The best backyards today work like an extra room in the house. With the right design, your yard can host dinner for twelve, a quiet morning coffee and a fireside evening in October, all in the same space.
Syracuse Lightscapes is a design-build outdoor living contractor in Syracuse, NY. Here are the ideas we use to create outdoor spaces that families use from spring through late fall.
- Start with zones
- Pavilions and pergolas
- Outdoor kitchens
- Fire, water and lighting
- Planning a backyard renovation
- Frequently asked questions
Start With Zones
Great outdoor living spaces are organized like the inside of a home:
- Cooking zone: grill, counters, storage and maybe a pizza oven
- Dining zone: a table close to the kitchen
- Lounge zone: comfortable seating around a fire feature or TV
- Play or pool zone: open lawn, pool deck or turf
- Quiet zone: a garden bench, hammock or water feature
Pavilions and Pergolas
Overhead structures make a patio feel like a room. Pergolas offer filtered shade and can support climbing plants or retractable canopies. Pavilions have a solid roof, protecting you from rain and allowing ceiling fans, heaters, lighting and outdoor TVs, which is ideal for stretching the Central NY season.
Outdoor Kitchens
An outdoor kitchen keeps the cook part of the party. Stone or masonry bases, durable countertops and outdoor-rated appliances hold up to our winters. Read our full guide to planning an outdoor kitchen.
Fire, Water and Lighting
Fire features extend your evenings, water features add sound and movement, and landscape lighting makes it all usable and beautiful after dark. Planned together, they turn a patio into a destination.
Don't forget utilities: Gas lines, electrical, low-voltage lighting wire and water lines should be planned before patios are built. Running them later means cutting into finished work.
Planning a Backyard Renovation
- List how you want to use the space and how many people you host.
- Set a budget range and decide what's essential now versus later.
- Design the whole yard as a master plan, including grading and drainage.
- Build in phases if needed, starting with the hardscape foundation.
- Add lighting so the space works day and night.
See complete backyards in our projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an outdoor living space?
An outdoor living space is a backyard area designed to be used like a room in your home, with places to cook, dine, relax and gather, often including a patio, pavilion or pergola, kitchen, fire feature and lighting.
How much does a backyard renovation cost?
It depends entirely on scope, from a new patio to a complete backyard with a pool, pavilion and kitchen. We design to your budget and can phase larger projects over multiple seasons.
Pergola or pavilion: which is better?
A pergola provides partial shade and a sense of enclosure. A pavilion has a solid roof, so it protects from rain and can support ceiling fans, heaters, lights and TVs. Many Central NY homeowners choose a pavilion for longer seasonal use.
Can you use an outdoor living space in spring and fall in Syracuse?
Yes. Covered structures, fire features, heaters and good lighting can extend your outdoor season by months.
Do you handle the structures as well as the landscaping?
Yes. We design and build the entire outdoor space, and for larger structures we work alongside our sister company, Syracuse Construction.
Related Services
Create Your Outdoor Living Space
Let's design a backyard your family will use every season. Request your free consultation.
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