5 Backyard Living Spaces So Awesome They’ll Make You Love Staying Home This Fall

There’s no need to retreat inside to avoid dropping temperatures this Fall, if you can stay outside and enjoy all the benefits of warming up to your outdoor living space. Thanks to the increasingly wide variety of outdoor heaters, furniture and lighting, backyard spaces continue to be livable and lovable through the colder months. And now in 2020, when the indoors can start to feel claustrophobic, an outdoor living space is the ultimate place where you can safely spread out with friends and family to have fun.

It’s simpler than you might think to create the perfect space for you. Local brick and mortar stores  (like Boston-favorite Martignetti Enterprises) have everything you need for your backyard cookouts, movie nights, happy hours, and other great Fall festivities. To help inspire your design plans, we’ve put together this list of our favorite trending outdoor spaces.

Gathering ‘Round the Fire

A firepit presents the perfect opportunity to sit around a fire spending quality time with your friends and family, whether roasting marshmallows, having a drink, or simply telling stories, all while staying six feet apart. Fortunately, a firepit doesn’t have to be some homely iron cauldron either: modern firepits, built from stone, can stylishly integrate with your other backyard stone features. The Unilock Sunset Fire Pit in particular is a luxurious addition to level up your outdoor space. Its antiqued, quarried stone exterior brightens up the yard while looking truly timeless, a perfect complement to a roaring flame. It’s also surprisingly pragmatic: use the grill insert for true flame-grilling, or upgrade with a gas insert from Warming Trends to make starting a fire (and getting a camping experience in your own backyard) as easy as pushing a button.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more formal look for your outdoor living space, consider an outdoor fireplace. The Unilock Tuscany Pre-Built Fireplace, which features the same quarried stone look with a slightly more sophisticated slant, is a perfect conversation piece to be the foundation to build an outdoor living room. Just lay down some pavers if you don’t have them already (Unilock pavers are a perfect option that come in a matching stone look), and the fireplace can be installed in a day, so you’ll be able to enjoy your new outdoor lounging experience instantly (slippers not included). For the finishing touch, install a Sonoma redwood pergola from Martignetti Enterprises for extra light during the Winter months or greenery in the Spring, and in either case, a homey touch that lets you relax and enjoy the great outdoors at the same time.

Cooking Out at Home

You’re probably missing care-free nights out right now, and that’s why it’s the perfect time for a safe alternative: create a kitchen and cocktail bar all in your own backyard! Outdoor kitchen and bars are getting more popular in recent years, and it’s pretty simple: Blaze makes a range of outdoor appliances, from ovens to refrigerators, ready-made for that extra-spacious kitchen of your dreams. What would seem like the hard part—the construction of an outdoor island to host the appliances and home bar—is made simple by modular construction systems. The U-Cara Modular System, available at Martignetti Enterprises in Woburn and Amesbury, is fully customizable for your space, whether you want a massive chef-inspired kitchen or a cozy little wraparound corner bar. Just talk it over with your contractor to get exactly what you need. Whether your serving up apple cider sangria and pumpkin spice milkshakes or even a full turkey dinner, by customizing your own space, you create the perfect opportunity to set up socially distanced get togethers this Fall or Winter.

Ornamental Upgrades

Your garden might not survive the winter, but that’s not the only way to spruce up your space during the colder months.  If you’re looking to easily enhance the look and ambience of your yard, installing a water feature is a great way to improve the feel of your space instantly, and it’s easier than you would think. Universal purpose stone like the U-Cara Multiface Wall system will produce a durable water feature that won’t lose its elegance in the harsher months. Bonus: it’s a natural and relaxing source of white noise, which can hush your neighbors and transform your outdoor living space into an oasis. With an additional WAC underwater LED spotlight, you’ll continue to enjoy your fountain through those early Fall sunsets.

Exterior Design

As a general principle, if you’re looking to make a big change, flexibility is key. Deeper architectural upgrades can be handled easily with a Unilock Rivercrest Pillar or Wall system, which will allow your contractor to bypass a lot of complications in stone cutting to easily create exactly what you need. The addition of architectural features such as sitting walls and columns allows add-ins such as outdoor lighting, form pillars and stairs to sculpt and define your outdoor living space and better enjoy your backyard during those long Fall nights. Even if it’s outdoors, nailing the feng shui of a living space can make all the difference.

Ultimately, whatever project you choose to embark on, it’s important that you receive the proper help. If you want to customize the perfect space for you, Boston’s top option is Martignetti Enterprises in Woburn and Amesbury. There, you will find all products mentioned, and can consult with their in-house designer, who can create custom designs perfect for you and your family.

Like what you see? For more design inspiration, follow Martignetti Enterprises on Facebook and Instagram. 

This is a paid partnership between Martignetti Enterprises and Boston Magazine