If you’re lucky enough to have a sizable outdoor space surrounding your home, you’ll agree it is a marvellous asset. These days, it’s essential to consider the practical aspects of your landscape design and think beyond creating an attractive outdoor space for entertainment.
You can have the best of both worlds by incorporating a utility area into your outdoor project. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the benefits of creating a utility area, for me, this meant allocating space for a chook shed, installing a new garden shed for power tools and storage, and constructing raised vegetable patches, all connected via gravel pathways.
We went with many functional options, to reduce costs, such as plastic compost bins, and an off-the-shelf shed, but balanced these practical choices with enough old-fashioned styling and charm that I love, as well as implementing a clever design to ‘hide’ the more functional elements that you find less visually appealing.
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Chook Sheds and Compost Bins: Sustainable Systems:
Introducing a chook shed to your outdoor space brings more than just the delightful presence of chickens. Composting or feeding vegetable scraps to animals like chickens can be an effective way to reduce this organic waste and promote sustainability in the home. Our feathered friends provide natural fertiliser through their droppings and help control pests. Additionally, collecting fresh eggs straight from your backyard is so satisfying!
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The Garden Shed: Empowering Your Green Thumb & Managing Equipment Longevity:
A garden shed is the unsung hero of outdoor spaces, providing a dedicated space for storing power tools and gardening equipment. Quintessentially Australian, a garden shed not only keeps your outdoor area organised but can extend the life of your tools, by protecting them from the elements. The convenience of having everything within arm’s reach streamlines gardening tasks, making maintenance a more enjoyable and efficient experience. Putting in a garden shed doesn’t have to be an eyesore. There are many custom-built options, but even a humble hardware store shed can look great if painted in a muted colour. Trellis and creepers can also soften the look.
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Raised Vegetable Patches: Garden Fresh Produce:
Transforming a portion of your outdoor space into raised vegetable patches serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it allows you to grow your own fresh, organic produce, contributing to a healthier lifestyle. Secondly, growing your own veggies, herbs and fruits is so satisfying, reduces the cost of store-bought produce, and is more sustainable. Raised beds also offer better control over soil quality and drainage, ensuring optimal conditions for plant growth, and makes weeding easier on the back and the body, as we are not getting any younger!
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Pathways: Navigating with Ease:
I opted for gravel pathways. Nothing like that crunch underfoot. Pathways can serve as both a practical and visually appealing element in your outdoor space. They provide easy navigation through my utility area, and I find the use of gravel here, a better option than grass, as in Winter grass can become soggy, requires mowing, and in a high-traffic area, wear and tear can become visible. Gravel is a low-maintenance option that allows water to permeate the soil, preventing water runoff and contributing to a more sustainable landscape design.
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Dual Purpose: Entertaining and Functionality:
While Australians are known for their love of outdoor entertaining, it’s crucial to strike a balance between a functional utility area and an inviting space for social gatherings. Dividing your outdoor space into distinct zones allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds. A well-designed utility area enhances the overall functionality of your landscape, while the entertaining area provides the perfect setting for socialising and enjoying the great outdoors.
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Balancing fun and function
Embracing a utility area in your outdoor space aligns with the growing trend of sustainable living. By growing your own food, utilising natural fertilisers, and incorporating eco-friendly design elements into your design, contribute to a well-balanced and purposeful outdoor landscape. The best part is, that investing in landscaping pays off immediately, adding value to your property, and providing you a whole new space for relaxation, entertainment and enjoyment.
