Changing your backyard into a spa-like retreat

With today’s housing market slump, more and more homeowners are updating their current property. For many, this means creating a relaxation destination right in their own backyard. I bet you have been thinking about updating your property this summer?

Hot tubs are one of the leading trends as homeowners are changing their simple backyards into peaceful havens for family and friends to enjoy, and adding a hot tub is much easier than you think.

First of all you need a plan for where it will go. To help you decide where to put it, take a chair and sit on it in different locations see how it might feel.
You will want to consider:
-proximity to the back door: Most hot tubs are used year round and getting to it in the winter could be a bit chilly.
-privacy: How exposed is the spot to the neighborhood.
-view: What will you be looking at when you sitting in the tub.

Planning is critical to designing a successful backyard hot tub project.
-You will want it to be in an esthetically pleasing space not just stuck in some corner.
-It should be integrated well with the landscape elements already in your yard or you will need to do some redesigning of your yard to make them work well together. If you presently have a deck, often the tub is recessed through the deck rather than sitting on top of it. This provides easy access to the tub, integrates it well, and is safe as your present deck probably is not built to carry the weight. If your back yard is on a slope you could tuck the hot tub into the side of a slope, as this would also give it an integrated look. The possibilities are endless.
-Building a decorative fence or placing it beside a gazebo or strategically planting some shrubs near it can provide the privacy you want or need for your intimate hot tub experiences.
-Lighting is an attractive feature that keeps you safe and also sets the mood for your hot tub experience. Don't forget to consider providing adequate (not overpowering) lighting for the pathways to the hot tub for those late night rendezvous.
-Your backyard is unique and so are your likes and dislikes so sometime it is advantageous to hire a professional to help you design a successful hot tub project.

The installation of your hot tub may also require a professional unless you're experienced, in order to install the electrical and any gas lines required for the heater however you should be able to perform all other aspects of the installation on your own.

Hot tubs are perfect for soothing tired and aching muscles and relaxing after a hard and stressful day at work. Are you ready to get started changing your backyard into a spa-like retreat? Why wait? Start relaxing in your very own “relaxation destination” right in your own backyard.

Relaxing “by the yard”