Transforming your backyard into a modern oasis is a lot easier than you’d think, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. With a few décor strategies and smart investments, you can host magnificent parties for family and friends in your own backyard. Keep these tips in mind as you begin drawing up plans for your outdoor living space and extend your livable areas without adding square footage to the house itself.

Outdoor Furniture Needs

You can find inexpensive garden and patio furniture at Overstock.com. From fire pits to outdoor cushions, this site offers pretty much everything you need to make a modern outdoor paradise. Shopping online usually offers price saving benefits, and this site is no different. Grab some online Overstock.com coupons from Official Coupon Code and get that picture perfect patio set for next to nothing. As you start shopping for furniture for your new outdoor space, focus on items that can withstand the weather in your area. Fabrics should be mold-resistant, and the structural portions of your tables and chairs should be made with sturdy materials like aluminum. This type of frame won’t rust and can stand up against freezing cold temperatures.

The Comforts of the Indoors…Outside

While your living space will constitute a separate area, you still want to ensure your home’s interior blends into the exterior. The easiest way to accomplish this? Simply add the comforts of the indoors to your patio area. Grab plush, stylish rugs from ModernRugs.com to lay underfoot so kids and adults alike can go barefoot even outdoors—this is especially important when the sun goes down and temperatures dip. You can hang heavy-duty picture frames and décor on the exterior walls, add cozy pillows to your outdoor furniture for some plush relaxation stations, and keep blankets on-hand for anyone who gets chilly. Your goal should be to offer your family and friends every comfort they’ve come to expect indoors, outside.

Add a Water Feature

Add the soothing sounds of running water to your backyard with a quaint water feature. Grab a wall fountain to add some pizazz to your home’s exterior, or go all out and invest in a backyard pond filled with fish and greenery. Hire a professional landscaper to help you conceptualize and create a water feature that will become the focal point of your outdoor living space. The right fountain or pond can add great value to your backyard, and will provide a soothing, peaceful sense of tranquility—who couldn’t use a bit of that these days?

Don’t Forget the Lighting

Make the most of your outdoor living space even when the sun has gone down with appropriate lighting features. From string bulb lights that give your patio an extra bit of charm to motion sensor lights that ensure no one trips in the dark backyard, there are plenty of lighting solutions to make your backyard a standout. This will also ensure your get-togethers can continue for hours into the evening—you no longer have to move the party indoors when dusk hits.

Get into Gardening

Outdoor living space isn’t exclusive to patios. Consider getting into gardening and create your own garden bed. Choose between beautiful flora or stick to veggies and herbs that you can use in your kitchen. Gardening has actually been proven to serve as a solid stress reducer, and can be a great family activity if you want to get the kids involved. In our tech-heavy world, most of us don’t spend nearly as much time outdoors as we wish we did, and gardening gives you a reason to head outside and soak in the sun. It’s also just plain fun to get your hands a bit dirty every now and then.

If you’re looking for ways to create a beautiful, functional outdoor space in your backyard, keep these tips and tricks in mind. Whether you’re looking to become the “hostess with the mostess”, or you’d like to get your kids excited to play outside, adding these fun features to your home can improve your happiness and make sure you make the most of this gorgeous summer weather.