Create a Resort-Style Backyard Retreat

Between busy work weeks and hectic school schedules, life can sometimes feel overwhelming. Creating a personal paradise in your own backyard can provide a holiday-at-home escape to unwind with the family and relax. We’ve compiled some easy tips for creating a resort-style backyard retreat to savour ‘staycations’ with the family every single weekend.

Go natural

Natural materials like timber, wicker, linen and stone capture a resort-style look, while lighter tones capture a laidback coastal-cool feeling and can be accented with vibrant pops of colour with cushions, outdoor rugs or side tables. Teak is a stunning timber with a high oil content that gives it a rich lustre and weather-resistant qualities and you can stain it or leave it to weather naturally into a chic grey over time, which looks very beachy.

Plant a paradise

When creating a resort-style backyard retreat, lots of leafy plants are essential. You can work with your natural landscape and plant native species or fashion a tropical ambience with palms and birds of paradise. Surrounding your outdoor-entertaining area, you’ll feel like you’re sitting within your own private paradise. And, as an added bonus, they’re known to reduce stress. Or get the look without the maintenance with some faux plants. 

GET comfy

Resort-style living is all about making your outdoor space luxurious, as though bringing your lounge room out into the garden. So, think deep-seated alfresco sofas, day beds, hanging basket chairs and piles of plush pillows. Chunky timber sofa sets with thick linen-look cushions beckon you to sink in and relish balmy breezes on summery afternoons.

Entertain in style

Long lazy weekends and holiday periods over the warmer months are perfect for relaxing with the kids and entertaining friends. Create an outdoor area that will accommodate barbecues, brunches and birthday parties with all of the extended family. If you have the space, a long outdoor dining table (we have a 4-metre teak table!) invites leisurely lunches. Extendable tables can be a more practical solution for smaller spaces as they can be popped out only when required. Outdoor sofas and armchairs also entice warm social gatherings that can linger comfortably well into the evening.

MAKE IT FAMILY FRIENDLY

Make a cosy circle around the fire pit for a relaxed resort-style set up, where parents can chat and kids can toast marshmallows. It’s the perfect place to gather friends and all the kids and share some shenanigans. You could even add a hot tub for some heavenly moonlight soaks!

READY TO GET THE VACATION VIBE?

Browse our new-season collection online to get ideas for creating your resort-style backyard, or visit us in person at your local Early Settler store. And don’t forget to check out our guide to picking the perfect fire pit for your backyard.

(Byron 2-piece sofa set pictured at top of page)