The Arizona Backyard Season Is Back: Make the Most of Outdoor Living

After months of triple-digit temperatures, there comes a point every fall when Arizonans remember why they love living here. The mornings are cooler, the evenings are comfortable and suddenly, the backyard is back in business.

Fall is one of the best times of year to take advantage of outdoor living in Arizona. Patios that spent much of the summer providing shade can become places for morning coffee, family dinners, football watch parties and evenings around the fire pit. And with some thoughtful planning, an outdoor space can feel less like a backyard and more like another room of the home.

Bring the Indoors Out

One of the easiest ways to make a backyard more inviting is to think of it as an extension of the home rather than a completely separate space.

Start with how you already live indoors. For instance, if everyone gathers around the kitchen island, consider an outdoor dining or bar area that creates that same casual atmosphere. If fall weekends mean football, create an outdoor viewing area with comfortable seating and a mounted TV. If evenings are more your style, a fire pit, soft lighting and a conversation area can turn an unused corner of the yard into a favorite gathering spot.

Shea Homes® floor plans connect indoor gathering spaces with outdoor living areas.

Take Your Patio Out of Summer Survival Mode

Fall is the perfect time to look at your outdoor space with fresh eyes. Rearrange furniture, refresh cushions, add outdoor lighting, and make sure the fire pit is ready for cooler evenings. You might also want to give the patio and grills a nice refresh, especially after a dusty monsoon season. Think of it as spring cleaning, Arizona-style.  

For those choosing a new home, think about outdoor living before moving in. The home's floor plan, homesite, patio and available backyard space can all be considered alongside the bedrooms, kitchen and other traditional features.

Create a Resort Experience at Home

A swimming pool may be a staple of Arizona backyard living, but today’s pools can be about much more than swimming. Baja shelves, spas, water features and larger deck areas can make the pool the centerpiece of an entire outdoor entertainment space.

But you don’t need a complete overhaul. Adding a pergola or gazebo might be just the statement piece you need to create a defined and shaded gathering space. Add an outdoor rug, comfortable furniture and a touch of lighting, and voila, you have a whole new look.

Whether it’s a pool, an outdoor kitchen or simply a comfortable place to gather, the goal is to create a backyard you’ll actually use. And that could look different throughout the weekend.

Saturday afternoon might mean swimming with the kids. Saturday night could mean grilling with friends and watching a game outside. Sunday morning might simply mean coffee on the patio.

For Shea Homes® buyers, the opportunity starts with finding a home and homesite that can support the outdoor lifestyle they envision. After all, how you live outside can be just as important as how you live inside.

The right backyard design can bring the resort experience home.

Make the Most of Your Backyard

Instead of measuring a backyard only by its square footage, think about how you actually want to use the space. Creating different zones can help even a smaller backyard feel more functional. One area might be designed for dining, another for conversation and another for watching TV or gathering around a fire pit. Families may want room for kids or pets, while others may prefer a simple retreat.

When indoor gathering spaces connect naturally with patios and backyards, the entire home can feel more open and intentional.

Backyards add another dimension to everyday living.

In many parts of the country, fall means spending more time indoors. In Arizona, it's when some of our best outdoor living begins.

That's why choosing the right home can be about more than bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen countertops. At Shea Homes, buyers can explore homes, floor plans and communities while thinking about everything they want their home to become, both inside and out. Because sometimes the best room in an Arizona home is waiting for you in the backyard.

To learn more about owning a Shea Home, click here.