You have a backyard space with a gorgeous view. But too often, that view gets hijacked by the usual suspects: surprise rain, humid heat, mosquitoes with a personal grudge, and neighbors who think every weekend is a concert. It’s frustrating because the whole point of a great backyard is to use it. Not to stare at it through a window while you mutter, “Maybe next weekend.”
For more than 70 years, Joyce has helped homeowners turn “nice yard” potential into real, lived-in comfort. From designing inviting outdoor patio covers and screen rooms to building beautiful sunrooms that keep the view front and center, Joyce solutions are made to stretch your season, reduce the weather and bug hassles, and make the backyard feel like an extension of your home, not just a space you look at from inside.
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to move or start over to make your outdoor space feel like a destination. With the right plan, you can build an outdoor setup that fits how you actually live, whether that means hosting friends, relaxing after work, cooking outside, or simply enjoying peace and quiet with your coffee. Even better, many of these upgrades can be done in stages, with options that grow with your needs, season by season.
Start With the “Why”: How Do You Want to Use Your Backyard?
Before you choose materials or styles, decide what “backyard enjoyment” means for you. A few popular directions homeowners take:
- Relaxation zone: lounge seating, shade, privacy, maybe a fire feature
- Entertainment hub: dining area, lighting, music-friendly layout, room for guests
- Outdoor cooking: grill station, prep counter, sink, mini fridge, pizza oven
- Family-friendly hangout: open play space, durable surfaces, safe lighting
- Wellness retreat: hot tub, plunge pool, yoga space, low-noise privacy screening
- Nature-first escape: landscaping, pollinator gardens, water feature, path lighting
- All-season living: screenroom or sunroom for extended comfort and bug-free use
Once you know your “why,” the best solution becomes much easier to spot.
Step 1: Build the Foundation for Living Outside
In almost every backyard transformation, the real starting point is the same: create a dedicated area to enjoy the outdoors. This is your base camp. Everything else, from furniture to lighting to full enclosures, relies on it.
Common options include:
- Patio pavers (classic, customizable, and easy to style)
- Concrete pad (standard, stamped, or colored)
- Deck structure (pressure-treated wood or composite, especially for elevated homes)
If you’re only looking for a place to set furniture, place the grill, or add a dining table, any of these can work beautifully.
Plan for the future (even if you’re not ready yet)
Here’s the part many homeowners learn the hard way: if you ever want overhead coverage, walls, a fireplace, an outdoor kitchen, or anything heavy, many states have code requirements around “strengthening” the structure to handle additional load.
That often means:
- Footers (continuous trench or piers, depending on application)
- Reinforcement for decks (beams/joists engineered for more weight)
Pro Tip: Even if you don’t build everything at once, building the base correctly now keeps future upgrades easier and more affordable.
Step 2: Add Overhead Coverage for Comfort
Once you’ve created your outdoor “room,” the next evolution is overhead protection. This expands how often you can use the space and makes it more comfortable during peak sun and light weather.
Popular overhead options include:
- Patio cover
- Retractable awning
- Gazebo
- Pergola
It’s worth calling out the real-world difference here:
- True weather protection: Patio covers and gazebos do the best job against rain and rough weather.
- Limited protection: Retractable awnings can’t be used in windy conditions and offer only partial protection.
- Mostly aesthetic: Pergolas look great, but depending on the sun angle and time of day, they often provide less shade than people expect.
The upside to gazebos and permanent patio covers is that they can often be upgraded later with walls, making them more versatile in the long term.
Step 3: Add Privacy and Ambiance (The “It Finally Feels Like Mine” Phase)
This is where many backyards go from “nice” to “I never want to go inside.”
Consider adding:
- Privacy screening: fencing, lattice panels, decorative screens, or hedges
- Outdoor lighting: path lights, café string lights, step lights, sconces
- Sound softening: water feature, landscaping buffers, acoustic-style fencing
- Heat features: fire pit, fireplace, patio heater
- Shade and softness: outdoor curtains, umbrellas, shade sails
- Entertainment upgrades: speakers, projector/screen, game area
These elements don’t just improve looks. They solve problems: visibility from neighbors, harsh lighting, and that “unfinished” feeling.
Step 4: The Next Evolution: Screenrooms and Sunrooms (Your Outdoor Room, Upgraded)
The moment you start thinking about walls, you’ve entered the “outdoor room” era. This is where Joyce's solutions really shine.
Screen Walls: Fresh Air Without the Bugs
Adding screen walls gives you a major quality-of-life upgrade:
- Bug-free comfort
- Shade plus breeze
- A more defined living space
- Great for spring, summer, and early fall in many climates
Sunroom Walls: Extend the Season, Keep the View
Adding sunroom-style walls takes it even further:
- Greater protection from wind and rain
- More comfortable shoulder seasons
- A space that feels outdoors, without fighting the outdoors
Depending on your climate, this can be a game-changer. In the northern U.S., it stretches your outdoor season dramatically. Imagine watching a summer storm roll through while you stay dry, or enjoying fall color without layering up like you’re heading to the Arctic. Even in warmer climates, being able to ride out sudden thunderstorms while still feeling immersed in your backyard is a huge win.
Build in stages or all at once?
You can improve your backyard in steps, but if the end goal is a complete screenroom or sunroom, doing it all at once often costs less overall because you reduce repeat labor, rework, and retrofitting.
In Conclusion: More Backyard Time Starts With the Right Plan
There are countless ways to improve your backyard, from landscaping and lighting to outdoor kitchens, pools, pergolas, and fully enclosed outdoor rooms. The best choice depends on how you want to use the space and how often you plan to use it.
No matter the route you choose, upgrading your outdoor space typically increases your day-to-day enjoyment, expands how you use your home, and can boost your home’s overall value.
For more than 70 years, Joyce has helped homeowners make the most of their backyards by creating outdoor spaces and sunrooms that feel bright, comfortable, and built for real life. If you’re ready to turn your view into a space you can actually use more often, schedule a free consultation with Joyce to explore screenrooms, sunrooms, and other backyard solutions designed around your home, your goals, and your season.
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