People across the country are ramping up their home improvement efforts these days. For some, that means updating their kitchens and bathrooms. Others are adding bedrooms and improving their lighting. Quite a few are renovating their entire houses. Of course, many homeowners are stepping outside the box and paying more attention to the property surrounding their homes.
Making Use of Your Outdoor Space
Not very long ago, having an outdoor living space was more of a novelty than a common practice. Times have changed, though. Today, outdoor living spaces are becoming increasingly popular, and people are branching out in numerous ways with their exterior features. No matter how you approach your outdoor living space, it’s bound to bring you a long list of benefits.
Exploring the Benefits of Having an Outdoor Living Space
Numerous advantages can come from extending your living space into the great outdoors. Obviously, it’s going to add value to the property and provide a hefty return on your investment. It’ll improve the look of your home as well. That’s just the beginning. The advantages only get more interesting from there.
1) Stress Relief
Stress is increasingly common these days. In fact, an estimated 77 percent of people say they live with some level of stress with 33 percent of those reporting extreme stressors in their lives. Stress can cause a range of problems, not the least of which are insomnia, muscle aches, headaches, irritability, and isolation.
According to the latest studies, enjoying time outdoors can help reduce stress as well as its negative effects. Wilderness therapy has even become a recognized form of treatment for stress and many other emotional and mental issues. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to sign up for wilderness therapy sessions to reap the rewards of spending time in nature. You can simply take advantage of your own outdoor living space.
2) Effective Therapy for Mental Disorders
Millions of Americans suffer from mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. These issues are far more common than most people realize. In fact, they’re so common that general practitioners can now diagnose them as opposed to having to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Several prescription medications are on the market to help combat these disorders. Therapy can also be an effective solution. For those looking for a more natural alternative, though, many experts are saying that nature itself is often the best medicine.
What better way to enjoy nature than doing so in your own outdoor living space?
Additionally, an outdoor living space can be tailored to your lifestyle and preferences. That means you can spend your time outdoors doing whatever you enjoy. Whether it’s cooking a complete meal in the backyard or listening to the soothing sounds of a water feature, there’s no limit to the possibilities. That’s the type of therapy anyone can benefit from.
3) Enjoying Better Sleep
Countless people suffer from insomnia. For some, it’s an intermittent issue. For others, it’s a chronic condition. Either way, not getting enough sleep at night can lead to numerous problems.
Reduced immunity, irritability, and an increased risk of anxiety and depression are only a few of the potential repercussions of insomnia. Hampered productivity at work and reduced performance at school can also stem from a lack of sleep. Insomnia increases people’s chances of developing heart disease and high blood pressure as well.
Spending more time outdoors has been proven to help improve sleep patterns for many people. When you get plenty of rest, those previously mentioned health risks are greatly reduced. Besides, getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis just makes you feel better.
4) Prevents Eye Strain and Nearsightedness
Vision issues have become more prevalent over the years. Experts believe this is due to the fact that the average American spends about 90 percent of his or her time indoors. Interior lighting isn’t quite as bright and beneficial as natural sunlight, so it naturally causes people’s eyes to work harder to see clearly.
At the same time, much of that time indoors is spent staring at television screens, computers, tablets, and phones, all of which emit potentially harmful blue light. Blue light can contribute to numerous vision issues, including eye strain, retinal damage, and macular degeneration. Staring at those screens also contributes to nearsightedness.
Getting away from those devices can reduce and even ward off certain vision issues. Reports indicate that being outside may help prevent nearsightedness in children or potentially slow its progression by forcing the eyes to focus on objects that aren’t quite so close.
Taking a break from blue light by spending time outdoors can also reduce the symptoms of eye strain. Having an outdoor living space gives you all the more opportunities to get out of the house and give your eyes a break even if it’s only for a few minutes each day.
5) Boosting Creativity
Enjoying time outdoors can give your creativity a nice boost as well. Opinions vary on why that’s the case. Some say it’s simply because being outdoors increases positive emotions. Others insist this benefit comes from having more time to concentrate on creative endeavors when you’re not focused on the phone, work, household chores, and other everyday aspects.
6) Family Bonding Time
Spending time together as a family can bring about unbreakable bonds and create memories that are sure to last a lifetime. There are several ways to enjoy family bonding time outside. Create a meal together in your outdoor kitchen. Use your exterior dining area as a venue for family game night.
Set up a digital projector and watch a movie under the stars. Have a backyard camping adventure or simply lounge on the patio near the fire pit on a chilly night. You’re only limited by your imagination.
7) Extending Your Living Space
When you build an outdoor living space, it’ll give you a range of exciting new reasons to love your home. Do you enjoy backyard barbecues? Add an outdoor kitchen to the mix. Do your friends prefer to sit around a fire sipping mixed drinks? Have a fire pit installed.
Is swimming your family’s favorite outdoor pastime? Put in a pool.
Do you want more of a natural landscape? Incorporate a water feature, stone pathway, and sustainable garden into your outdoor space. Your yard is an extension of your home, and a customized outdoor area can greatly expand your living space.
8) Heightening Your Entertainment Options
Having friends and family over for get-togethers is a wonderful way to socialize and spend time with the people you love. Of course, keeping the party indoors isn’t always an ideal scenario.
Having an outdoor living area allows you to expand your horizons and entertain your guests outside with the fresh air, open spaces, and plenty of room to move and mingle. With so many customization options available, you’ll have more ways to entertain those guests as well.
9) Alleviating Inflammation
Getting back to the health benefits of outdoor living spaces, spending time outdoors in your own extended living area can combat inflammation. Numerous medical conditions, such as arthritis, asthma, and IBD are caused by inflammation. Other health issues can cause inflammation in their own right. Soaking up the sun and fresh air aids in reducing inflammation as well as its many side effects.
10) Getting Healthy Doses of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is one of the essential nutrients our bodies need to stay healthy. Our bodies produce it as a natural reaction to sunlight exposure. In turn, vitamin D provides several health benefits.
It helps with fighting off infections and illnesses, improves muscle and bone health, reduces the risk of mood disorders, and may help boost metabolism among other advantages. If you spend more time outside thanks to your outdoor living space, you’ll be able to benefit from all the positive effects vitamin D has to offer.
Making the Most of Your Outdoor Living Space
Here at Masonworks LLC, we’re experts in outdoor living spaces. We’ve developed a unique approach to designing and installing water and fire features, patios, pathways, and other elements.
We’re committed to helping clients make the most of their outdoor spaces with high-quality materials and superior craftsmanship as well. Let us transform your property into the outdoor living space of your dreams so you can take advantage of all the benefits it holds in store.