Dear Urbaneer: How Can I Make The Most Of My Outdoor Space?

May 30, 2025

Welcome to my blog on housing, culture and design in Toronto, Ontario, Canada! My name is Steve Fudge. I’m a realtor and housing consultant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Here’s our most recent installment of Dear Urbaneer, where clients and followers reach out with their shelter questions. This time around, I am speaking to a reader who is looking for guidance on how to elevate his outdoor space.

Dear Urbaneer:

Top of my to-do list as we approach summer is to transform my outdoor space to create opportunities to relax and socialize. May I ask what’s trending in outdoor space design, and how I might incorporate function and fun while adding value to my home?

Signed, Looking for Backyard Bay

Here is my reply:

Dear Backyard Bay:

Outdoor spaces are in demand, and homeowners are pulling out all the stops to create comfortable outdoor areas, from sublime tony terraces to resort-worthy yards, depending on the size of their property and how deep their pockets.

This love for outdoor respite is a continuation of a trend that emerged during the pandemic, when private outdoor space became more coveted for health and wellness, and more expensive to acquire. As lockdowns required individuals and households to find solace in isolation, those with access to private outdoor space were more likely to flourish. Today, homeowners continue to nurture their love of gardening while cultivating creative innovative ways to elevate the outdoor experience and, in many cases, boost the asset value of their home.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve often written about the value of outdoor spaces. Check out Dear Urbaneer: What Is The Value Of A Condominium Balcony Or Terrace?, The Continuing Demand For Outdoor Space In Toronto and see three of my own outdoor sanctuaries in How To Elevate The Value Of Your Balcony, Patio, Or Terrace.

From my own lens in the Toronto real estate trenches, and trending across the shelter industry, housing design inspiration site Houzz.com noticed the uptick in the number of homeowners redecorating and renovating their outdoor spaces. According to this report, factors driving this trend line include having sufficient time, enough money, and a deep desire to prioritize its completion. The high cost of housing, the high cost of moving, and the diminishing supply of low-density housing stock within some areas have forced homeowners to look at ways that they can make their at-home experience better, which, in many cases, means better outdoor opportunities.

Here is some inspiration on how to make the most of your own outdoor space this season.

Create Zones

Your outdoor space is a lot like an open-concept floor plan, where zones dedicated to various tasks are identified with focal points and clustering of furniture and decor.

Your outdoor space might be split into cooking, dining, rest and play. Create a focal point (a grilling station, an outdoor fireplace or accent wall) and build zones out from there. Use furniture, outdoor rugs and other decor to signal transitions between zones, and make each space identifiable, but cohesive.

Outdoor Kitchens

One of the top features coveted by homeowners is an outdoor kitchen. The most sought-after feature in an outdoor kitchen is the grill, but some homeowners are going all-in with built-in prep and refrigeration space.

First, assess your available space, and then think about how you might use the space. Will you be cooking for a few or entertaining many?

If you are doing a full kitchen, you’ll need electrical and plumbing, in addition to a grill.

In terms of layout, a U-shaped kitchen is best for a larger yard, while an L-shaped kitchen makes better use of smaller spaces. Often, bar seating is incorporated in an L-shaped outdoor kitchen, a sociable spot to gather and interact with the chef.

A must with an outdoor kitchen, of course, is outdoor dining. Style an outdoor dining area near the grill area, with adequate, comfortable seating. Modular and multi-functional seating is a good choice, especially for smaller spaces.

Ideally, your outdoor kitchen is under cover, so that you can cook comfortably, regardless of the weather.

To create the most comfort, install patio heaters to extend the season, or have fans at the ready to keep extra cool on hot summer days.

Don’t forget the lighting. Lighting is essential outdoors, for safety and for decorative flair. Task-oriented lighting in the grill area can help you see what you are doing while cooking, important to prevent injury and to practice food safety. Similarly, pathway lighting and porch lighting can help illuminate walkways to prevent tripping. Here’s my post Why Outdoor Lighting Offers A Great Return On Investment.

While most of these design ideas are suited for bigger yards, you can still get an outdoor kitchen experience with a small yard, or even a terrace. If you are able to have a grill, consider a portable outdoor kitchen, such as a stainless steel cart on wheels with a butcher block countertop. You can cart your ingredients to your grill, complete with prep at the ready.

Even if you are in a condo or other housing where you can’t have a grill, you can still embrace an outdoor dining experience, with a small dining table, or even a bistro set, for an intimate dinner. Do your prep indoors, and then serve outside, in al fresco perfection, perhaps even with a city skyline view to elevate the dining experience

* Courtesy of Moss Design Studio, with thanks.

Fusing An Indoor/Outdoor Connection

Although it may seem contradictory, elevating your outdoor space actually begins indoors in many cases. One of the big home design trends currently is designing around an awareness of an indoor/outdoor connection.

Design-wise, this equates to floor-to-ceiling windows, or sliding doors without (or with minimal) window treatments. For larger properties, retractable glass walls that open on demand are very hot, extending the living and entertainment spaces.

The benefits of fusing an indoor/outdoor connection include extending sightlines, greater natural light, which can boost mood, and a calming atmosphere.

The key is to keep design and decor choices consistent indoors and out. Have similar colours, finishes and materials mirror each other inside and out. Run the same flooring, where possible. Populate the indoors with plants, to mirror greenery outside. Think about using indoor/outdoor furniture to maintain the same look inside and out of your home.

Zen Gardens

With a growing focus on health and wellness at home, your outdoor space is the perfect place to escape and recharge in a meditation garden. Even a small corner in a larger space can be incredibly soothing and encourage mindfulness.

How you fashion your Zen garden will ultimately depend on your available space, but there are some common elements. Adopt a minimalist approach, with few, but specific installations, meant to elicit calm, not add distraction.

Use natural elements liberally, especially stones, rocks, and wood. Make sure you have somewhere comfortable to sit and be contemplative. If you have the space, creating a small walking path with stepping stones or with sand to rake can add a soothing element. Pick plants that are calming, such as lavender, bamboo, and moss. Add wind chimes or a birdhouse/bird bath for background soundscapes.

Water Features

Water features add a lovely element of tranquillity to any outdoor space. What’s more soothing than the sound of a babbling brook, or gently running water?

There is so much to choose from. Have a waterfall fountain or water wall integrated into a pool or garden. Water bowls or other sculptural basins can make a statement, too. Have the space and ground to work wth? Create a pond! While it may require a little more maintenance, you also have the option of adding animals and plants for a truly special, immersive nature experience.

If your outdoor space is smaller, consider just a tabletop water fountain – the sound alone is calming!

Fire Features

Fire features in a yard are very popular. They are perfect for just you or a few, for gathering and hosting. They are lots of fun for families, making s’mores. They really lend a getaway feel to your own backyard space, like going camping without having to leave home.

From simple, portable wood-burning models to linear, fully integrated gas fire tables, there is a lot to choose from across price points and design preferences.

If you want something a little more permanent, building your own wood-burning fire pit is a pretty easy DIY, involving grading the area, inserting a fire ring in the ground with fireproofing materials, and laying a gravel or other inorganic base around the firepit for safety sake.

Make A Splash

What truly adds a resort vibe to your outdoor space? A pool or a hot tub, of course!

A hot tub is a better choice for smaller yards, and has the added benefit of year-round use. What’s more magical than sitting in a hot tub on a winter’s night, with snow falling, and the steam rising from the water?

If you have a smaller yard, but would still like to have a pool to splash around in, consider a cocktail pool, which is a mini-version of a traditional pool, big enough to wade in, cool down, and sit and enjoy a cocktail, just like the name implies.

Play Space For The Kids

It may seem like a simple concept, but having dedicated space for children (and big kids masquerading as adults) to play outside is not often designed intentionally, at the peril of our youth. Parks are a wonderful resource for this, and there are so many to choose from in Toronto, but there is nothing quite as convenient and helpful in establishing healthy habits around fresh air and exercise as having space for outdoor play at home.

This report – “Only One In Four Children Play Out Regularly On Their Street Compared To Almost Three-Quarters Of Their Grandparents’ Generation” – looks at the steep decline of children engaging in unstructured outdoor play, such as street games in the neighbourhood, climbing trees, or imaginative, outdoor play.

It’s easy to create a fun, safe space for your little ones to engage in free play in your yard. You can put up a play structure or build a sandbox. Or, kids are often best left to their imaginations. Stock an outdoor box with fun toys, such as skipping ropes, hula hoops, pinwheels, bubbles and balls, so they can play, run and jump to their heart’s content.

Create green space, free of debris, on flat ground to run around, explore and play.

A More Sustainable, Biophilic Approach To Play Space (For Kids & Adults!)

As a realtor, I’m always thinking about the potential upside and downside of any upgrades or improvements an owner makes to their property, both indoors and out. For anyone contemplating installing a swimming pool, a sprawling gazebo, or a children’s playground/playhouse, understand there is always the risk your decisions will not be considered ‘added value’ and that your design choices may not complement the taste of a future Buyer. This can diminish your return on investment or, worse, lose the Buyer’s interest completely because they have no desire to undo someone else’s aspirations.

Consider paring down your epic playground plans for a simpler, more sustainable, and biophilic solution. For example, ensuring your outdoor space has a multi-purpose lawn portion that can accommodate all different kinds of activities will allow you to get the most out of your available square footage, without endangering your ROI. Great lawn activities include badminton or volleyball (just throw up a net!). a mini kiddie pool (blow and go!), or the eternally popular family-friendly games of bocce, horseshoes, and croquet. These are great games for all ages to play. (Also enjoying a resurgence recently are Texas Horseshoes & Corn Hole I love both!)

Bocce is a bowling game of Italian origin played on a long, narrow grass court with bocce balls. The object, as in the game of lawn bowls, is to bring your bocce ball to rest near a smaller ball than an opponent’s ball, to protect a well-placed ball, or to knock aside an opponent’s ball. With an estimated 25 million players globally, it’s a game enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities because the game’s simple rules and low impact make it a great option for a variety of players.

Horseshoes is a lawn game where two players, or two teams of two, try to throw horseshoes at stakes driven into the ground. Players score points by getting their horseshoes to land close to the stakes or, ideally, around them (ringing). The game is a fun, casual, and competitive outdoor activity that combines skill and precision.

Croquet is a sport which involves hitting wooden balls with a mallet through hoops embedded in a grass playing court. Several variations exist that differ in when and how a stroke may be legally played, when points are scored, the layout of the lawn, and the target score. In all versions, players of all ages and genders compete on equal terms and are ranked together.

If you’re trying to take a more sustainable approach in designing your outdoor space, there are fun and unique ways to incorporate other types of play as well as exercise.

Some years ago I saw a video interview with a mature gentleman who had created an obstacle course in his garden. It included a balance beam that also served as a bench, and a series of different-sized stones in a variety of shapes placed at random distances throughout his planting beds. Navigating the course in bare feet, after crossing the balance beam, one either stepped, hopped or jumped onto any of the irregular-shaped stones spread across the planting beds. Some stones were small, so one had to land them with precision. Others were multi-sided, so your foot had to wrap the rock for stability. Several were square-cut and generous, which made them the easiest to traverse.

Standing in his backyard, one would never think this hodgepodge of natural materials was designed to serve as an obstacle course. It simply looked like a lush, well-tended garden with stones. But after watching him traverse it from start to finish, one realized it was a complicated and challenging endeavour. He said he built it after he injured himself slipping on the wet grass and realized that he needed to actively spend more time ‘being nimble on his toes’.

Generally, as people age, they tend to move less, which can be enormously detrimental to their health and well-being. As we age, we should try to improve our dynamic walking abilities, balance, and overall mobility in order to reduce the risk of falls and maintain our independence. An obstacle course in a garden also offers mental benefits like enhancing motor planning, problem-solving skills, and working memory. Obstacle courses are beneficial for all ages and not difficult to create.

Sustainable Gardens

Sustainable gardens are trending, as homeowners look for ways to shrink their footprint at home. Choose native plantings, or plants with naturally high moisture content, which require less watering. Use composting to reduce waste.

Popular are pollinator gardens. Choose flowers and plants with continuous blooms throughout the season, so that pollinators will always have a spot to visit.

Here are some more helpful tips for sustainable gardening: Dear Urbaneer: How Can I Make My Outdoor Space More Eco-Friendly?

Balconies & Terraces

You don’t need a sprawling yard to have an inviting outdoor space. Condo owners can still make the most of their outdoor space as well. In fact, outdoor space with a condominium is easily one of the most coveted features for future buyers.

Invest in multi-functional, modular furniture, ideally with storage built in. Make use of vertical space for a garden, or create a living wall for privacy. Hanging baskets or railing planters are pretty too. String lights or lanterns add whimsy and ambience. Use outdoor rugs, blankets and throw pillows to add color.

For greater privacy, install a privacy screen, or hang draperies for a layered look like I did in this sleeping porch.

Great question! An important part of your journey as a homeowner is making the most of, and seeing the potential in the home that you have, or that you want. With decades of experience and a keen eye for possibilities to elevate everyday living, I am here to help!

Here are some of my present and past outdoor spaces:

The Perfect Patio At My Movie House Loft

How Green Does Your Garden Show?

A Black Garden At The Black House In PEI By Dan Does Design