A swimming pool might have been a top trend back in the 1990s but nowadays, different outdoor home improvements grab the attention of homeowners. In fact, these trends shift so often, that in 2020 we can expect a whole new set of improvements to dominate our backyards. From a spruced up back door to a basketball court, the coming year will definitely be spent outdoors as much as possible.

Replacing the back door

When thinking of doors, most people immediately think of the front door and a new paint job it probably requires. However, the back door takes the same amount of beating by the elements that it too could do with a bit of sprucing up.

In some cases, installing a gasket at the bottom of the door is enough to prevent draft inside but in other cases, the back door needs to be replaced entirely. If you go with the latter solution, then choose a metal door over a wooden one because it will last longer and it will seal better.

Going green

Apart from the usual outdoor home improvements that come to your mind, plants are probably high up your remodeling list. However, the last place you would plant them is near or even on the fence. Quite the contrary, creating a garden wall should be a top priority in 2020 for several reasons.

Firstly, you’ll enjoy a greater level of privacy since vines and other climbers fill all the gaps in a picket fence, thus hiding your backyard. If you have trouble with a neighbor who’s a nosy parker, then a green wall is a subtle way to tell them to bugger off.

Furthermore, a green wall will act as a barrier that will stop dust particles from entering your home. This can come in handy if you live next to a busy road or a street. In addition, the sound of traffic will be muffled by the foliage so you can enjoy a relative comfort in the privacy of your backyard.

Adding a deck

Needless to say, building a whole patio will set you back a few thousand dollars but building a deck is not that expensive. A deck will provide you with the firm ground for housing the seating and even the dining area. You can bring in the furniture when the weather becomes too cold to spend time outside and the deck can be covered to prevent water damage from thawing snow.

Shooting some backyard hoops

With a lot of NBA teams competing this year for the title of the league’s champion, 2020 will see a rise in the number of backyard basketball courts. They needn’t be particularly large as a single rim is enough. If your plot of land is big enough, level it to create a basketball court.

After pouring the concrete surface, all you need to do is draw the lines and add some LED sports lights, as made by Legacy Lighting so you can play after dark. Just think of it, your kids might grow up to become a new Larry Bird or Michael Jordan playing on that court!

A stream running through your yard

As the weather improves next year, you will be spending more and more time outside. This means that a lazy July afternoon will probably catch you sleeping in a hammock behind your house. In order to enjoy outdoor leisure time to the fullest, add a fountain to the backyard. There are ready-made outdoor fountains widely available but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be crafty.

The water from the fountain will have to drain somewhere so why not create an artificial stream that will run the length of your backyard. You can beautify its “banks” with rock and boulder, dotted with colorful plants. In fact, the stream can be created out of necessity because the tap and the drain are set wide apart in many yards.

A hammock for the adults and a swing for the kids

We’ve mentioned already that you can throw in a hammock inside the backyard. Like the fountains, they too can be purchased pre-made and simply hung between two adjacent trees. However, expect the children to start climbing into the hammock because they cannot resist the temptation to swing in it.

Since hammocks are not built for this purpose, at least the one made from rope, it is wise to provide your kids with an alternative form of entertainment. A tree swing is easy to make and it requires a single solid branch for installation. Once you test the swing for safety, don’t fall to the temptation to swing in it yourself because you’re made it for the children.

These were just the top 6 outdoor home improvements that will be in vogue in 2020. Some of them, like the swing, have been popular for ages, while others like a green wall are just now entering gardening practices. However, the boldest idea presented here is a well-lit basketball court that is bound to draw the attention of your neighbors in a positive way.