How to Make the Most Out of Your Outdoor Area in Rental Properties

A lot of rental properties have limited outdoor spaces so people usually don’t even bother using them, and they certainly don’t consider them to be a selling point. But an outdoor space has a lot of potential and who wouldn’t want to have it? 

Even if you’re working with just a balcony or a teeny-tiny deck, there’s still things you can do to make it functional and to improve your quality of life. You might not have a backyard for your German shepherd to run like insane, but you can create a peaceful oasis for yourself to relax and enjoy the fresh air. 

Having a way to leave the indoors without actually leaving the house is a huge plus, so regardless of the type of space and size you have at your disposal, there are ways of making it work. 

Let’s see what those are!

4 Tips for Small Outdoor Spaces

We’re starting off with small spaces because, more often than not, that’s what you’re dealing with. Making a small space work can be tricky, but it can be done. Here are a few tips if you want to give it a try, but you can also ask a professional for help. 

Just search “deck builder near me” online, get in contact with someone, and watch as your tiny deck or your balcony becomes a functional space! 

1. Vertical Gardens

How do you make the space greener without taking away from the floor space? Easy – make a vertical garden! It’s green, it’s peaceful, and doesn’t need to be just a decoration. 

Use walls and railings to create a garden with hanging planters, trellises, and wall-mounted containers. 

You can grow herbs, flowers, even small vegetables. No room for cabbages and potatoes, sadly, but you can have fresh tomatoes, peppers, basil, parsley, dill, etc., on hand! 

2. Multi-Functional Furniture

If the area is small, then your chair can’t be just a chair – it needs to have more than one job. 

Get a bench with built-in storage space or foldable chairs that can be stowed away when you don’t need them to save space. 

Small bistro tables or stools are great options, as well, because they’re compact and they can double as side tables without adding clutter. 

3. Using Corners and Nooks

Don’t overlook corners and nooks! A built-in corner bench or a cozy reading nook looks beautiful, but more importantly, it makes an otherwise wasted space into a functional, inviting area. 

You can also add narrow tables or corner planters to get a more cohesive look. 

4. Lighting

String lights, solar-powered lanterns, or LED strips can brighten up the area and create a nice atmosphere. Lighting is especially important in small spaces because, if they’re dark, they seem almost claustrophobic. 

A well-lit deck or balcony looks inviting, and you can use it at any time of day. 

3 Methods of Getting the Most Out of Large Outdoor Spaces

If you’re lucky enough to have a large outdoor space, then there’s hardly anything you can’t do with it. And that’s exactly the problem – big space plus endless possibilities equals an overwhelmed person that doesn’t use their outdoor area because they can’t figure out what to do with it. 

But fear not; we have some great solutions!

1. Zoning the Space

One of the best ways to make use of a large space is to divide it into zones. Create separate areas for cooking, dining, lounging, gardening, working out, or whatever else you want. This way, each part of the space has a purpose, plus nothing seems out of place. 

Rugs, outdoor planters, and different types of furniture can define these zones, and you won’t need to do any permanent changes, which is a key thing to consider if you’re a renter. 

For example, you can put an outdoor rug under the table in the dining area, and some cozy seating with fluffy pillows in the lounge area. 

2. Creating a Social Hub

If you have a large area, then you have the perfect opportunity for entertaining! It can be a go-to spot for family BBQs and game nights with your friends. 

Add comfortable chairs, an outdoor dining table, a fire pit, a barbecue station, and you’ll have yourself a space people will love to come to. 

Modular furniture is an excellent choice for big spaces because you can rearrange it to work for different group sizes. 

Say you’re having lunch with your parents and then you also have a huge group of friends coming at night; move this here, that there, and your furniture works for both. 

3. Add a Green Oasis

You can never have too much greenery, and with a big outdoor area, you can create an actual oasis. 

Container gardens, potted trees, even raised garden beds, you can fit all of this and more. 

Adding plants will make the area beautiful, but it can also make it more private and secluded. If you’re a renter, go for plants that don’t need a lot of maintenance, like succulents, lavender, or potted evergreens. 

Conclusion

An outdoor space is something you should treasure and use, no matter its size. If it’s on the smaller side, you’ll need to be a little bit more creative, but you can still have a relaxing space you’ll enjoy and even a garden to go with it. 

Explore some options, ask a professional for help if necessary, just make sure the area doesn’t go unused.