There is nothing more serene than kicking your feet up on a white sand beach, surrounded by deep tropical greenery with the beautiful blue ocean right in front of you. It creates a space for us to refresh, do nothing, and take a break from our demanding schedules and life stressors. So, when the holiday is over and it’s time to come home, it’s no wonder we want to take a piece of paradise home with us too. After all, having a personal oasis escape can help give you the same relaxed feeling right at home even after the vacation has ended.
Whether you were inspired by a recent holiday vacation or are just looking to add a little freshness to your space, creating a tropical outside setting for your home can give everyone the perfect paradise escape. The backyard or patio should be a calming gathering space for family and friends, and contrary to what many people may think, you don’t need to live somewhere tropical in order to create a peaceful oasis outside setting. In fact, whether your yard is small or large, with the right décor and furnishing you can create your own personal tropical escape right at home. Below are our top tips for creating tropical outside settings DIY style.
Start with Furniture
When planning your outdoor space, it’s important to start with the biggest pieces and work your way to the smaller details. As you start to envision what you are wanting in your backyard, start with furniture first. Look for comfy chairs or outdoor furniture sets that come in tropical patterns or colors, such as blues, greens, and teals. You can also aim for whites or off-whites to go for a more clean, tropical look.
Once you have found your desired furniture it’s time to add some shading. There are plenty of creative ways to add shading to your yard, but the best thing to look for is anything that uses thatch. Thatch is the tropical dried grass material that can be found on the tops of umbrellas, huts, and bungalows and adds a great tropical flare to your backyard. It is possible to construct a Palapa using wooden poles and a thatch roof to take the place of a traditional gazebo. But in case you have a smaller space or less than handy skills, another option is to add a thatch umbrella over your seating area. Thatch umbrellas can be easily moved around if you decide to redecorate or add a new piece of furniture down the road.
Next, consider adding in a fire pit to add in a dramatic focal point to your tropical outside setting. Adding a fire pit to your backyard can give your space a Polynesian cookout feel and add to the relaxing vibe. Building a fire pit yourself is actually quite simple. All you will need is a shovel, stones, sand, and a steel ring to keep the walls of your fire pit from drying out and crumbling. Remember when building a fire pit it is generally a good rule of thumb to build at least 15 feet away from your house or other building structures, and at least 10 feet from other property lines. However, if you are looking to save yourself time and energy, you can also purchase above ground fire pits at an affordable price to add some soft lighting to your tropical oasis.
Add Bamboo Accents
Installing bamboo fencing is a great way to add bamboo accents into your backyard. They come in many shades from light bamboo to very dark to match your homes exterior and are available in convenient rolls. This will help make your outside setting more intimate for savoring solitude or kicking back with friends. Installing bamboo fencing is quite simple and can even be added to an existing fence. You can either construct a wooden frame to install the fencing, or you can simply attach it to an existing fence or wall to give it a little tropical flare.
You can also add bamboo accents to the ground as well with an outdoor bamboo mat. Adding a mat around your seating area can add a nice texture to your tropical décor as well as complete the bamboo aesthetic throughout your yard. Bamboo mats add a great visual backdrop for greenery and bright colors, helping colors pop even more. They also are extremely sturdy against varying weather conditions and sustainable.
Consider Adding a Water Feature
Adding a water feature is a nice touch to any tropical outside setting. For starters, it gives you the tropical feeling of being by the water and creates a nice, tranquil background noise. It also helps to drown out surrounding noises or neighbors, giving your space a more intimate, far away feel. If you have the room, consider adding a small lagoon with a waterfall for a jaw dropping effect. You could also install a small water feature with an electric pump that trickles down to a koi pond to enjoy the nice soothing sounds of the water and an array of colorful fish. If you are lacking in space, consider a small water feature or even a bird bath. Something as small as that can make a huge difference for your yard.
Adding Greenery
Last but not least, is to fill your tropical paradise with greenery. Greenery will be key in creating the space that you want and there is no such thing as too much green. The goal is to create a rainforest aesthetic teeming with vegetation, so you’ll want to make sure you cover all your empty spaces with as much greenery as possible. Unsure of what plants to choose? Well if you live somewhere tropical or subtropical, you will be able to plant any tropical plant in the ground. However, if you live somewhere colder, you may want to consider leaving your tropical plants in pots so you can easily move them inside during the cold winter months. Some specific plants we recommend are:
- Palm Trees: Of course, any tropical space would not be complete without a palm tree. Some of the more common palm trees include windmill palms, date palms, and palmetto palms. There are, however, tons of different species of palm trees, some of which can even withstand cold climates.
- Ferns: Ferns are a classic way to add fullness to your backyard and cover the ground with greenery. Ferns are also hardy plants so don’t require much maintenance.
- Plumerias: Plumerias are actually a native plant to tropical regions and produce extremely fragrant flowers. Not only does it give your yard a burst of flowers, but it will fill your space with its sweet, floral aroma.
Remember when adding plants to your backyard, also create layers. Start with the larger plants first to create a canopy of green, then start filling in the below space with mid-size shrubs, large leaf plants, flowers, or ferns.
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