How to Turn Your Backyard Into an Outdoor Paradise

Want to spruce up your yard for spring and summer? Kim Williams, Williams Lumber SVP of Retail Operations, explains how to do it right.

Outdoor living is the necessary extended living space to everyone’s home. Now is the perfect time to turn your outdoor living space into your outdoor paradise. Whether you see yourself barbecuing with your family on a beautiful deck, lounging with friends under the pergola on the patio, or just relaxing by the fire pit, the best way to turn your dreams into reality is to get started on them now. To help craft your backyard space into your outdoor oasis, Kim Williams, the SVP of Retail Operations at Williams Lumber & Home Centers, shares her ideas.

Go for low-maintenance decking

Trex is a high performance, durable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional wood decking. Made in the USA, from 95% recycled material, Trex offers a variety of decking and railing options so you can build a deck that fits your space. By trading up from wood to Trex, you’ll be ditching hours of annual upkeep that costs you way more than you bargain for. Although the upfront costs may be more with Trex over a wood deck, the time, labor and money for maintenance will add up over the years on the wood deck. By upgrading now, you may even be ahead of the escalating treated lumber prices, enjoying a low maintenance deck for longer.

Enhance & protect outdoor living spaces

Your outdoor spaces should enhance your home, so start by sprucing up the exterior with a fresh coat of paint or stain. Painting or staining your home may be a job more suited for a professional but a deck is certainly manageable. Williams recommends a premium paint like Benjamin Moore. Arborcoat stain advanced technology offers superior durability and protection. Before committing to a color, stop by Williams for a pint size sample of different opacities and colors to test stain selections on the actual wood you will be coating. But the most important part of your deck project is to prep. Wood surfaces should always be properly prepared in order to improve stain longevity and ensure the best long-term results.

Plan the perfect outdoor kitchen

Investing in a new grill or an additional “alternative” grill is a great idea to enhance your outdoor space. Weber Grills offers a broad range of grills from the classic Weber charcoal kettle grill to their multi burner propane grills. If you’re looking for your grill to have all the bells and whistles, check out Weber’s high-end Summit series. The Weber Smart Gas Grill, Weber Connect, allows you to connect with your smart phone and grill amazing food no matter what you are doing. If you are looking for the wood-fired flavor then Traeger grills are the answer for you. Traeger’s 6-in-1 ability means you can grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise and bbq, with pure hardwood flavor. Williams points out that using a Traeger grill is way different from your traditional charcoal or gas grill. Grilling on a pellet is all about “low and slow”, where patience is a virtue. Last but not least is the Kamado Joe, egg style ceramic bbq smoker, which replicated the Asian tradition of wood oven cooking. The ceramic egg benefit is the ability of heat retention which leads to a more consistent temperature. Williams likes that Kamado Joe is designed for low and slow cooks but could also be used for charcoal grilling. Of course, Williams adds that one should not forget all the accessories that go along with grilling. The possibilities are endless and Williams is a great place to view them all.

Design an outdoor landscape

Unify your outdoor space with Cambridge Pavers with Armortec or Delgado Stone, which are designed to offer beauty, longevity, and low maintenance. Cambirge Pavers add an elegance to your outdoor living space, echoing the timeless, rustic charm of natural stone, while offering a durable and uniform solution for hardscaping. “Pavers don’t have to be just for a patio.” Williams says “They can be used around your pool area, a path through or to your garden, or your driveway. The beauty of a hardscape project is you can always add on to it later.”

No matter which route you choose to create your perfect outdoor oasis, let it reflect who you are! To design your ultimate backyard, head to the certified designers and associates at Williams Lumber and Home Centers for expert advice. Williams has seven convenient locations across the Hudson Valley for all your home needs. Our expert advice will help you Nail It Right the First Time!

Make a plan to visit one of our seven Williams Lumber locations today!

How to Turn Your Backyard Into an Outdoor Paradise

Go for low-maintenance decking

Enhance & protect outdoor living spaces

Plan the perfect outdoor kitchen

Design an outdoor landscape

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