or pergola. Even if there is decent shelter, you never know what can happen, and you don’t want nice furniture ruined.

2. Decorate as you would inside – once you’ve purchased the basic furniture pieces, make the outdoor living space feel “homier” by incorporating plants, cushions, rugs and more. The latter items are also available in weather-proof materials.

3. Add physical comfort to the space – an outdoor heater, or fireplace can add ambiance to the outdoor living space, while providing additional warmth and comfort for the cool evenings when you may still want to be outdoors.  Outdoor lanterns can also make a great contribution to the environment.

4. Think about entertainment – you do not want to miss your favourite sporting match, or sacrifice spending a gorgeous day outside to watch TV inside. So add a television to the outdoor living area. You will want to get one that is designed for outside as typically these are sturdier, and have reduced glare!

 

Each of the above tips can really help you to bring inside out, while really making the most of your new addition!