DIY: outdoor décor

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

If you have an open area in your front yard or backyard, the upcoming days of monsoon are the best time to tidy up the place with beautiful greenery and build your own little sanctuary. The hide-and-seek of sunshine and clouds and the fresh smell of earth right after rainfall are all sheer blessings from nature.
An attractive outdoor setting can make spending time outside -- relaxing, eating, reading, and lounging -- a regular deal. All you need to do is put in a little time and effort and perhaps a small investment to beautify your backyard and enjoy countless moments of joy with friends and family out in the green.
First and foremost, consider the amount of space you have. Afroja Begum, owner of a one-storied English house with an adjoining front yard, grows most of her day to day leafy vegetables on her own.
“I enjoy spending my time taking care of plants. They are mostly the regular leafy vegetables or herbs I use for cooking, such as coriander, spinach and lettuce,” she said.

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

You could grow your vegetables or seasonal flowers like camellias, roses, jasmine, etc. You can get vases, wooden cross-work for climbers, artificial branches depending on the type of plants you choose to grow, all offered at cheap prices and available at your convenience. If you are planning to grow a grass bed on the landscape a higher surface for your plants will give your yard an enhanced look.
If there are children at home, the family yard/patio/rooftop is the best place to make a little fun arrangement for the young ones. Hang a double swing, set up a see-saw or set up a small inflatable pool where the children can have fun.
It is however important to check your yard regularly for poisonous insects and plants that might harm children. A yard can also bring into consideration a pet dog that you can set up a kennel for, making sure all the while that your yard is not too crowded by a lot of things.
The kind of furniture you set up in your yard depends on the space factor. Patios look best when unfolded on a spacious yard; however you can go for the smaller patios if there is a constraint in this regard.
Diffused, subtle colours and natural light make spaces look bigger. Consider grey and bright stripes as they form a beautiful contrast with the green. Add small up-lighting, string lights if your patio is too shady and it will work as the best place for relaxation during late evenings.
It is wise to stick with light/neutral furnishings with darker highlights when it comes to choosing colours for the furniture. Patios can change the whole look of a simple yard and make dining outside a lot more comfortable.
You can be as creative as you like when it comes to decorating your own yard. A small fountain or simple wind chimes for sound effect can make lying over the smooth grass bed a wonderful and unwinding experience.
And lastly, a beautiful yard or rooftop can be a wonderful extension to your house. So keep your backyard ready for the coming monsoon and make everything ready to greet the seasonal showers.