More and more, people are viewing their yards and gardens as extensions of their living space. The right backyard structures don't just make your property prettier, they also make it more useful. From greenhouses for gardens to pergolas for parties to sheds for storage, outdoor structures can help you make the most of your outdoor space.
Here are some popular backyard structures and the ways they make your property both more beautiful and more usable
• Sunrooms: Sunrooms are a great way to bring the outdoors in. Generally attached to the house, a sunroom has outer walls of floor-to-ceiling windowpanes to allow maximum exposure to the sun. Some also have glass roofs or skylights, and may also lead onto a deck or patio via sliding glass doors. Sunrooms should be built at the side of the house that gets the most sunlight for the greatest part of the day.
• Sheds: In general, a shed is a small, detached building used mainly for storage. Pool sheds may house pool equipment and accessories, while traditional sheds are often used to store lawn equipment, garden tools, bikes and other outdoor toys. Prefabricated sheds are relatively cheap and easy to construct, while custom-built sheds allow homeowners far more versatility in design.
• Dog houses: Whether your dog remains outdoors year-round or just occasionally goes outdoors to play, a dog house offers privacy and protection from the elements. Like sheds, dog houses can be prefabricated or custom built. Any four walls and a roof will do, but for greater comfort and a more appealing look, consider upgrading your pooch's pad. Many dog house designs now feature elements similar to those found on houses, such as windows, gables and even porches! You can even make your dog's house a mini replica of your own.
• Greenhouses: A greenhouse can be a gardener's best friend. Whether you're starting plants for transplantation to outdoor garden beds or growing plants too delicate to survive in your area's outdoor climate, a greenhouse will come in handy. Made from either plastic or glass, greenhouses are designed to trap heat inside, providing an optimum environment for plant growth. The added bonus is that they help keep pests out, so your plants are less likely to become food for bugs, birds, deer and other animals.
• Gazebos: Gazebos are one of the more decorative backyard structures, but they also offer additional living space. Depending on the size of your gazebo, it may offer additional seating, outdoor dining or an entire entertainment space. More modern gazebos may even include wiring for lighting and electricity. With beautiful prefabricated models and an entire range of DIY gazebo plans available, the options are virtually endless.
• Pergolas and arbors: Like gazebos, pergolas and arbors can be built to accommodate outdoor seating, dining and entertainment, but unlike gazebos, which at least have a solid roof, these structures are open and provide almost no protection from the elements. Arbors are often draped with climbing plants, while pergolas may be left unadorned or used to hang wind chimes and other garden ornaments.
• Clothes lines: You don't need a dryer sheet to give your clothes the scent of a summer breeze - let them get it from the breeze itself! Clothes lines not only save you money on your energy bills, but they also save wear and tear on your clothes and your dryer, and they help protect the environment. Nothing beats the feeling of clothing dried in the summer sun, and a clothes line is perhaps the easiest backyard structure to erect. Simply string a line between any two elevated points: two trees, your home and a nearby tree, the corner posts of your deck, etc. If none of these options are available, you can also find clothes line trees at home improvement stores. These consist of four rods angling from a center rod (which is stuck in the ground), with lines strung between them on which you clip the clothes.
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