Five Ways to Enjoy Your Backyard at Night
With Sussex County now deep into the throes of Autumn, the shorter days mean more darkness. Whether it's fall or the middle of summer, our backyards can be a nighttime playground for friends and family. I embrace the arrival of darkness in my own backyard because I have created some well-planned outdoor living areas that use creative and accentuating light.
Lighting
With a few well-placed kerosene lanterns and low-voltage lights, my backyard becomes a canvas of deliberate highlights. The sound of the waterfall fills the backyard while strategically-placed lights offer a nighttime rendering of the interplay between the rocks and water. Old-style hot blast lanterns offer a general but softer glow of a bygone and simpler time.
The lighting throughout the pathway forms puddles of light, creating surprises of texture and shadows along the way. The ambiance of the pergola area is such of a corner cafe with hanging lights strung overhead, glass of wine optional. The path for the dog in the outskirts has received some intentional directed light to ensure that late night trips invoke the feeling of safety and confidence.
Fire pit
The fire pit is an obvious choice for everyone on the Sierra crew. When people gather 360º around the warmth and light of an open fire pit, this allows everyone an equal platform to share and listen. It illuminates the people in the immediate vicinity and not much else. The focus is shifted to the those gathered and the stories being shared.
Living space
It may seem counterintuitive, but consider including a "room" in the back yard. This can create a sense of enclosed comfort in an otherwise open area. For Robert, our top man on the totem pole, he finds that his pergola makes a well-defined, cozy, and enjoyable place to spend time with his family. Even an area like a patio with an umbrella can offer a room-like experience.
Robert goes on to say that he also enjoys his backyard hillside patio. It's still an outdoor living space and benefits with an unobstructed view of the nighttime sky. With three kids, this also gives him the advantage of a prison yard warden-esque point of view to keep an eye on the shenanigans.
Let the kids loose
One of the most enjoyable things about having a connection with nature in the backyard is watching kids experience it. Catching lightning bugs, playing flashlight tag, star gazing, or even playing catch with a lighted ball. (Yea, I did that.)
Lose the Tech
Even with my seemingly unhealthy passion for tech, it's always a great idea to put the devices down and return to nature. There is a time and a place for that. OK, so you want to take a photo of the shenanigans, but after that, put it down. Forget Facebook, ignore Instagram, turn off Twitter, and yank the plug on YouTube. This is a time to reconnect with those around you and the reason why you're outside; Nature.
At Sierra, helping families like you create new and long-lasting memories is in our blood. It's our passion to help families like yours. We love sharing with you the nature-inspired living spaces that families enjoy in the day and in the night. Have you started making new memories of your own yet? Click the button below to slide on over to the portfolio and start creating your own ideas of what a memory making yard can look like for your family!