I have a friend who created what looks to be the perfect outdoor space for entertaining in his yard last summer. He put in a lovely herb garden along the fence and built a beautiful outdoor seating area, adorning it with string lights throughout. The whole space looked perfect in photos. The lawn on the other hand was another story entirely…dead in spots and patchy in others. You could literally tell the lawn was horrible as soon as you stepped out into the yard. It was like he had created this fabulous iced cake that tasted awful.
A beautifully iced cake that’s dry in the middle, is what my friend’s perfect outdoor space for three weekends of hard work felt like once the finishing touches were complete and all of the amazing pictures had been taken. The beautiful built in bench seat looked and felt fantastic in the images but unfortunately when the string lights were turned off the area felt very flat as the grass was dead and very patchy.
Outdoor Spaces: What Really Works?
As we talk about adding value to your property through creating the perfect backyard there are many features that you can include that will increase the value of your home. Some of the things that people say add value to a property are features such as a pergola, a fire pit and an outdoor kitchen. But what about the cost of these add-ons and whether they will be around for a couple of years or if they are just a current trend that will be out of date in no time. I have seen many properties with very expensive outdoor kitchens that have cost upwards of $15,000 only to have a terrible lawn which is the main feature of the entire back yard.
The expensive features and whether they are worth the investment along with one thing that most people miss about designing and creating an ideal outdoor space.
- A defined entertaining zone. Could be decking, could be concrete pavers, could be a simple paved area with decent outdoor furniture. The key is separation, giving people a clear “room” to sit in rather than just drifting vaguely across the lawn.
- Consistent lawn coverage. Patchy grass reads as neglect, even when everything else is immaculate. It’s the one thing guests notice without knowing they’re noticing it.
- Shade structure of some kind. In most Australian backyards, this isn’t optional. A pergola, sail shade, or mature tree changes how often the space actually gets used.
- Lighting that works after 6pm. Outdoor spaces that only function in daylight are half a space. Solar path lighting, overhead string lights, or low-voltage garden lighting extends the usable hours dramatically.
Interestingly, the yard itself can yield greater returns than the above ground features of a yard. The foundation of any yard is where the value is at.
Creating a valuable outdoor space is not only about adding attractive features but also about making informed choices that improve long-term usability and appeal. Homeowners can explore emerging digital solutions and technology trends to gather better insights, compare ideas, and plan improvements that align with modern lifestyles and changing preferences.
One thing most people underestimate
I like to discuss something before we get into ground covers, that is edging. Edging is a cheap exercise that takes 20 minutes with the right tool to edge your garden beds off with lawn. Every beautifully maintained yard that I have ever walked past that has had an outdoor space has also had well edged lawn and garden beds. It is such a simple thing yet it is so often overlooked.
I don’t have much to say on this subject as it is so simple. A well edged lawn that meets the garden bed looks so much better than a lawn that has a big gap between it and the garden. It only takes a few minutes with the right tools to edge a lawn. The lawn will look so much better for it. It makes for a great first impression and it only takes about 20 minutes to do if you have the right edging tools.
Lawn alternatives vs Turf
There are many alternative ground covers being used by homeowners today including decomposed granite and native ground covers. Like with anything, there are good points about each of the alternatives to turf and negative points. For this reason a full discussion of each of the merits and demerits of the individual ground covers is not required here.
| Ground cover type | Upfront cost | Maintenance load | Family-friendly? |
| Natural turf (buffalo variety) | Moderate | Low to moderate (once established) | Yes, soft and durable |
| Artificial turf | High | Very low | Reasonable, but gets hot |
| Decomposed granite | Low | Low | Not great for kids or bare feet |
| Native ground cover plants | Low to moderate | Variable | Depends on species |
However, if you have kids and you use your yard frequently, then the feel of natural grass is hard to beat. Kids can play roll around on the grass and have plenty of space to run around. Dogs can zoom around on the grass at top speed and your outdoor entertaining areas can provide a great place to relax and unwind on a warm summer evening with a cold drink. The feel of lying on the grass on a warm day is unbeatable with the soft grassy surface providing the perfect temperature to lie on. Also, the grass is soft enough to walk around on in bare feet – the ultimate in outdoor comfort. Yes, there are some very good quality artificial lawns available these days but they just can’t replicate the feel of natural grass on a warm afternoon. In very hot climates such as Western Australia, one of the biggest problems with synthetic turf is the heat that it retains. In the long hot summer months, this can be a major problem that is not addressed as often as it should be.
So to tackle the tricky weather in Western Australian homes, one of the better lawns for adding value to homes whilst withstanding the odd harsh weather condition is a tough lawn. With buffalo grass Perth for example providing a lush, green lawn throughout the year, as well as hard wearing and being low maintenance, a buffalo grass lawn really is one of the better ‘lawn’ options for homes across the country.
Family-friendly design doesn’t mean boring design
A well-designed yard will often include the following features that will complement a lawn. Sandpits for kids, paved areas for setting up tables and chairs, well-designed garden beds to add some extra greenery to the space. As you can see, it is relatively easy to enhance a lawn with the addition of some great structures in your yard.
The worst kind of outdoor space is one that has been designed with the intention of being a showpiece – i.e. a beautiful garden that kids can play in. Inevitably, the lawn becomes a demolition site, and the best intentioned of garden designers are left to deal with the inevitable – muddy, bald and generally trashed patches of lawn. (Which, for the record, might take longer than you think.)
(Which, for the record, might take longer than you think.)
What To Spend & Where Your Money Will Go
In addition to the items that add value to your yard, everything in your yard that you can add will cost money and will need to be maintained. This means that everything you add to your yard, including turf, should be of great value to you also.
- Start with the lawn. Fix coverage, choose a variety suited to your actual conditions, and get it established before building anything on top of it.
- Add a functional entertaining area, even a modest one. Defined space changes how people move through and use a yard in ways that are surprisingly significant.
- Sort out shade. Without it, everything else becomes theoretical for most of the year.
- Light it properly. This one is chronically, bafflingly underdone, and it might be the cheapest way to double how often you actually use the space.
So go back to my friend’s yard. Pretty herb pot, great string lights. Dying grass. Everything in this yard was pretty individually. What was wrong was the order of operations. She decorated before she built. I wish this were more complex but this is really all you need to know.
