When your backyard needs redesigned but time or money may be an issue there are a few quick pick me ups to give the backyard a new look and welcoming atmosphere. With a trend in people vacationing at home, this is the year to make those changes.

Fire pits will quickly become a gathering point for family and guests to warm themselves and have outdoor cookouts. The light from the fire will stretch the time you spend outdoor into the evening hours. Your children may even want to pitch a tent and invite friends over for the evening. Fire pits can be hand made or store bought.

In the next year or two you may want to enhance the fire pit area with an outdoor fireplace or kitchen room.

Outdoor lighting adds to any backyard or patio area. Light a pathway, one of one your trees, backlight a plant with interesting foliage as a focal point, or wash a wall with light. This looks particularly pretty if it’s a rock wall or has a trellis with flowers and hanging baskets in front of it.

Tikki lights also add to backyard lighting along with mini lanterns placed in trees and on posts.

Today’s solar lights are getting better and low voltage lights are more affordable too. Theses solar lights places along gardens, paths and near water ponds add an atmosphere of relaxation to the backyard paradise.

Water ponds, water gardens, mini waterfalls and fountains are easy to set up. They can be store bought or made from items purchased at auctions and garage sales. If you have small children you may want to set up a child-safe pond-less fountain.

The addition of gardens, new plants or hanging baskets will brighten and change the look of the backyard quickly. Many people are setting up container gardening for just this reason. The pots can be moved around every week for a new look to the backyard garden area.

For the small backyard designs the addition of a mini table fountain and a trellis for plants will fit on a patio or balcony and add beauty and comfort to these small spaces.
photo credit: bunnygoth

New patio furniture will also give the backyard a new look. Nice furniture can be picked up at sales and an auction for a few dollars. With a new coat of paint and cushions that match the colors in your backyard you will make an area to read or relax that also creates a design flow in your garden area.

These are just a few fast and modestly priced ideas for a quick and easy backyard design projects.

Technorati Tags: backyard garden area, backyard oasis paradise, backyard projects, fire pit, small backyard designs, Small Space Garden, water fountain, water garden

Flowers and even vegetables add a beauty and oasis feeling to any backyard or indoor living area. They are particularly stunning in small space areas like patios and balconies. The addition of color, fragrance and flora moving in the wind creates a Garden of Eden or Secret garden feel.
photo credit: jfeuchter

Possibly you have a small yard or no yard but there is still hope for a lush hanging garden filled with a variety of flowers, herbs and vegetables.

All you need is a deck, or wall or a window–or any combination of those three! And even hanging basket suspended from the ceiling has a great look. Just watch for the weight of hanging baskets when using a ceiling.

When planning for a small space garden area, each plant takes on new meaning. Select only what you want and your indoor lighting will accommodate. You may also consider miniature versions of certain plants like miniature roses, mini pumpkins, or cacti.

Where is the best location for your garden? Window boxes work well if you plan on using sills. You can find flower boxes with grooves to fit on top of deck railings. This will help to ensure the boxes stay in place. With the wide selection of window boxes available you can match and compliment any interior design. And if you’re creative you can make your own window boxes and indoor planters.

I have even seen an entire wall that was turned into a hanging wall garden and it was stunning. This was accomplished with hanging boxes and hanging baskets. And in the corner was a small water fountain.

Decide what will you plant in your small space hanging garden. Annuals? Perennials? Vegetables? Or will you go for color and fragrance? It’s possible to have a few plants of each and mix them in the baskets and boxes.

Annuals, such as begonias, firetail and wave petunias have brilliant flowers that cascade in weeping branches. Alyssum (or “sweet alyssum”) has a wonderful evening fragrance. Perennials include the lilac-colored Molinae and thick, bushy, Trailing Antique Rose. And don’t forget nasturtiums and lavender. Vines will also add color and line to your garden area.

Small vegetable like mini hot peppers, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, and mini squash or pumpkins will easily grow in boxes and hanging baskets. They look colorful mixed with herbs and flowers.
photo credit: miss_rogue

Find out which flowers and vegetables will work with your climate if you plan on having your garden outdoors. And many of these plants can be brought indoors or over wintered if you can enclose your patio or balcony area. Your local gardening center should be able to help you with your climate growing information.

One other consideration you may have to make is additional lighting. Plants need six to eight hours of light a day. If you windows are not supplying adequate light you may want to add spotlight or floor lamps.

With planning and a little creativity you can create your own small space mini garden oasis to relax in after a day of work. You will be amazed how the addition of a garden area will give your living space a larger feeling.

Technorati Tags: balcony garden, container gardening, Small Space Garden, water fountain

Water fountains are a wonderful addition to any backyard oasis, balcony oasis or patio. With all the different sizes available from a tabletop water fountain that can be moved indoors or outside to a water garden fountain, you will be able to find the perfect fountain for your backyard retreat. And if you have only a small patio or balcony area there are many water fountains that will still work for your small space design.
photo credit: poplinre

For the small balcony oasis your best bet is a small portable water fountain or a mini barrel pond with a fountain. They come in all sizes and your final selection will be determined on how much available space you have. My one friend has their balcony water fountain near the balcony sliding doors. In the winter they enclose the balcony with plexi-glass and have an additional 5-foot by 8-foot living space. They have added additional heat with a small ornate electric heater that only needs to be used on nights where the outside temperatures fall below 25 degrees.

Using a small water fountain you can move it indoors if you live in a very cold climate and continue to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere it creates. The bubbling sounds of water create a soothing and tropical feel to any area, so take advantage of small water fountains. The addition of a fountain will also seem the make your space larger.

If your fountain is located on a patio you may be able to include a decorative container or mini pond and a larger fountain. Check your garden center to see what they have available. For a fountain located on the patio you will want to choose an area that you can turn into a mini retreat or almost a separate outdoor garden area. This can be accomplished by using a corner or side of the patio and a trellis or decorative fence section for more privacy. If you are including fish you will have to choose the fountain variety and how much sun the mini pond or pond container will receive during the day.

There is one other concern with water fountains. You need to place the fountain near and electrical outlet because the water pumps operate on normal household current. If the location that you have chosen for your fountain does not have an outlet nearby the next best alternative is to have an electrician run an underground wire to the pool site and install an outlet there. This step will adds time and expense to your project but it might be worthwhile to keep cords out of the way and to stop any possible safety concerns like tripping over cords.

Recently solar powered fountains have become popular and they have artistic beauty plus the benefit of not needing electrical cords to be laid or buried. You also have the benefit of using less electrical power, saving money and practicing green environmental practices. How to Solar Guide has a very artistic and beautiful water fountain shown on their site, along with several other unique fountains and lighting ideas for your backyard garden areas and backyard oasis.

There is a size and design in water fountains that will fit any garden, backyard oasis area, or urban living situation. Check out the possibilities and think about adding a new dimension of relaxation to your living space.

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Your backyard oasis will take on more of a relaxing atmosphere if you add a small water fountain or pond. There are many large water fountains that you can add but a small fountain made with items from your home or a local garage sale or auction will liven up a small garden area. It is one of those backyard design projects that will only take a few hours.

The following You Tube has a very easy and inexpensive water fountain that will only take a few hours to add and could easily turn into a family project. The video is easy to understand and with a few trips for supplies you could have a water fountain in your backyard in a few days.

This water fountain is easy to assemble. The cost if you have most of the items would be less than $20. What a great price for garden art that will add hours of relaxation and pleasure for friends and family that visit your backyard.

Other water fountain ideas could be an old barrel, copper pots or even teapots! I saw a 4-layered teapot fountain that was assembled using old teapots from an auction. Teacups were added to the side for accent and the entire set up cost less than a few dollars plus the price of the water pump and hose. You will only be limited by your imagination.

There is something about the sound of water splashing that relaxes most people. The addition of a water fountain is often fast and moderately priced. And the extra fun it adds to your backyard retreat is worth the time.

Technorati Tags: backyard, backyard design, backyard oasis, backyard projects, water fountain