Everyone makes New Year's Resolutions. Whether we like the idea or not, everyone likes to think of the new year as a clean slate, and it's understandable why. We spend the year thinking about all of the things in our life that we want to change, whether it's our diet, our work habits, or how we treat people. It's the time of year where people line up for gym memberships or buy software for learning a new language. But one resolution that is often undervalued is the resolution to take care of our belongings, ideally how we treat our living space. It's easy for people to change things about their appearance or to pick up a new hobby, but some people neglect the fact that their home and outdoor living space could use some changes as well. Simply updating your backyard could even help you progress in your personal resolutions. It's a fact that your surrounding environment plays a big role in how we feel and treat ourselves so it's important to keep your living area bright and fresh. It's important to have a place you can relax and unload after experiencing the day's stresses thrown at you. March is officially upon us in 2017, which is a perfect time to start reflecting on changes you want done to your outdoor living space. Spring is right around the corner and you'll want an open space to enjoy the warm weather. Here are a few of the most popular landscape ideas to consider in 2017 that may pair with your resolutions:

1. Conversation Area: Maybe your resolution is to be more social, and if that is the case you're going to want to have an area where you and your friends can congregate and enjoy the scenery. The best place to do so is on a patio area, either connected to your home or maybe set in the round of your backyard area so you can enjoy every angle of your outdoor landscape. Contacting your contractor about installing a patio or an outdoor kitchen is the first step in achieving your ideal conversation area.
2. Garden landscapes: Having a brightly colored garden can do wonders for the soul. Gardening is immensely therapeutic and being surrounded by floral accents such as lavender or mint have been known to lower stress and reduce tension headaches. If you're wanting to have a garden landscape, however, it's important to make sure you have a walkway through the garden so you can fully enjoy the view. Many homeowners are installing stone walkways/steps that not only serve as convenience but also serve as an aesthetic contrast to the bright colors of the flowers.
3. Mood lighting: Believe it or not, having some artificial lighting can enhance the aesthetic value of your backyard living space. When most people hear "outdoor lighting" they usually think of flood lights, which can be very harsh and blinding in what is meant to be an open conversation area. Some contractors even suggest light dimmers so you can adjust the lighting based on your mood or the setting you want to provide for you and your guests. Whatever you want to do with updating your outdoor living space, it's important to have an outdoor contracting company that wants to provide you with your ideal landscape design. Your vision is important and in the end, you are the one who has to see the landscape everyday so it's important to have a contractor that works with you to give you the best design imaginable. Contact us today!

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Summer is just around the corner and that means the kids are out of school, there's no homework, and friends will be coming over to play (for parents and kids alike). With the scorching Atlanta heat during the day and the cool star filled nights, families are going to want plenty of outdoor activities to do together. And there's no better place to enjoy outdoor family time than in your own outdoor living space. Here are some great ways to boost your family fun time in your backyard landscape.

• Fire pit or stone oven: The latest food craze hitting the restaurant scene is "build your own pizza" style restaurants. While everyone enjoys designing their own pie, going out to eat can get expensive. Installing a fire pit or outdoor oven can help family dinners become more fun. Not only are they visually appealing, but fire features are great for an outdoor campout or for keeping warm when the wind starts to get too rowdy.
• Pool area: Some of the best memories are made hanging out by the pool with the sun beating down on your skin. Having a pool can not only up your property value, it can up your fun factor reputation throughout the neighborhood. Who doesn't love someone with a pool? If your outdoor landscape isn't laid out to support a pool, why not have a relaxing Japanese water garden to have as part of your conversation area? Not only are water features the most popular of landscape design features, they are perfect for those hot Atlanta summers. Just imagine jumping in the cold pool to escape the heat.

Also Read: Ideas for Creating a Relaxation Station

• Patio Game: Having a great patio can also boost your family fun factor. Create your own at home drive in with a makeshift projector on your outdoor patio for you and your neighbors to have a weekly outdoor movie night! Have your patio furniture assembled around the deck so everyone is comfortable and has a great view. Hide fun toys around the patio's flower bed for the kids to search for while the parents enjoy cocktails from their newly installed patio bar! Lay out on your hammock and watch the birds play in your newly installed water fountain feature. The opportunities are endless.

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The landscape layout of outdoor gardens has definitely evolved over the years. What used to be a few choice breeds of flowers in a flower bed has blossomed no pun intended) to include various styles of outdoor architecture, including hardscaping and outdoor construction. To help you in creating a modern garden, here are some great ways for an Atlanta homeowner to keep their garden as up to date as possible.

1. Update Your Lighting: Having the right lighting can do wonders for your outdoor living space. Long gone are the days where flood lights ruled the backyard landscape world. Many homeowners opt for strands of lights to have hanging throughout their backyard or front yard area which can create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. However, adjustable lighting has become one of the more popular options for indoor and outdoor settings in the past ten years and helps create the perfect mood for all occasions. Whether it's a barbecue or an evening by the pool, your contractor should be able to provide you with the proper lighting for any event.
2. Water Feature: Water features have also gone through a glamorous makeover in the outdoor design world. It used to be the term "water feature" brought the image of an ornate fountain to mind. While fountains are still popular (and also an excellent choice of water feature), homeowners have more options available in today's age. Japanese water gardens and ponds bring a tranquil aesthetic to your outdoor landscape. A reflecting pool can even open up your outdoor space making it appear larger.
3. Incorporation of Stone: The incorporation of stone into landscape design is not new but finding innovative ways to incorporate the medium into your outdoor living area has definitely expanded. Stone can be the base for your patio, a garden walkway, or a fire pit, placing stone into your landscape can add a level of refinement that your neighbors and friends can enjoy. No matter what elements to landscape design that you wish to add to your outdoor living space, our Atlanta designers at Outdoor Makeover and Construction are skilled to help you with all of your landscape needs.

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