Farmhouse Backyard Ideas to Spruce Up Your Outdoor Space

Farmhouse Backyard Ideas to Spruce Up Your Outdoor Space

 

Farmhouse-style homes speak more to the home's functionality, rather than its form. This is because these classic designs were built to match the large scenic plots of land on which their owners lived. First constructed out of necessity, old-fashioned farmhouse plans were built to be sturdy and purposeful. Today, they have comfortable, inviting designs, allowing the home to become the property's focal point.

But what about the outdoor space? Styling your farmhouse’s backyard can be just as important as styling its interior. This is because your green space is where you will raise your family, spend your time off after long days at work, BBQ with friends and family, and even enjoy your retirement one day.

 

Our Top 12 Farmhouse Backyard Ideas

Here are a few of our favorite ideas for farmhouse backyards that we’ve come across over the years.

 

When it comes to a farmhouse, simple is chicer

When you are thinking about putting together a nice backyard for your farmhouse, you don’t need to go over the top. The nice thing about the farmhouse aesthetic is that it’s all about slowing down and taking a load off. Spending time with family, and friends, and even just hanging out by yourself.

If you prefer to have a nice, green backyard with just a pair of rocking chairs on the porch, that’s perfect! You don’t need crazy topiaries, large gazebos, or anything like that. If we’ve learned one thing in all our years in the business, it’s this: less really is more when it comes to farmhouse decor.

 

Add a fire pit to keep things cozy

There is nothing better than sitting around a nice, cozy fire with your loved ones on a chilly night. If you enjoy roasting marshmallows, or even just the ambiance of a bonfire, save yourself the trouble of having to build a fire each time you want to have the experience. Instead, invest in a fire pit to make things easier for you.

Fire pits come in various materials, like metal, ceramic, etc., and can be placed in your yard, or upon your patio, depending on your preferences. And, if you like the idea of one, but don’t want to constantly be smelling like a campfire, there are even gas-enabled fire pits on the market that you can invest in for a more controlled burn.

 

Enjoy a hammock or even a swinging bed

The farmhouse lifestyle is all about taking the time to enjoy yourself. Because of this, one of the nicest things you can do is to add a prime relaxation space to your backyard living area. This way, you can take an afternoon nap, enjoy a good book, or supervise your children’s playtime in comfort.

Installing a large hammock on your back porch is one way to achieve this. However, if you want room for more than one person, or prefer sitting up, then a swinging porch swing is probably a better fit for you. Nowadays, you can even get a swing the size of a double mattress for ultimate relaxation.

 

Use alternatives to concrete

It can be really tempting to use a solid concrete slab for your back porch when you live in a farmhouse. Afterall, a slab is a relatively sturdy and low maintenance option. And, best of all, it seems easy to install. However, to make things a bit cozier, consider avoiding concrete and using other materials to anchor your outdoor living spaces.

These other materials could be things like gravel, bark mulch, or even less common alternatives like decomposed granite (DG). These options add a bit more character to your space. In addition, water can flow through them back into the ground. Water can’t do this with concrete.

 

Add some animals to the mix

What’s a farmhouse backyard without some sweet farm animals around? If you have the acreage available (or live in an area that has these kinds of animals that doesn’t violate any homeowner’s association rules), consider adding a chicken coop with heritage breed chickens to enjoy.

This way, you’ll have plenty of companionship around the yard, and might even get to enjoy farm-fresh eggs each morning, if you’re lucky. You can also consider other relatively low-maintenance farm animals, like a goat or two.

 

Use worn wood or distressed iron for tables, chairs, or a potter’s bench

A building material that is popular among farmhouse owners is worn or distressed wood. Whether or not the wood is actually older, or just made to look that way, it’s still a great choice. You can find options for furniture, or other outdoor decorations, at local home goods stores, flea markets, or even online peer-to-peer marketplaces.

The only thing that you might need to be careful of, especially if you interact with the item a lot, is getting splinters from older wood. So, keep in mind that even if the item is weathered, it doesn’t mean it can’t be sanded down for safety.

 

Ensure there is plenty of shade

Nothing is worse than relaxing in your backyard and not having a place to gain respite from the beating hot sun. So, when you are creating your perfect farmhouse backyard, be sure to add plenty of pockets of shade. You can do this with a nice umbrella over your dining table or even build a covered porch to enjoy.

 

Consider an outdoor kitchen

Having an outside kitchen is one of the best ways to enjoy your farmhouse’s backyard. You can start with a grill if you’d like, then work your way up to a full-blown kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, and oven. There are many benefits to an outdoor kitchen, namely the entertainment value to guests during the warmer months. However, a benefit that is great all year round is being able to leave smells outside. If you cook salmon, a nice curry, or even a smokey barbeque meal, your entire house doesn’t have to smell like it.

 

Fresh flowers are never out of place

A great perk of a farmhouse backyard is filling it with fresh flowers, so much so that your garden beds are completely overflowing. A bed full of bright pink Petunias is the highlight of any summer in your new backyard, although they do come in plenty of alternative colors as well. No matter the color, petunias are a bright and cheery choice.

You might also choose to go for Baby's Breath, also called Euphorbia. This flower works well intermixed with all different kinds of other flowers and even looks like a small, white cloud when clumped up from a distance. In addition to planted flowers, cut flowers tend to also look great on any outdoor surfaces available. You can place them on your patio table or even on the countertops of your outdoor kitchen.

 

Consider ceramics and colored glass for vases and dishes

Farmhouses are famous for using a simple, elegant design throughout their kitchen and outdoor spaces: ceramics. Once homemade, these items are now more commercially produced, but still give each home the same stylish, cozy atmosphere. Whether you are pruning or potting plants or prepping a delicious meal, you can use ceramics to achieve a homestyle, polished look.

 

Burlap is a classic material, so don’t be afraid to use it

Burlap goes hand and hand with farmhouse design. It’s been a staple for decades and isn’t going out of style anytime soon. Some of the best ways to use burlap when styling your outdoor space are by including it in seasonal wreaths hung on your backdoor or using it as a part of your table settings when dining outdoors. You can even make utensil pockets out of burlap, as well as placemats or table runners.

 

Enjoy the use of your space

Don’t be afraid to spread out and enjoy the space given to you when decorating your backyard. Part of the fun of a farmhouse is making use of the acreage that tends to come with them. So, if you want to install a pool for fun summer afternoons, go for it. Just be sure to put up a fence for all kinds of safety reasons. If you want to have rolling acres of simple green grass for your kids or grandkids to run and play in, that works, too. Lean into your interests when decorating and you can’t go wrong.

 

If you have any questions about our house plans, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We have thousands of customizable plans available, and our customer service team can help answer any questions you may have.