Owning a home on the water is many people’s idea of a dream come true. Not only does a waterfront home have a relaxing atmosphere, but it also opens up a new world of leisure opportunities. Make the most of a waterfront home by investing in smart upgrades to all your essential outdoor features. Keeping a waterfront home’s amenities up to date is an important safety concern.
Plus, the right accessories can make an ordinary waterfront home into a miniature resort.
1. Upgrade Your Dock
A dock is a must-have for any waterfront home. However, not all docks are safe and secure enough to provide the best recreational experience. Before investing in flashy boats or water sports items, be sure your essential dock supplies are in place and up-to-date. This includes fenders, which keep boats and docks from scraping and damaging each other. New nylon dock lines are a must as well.
High-quality ladders, dock lights and safety cabinets for first aid and life rafts should be first-line purchases. Railings are an important safety upgrade, too. Be sure any boats you invest in are legal for your body of water and geographical area.
2. Build a Fire Pit
A less intensive project is a fire pit built for relaxing in the summer months. The basic requirements are a hole in the ground, a sand and gravel layer and an outer structure. There are few limits on how elaborate you can make your fire pit, but keep a few safety concerns in mind.
Never use natural river or lake stones in a fire pit build, as small water deposits in these rocks can explode when they become too hot. Plan to build your fire pit at least 15 feet away from other structures on all sides. Make sure the pit isn’t far from a hose or other water source in case of emergencies. It’s a good idea to build sizable walls around a fire pit if children will be visiting your property at any point.
3. Add Outdoor Seating and Lounge Accessories
Once you have a safe dock and fire pit, turn your attention to outdoor seating. Comfortable places to relax are just as important as recreational purchases when it comes to enjoying a waterfront home’s backyard.
Wooden Adirondack chairs have a gently sloping seat and generous back, making them comfortable without the use of cushions or other porous materials. Hammocks are another great choice for outdoor seating that are easy to put up, take down and clean. Consider a high-quality set of folding chairs for outdoor entertaining.
4. Light Outdoor Paths
It’s easier than ever to put garden lights and strip lights in your backyard. Enhance the aesthetics of your property and its safety by choosing solar-powered LED outdoor lights. These lights are weatherproof and don’t require power lines or maintenance to stay at their best.
Place lights along paths and use them to draw attention to seating and other outdoor features. Strip LED lights are inexpensive and useful along the eaves of sheds and overhangs.
5. Plant a Pollinator Garden
Building, designing and planting a pollinator garden not only beautifies your home, but it also benefits the local ecosystem. Pollinator gardens are welcoming places for local species that transfer pollen from plant to plant. Bees, moths, bats and hummingbirds are all pollinators.
If these species have fewer food and shelter sources, their populations decline and local flora can die out. Here are a few tips to make a backyard garden a friendly place for pollinators:
- Use windbreaks such as sheds, walls or trellises. These help flying species avoid battling high winds.
- Plant local wildflowers pollinator species are already familiar with. As a bonus, these flowers are easy to grow as they’re already suited to your climate.
- Accessorize with small water features such as a birdbath or fountain to give pollinators a water supply.
- Situate a dead, hollow tree branch in a little-used area of your property. This gives bees a home that’s far away from yours.
6. Add a Permanent Raft
An impressive upgrade to a solid dock setup on a waterfront property is a permanent raft. A raft space can be a gathering spot, a place for older children to play or a fishing station. It also provides a safe space for swimmers to take a break or for boats to dock quickly.
There are dozens of possibilities for enhancing a home on the water. Well-appointed outdoor areas can accommodate large parties and make for unforgettable summers. Upgrade to get the most out of your waterfront home.
Also read: A Guide To Select The Ideal Holiday Home
