Last Updated on October 30, 2025 by teamobn
You don’t have to hop on a plane and splurge on a few nights at a luxury resort to feel like you’ve truly escaped. With a few upgrades to your home exteriors, you can get that sense of calm and indulgence from the comfort of your backyard. Don’t think of your backyard as a plain lawn. Instead, look at it as a blank canvas to turn into a staycation-worthy retreat. Here are nine tips for turning your outdoor living space into your favorite resort-like getaway spot.
Contents
- 1 Invest in Plush, Comfortable Outdoor Seating
- 2 Include Shade for Midday Lounging
- 3 Install a Water Wall for a Spa-Like Vibe
- 4 Set Up String Lights or Lanterns for the Evening Ambiance
- 5 Build a Pool for the Ultimate Resort-Like Centerpiece
- 6 Grow Tropical Greenery in Your Space
- 7 Have an Outdoor Shower
- 8 Install a Fire Pit for Cooler Nights
- 9 Set Up a Stylish Outdoor Bar
- 10 Endnote
Invest in Plush, Comfortable Outdoor Seating
Resorts are known for their comfortable, relaxing furniture you can just sink into. Make sure to spruce up your outdoor space with cushioned sectionals, woven loungers, and maybe even cozy, brightly colored daybeds for the beachy vibe. These plush outdoor seating options are great not just for lounging and relaxing, but even napping and reading a good book.
Since it’s outdoors, consider weatherproof cushions so you don’t have to worry about rain or strong sunshine ruining your fabrics. As for colors, go for calming colors that evoke that feeling of being on vacation, whether it’s a neutral palette, beachy blues, or pretty pastels.
Include Shade for Midday Lounging
Resorts always provide shaded lounge areas so that guests can enjoy the outdoors even when the sun’s out or there’s a slight drizzle. Recreate that experience at home by adding shade to your outdoor space.
One of the most luxurious shade options for your backyard is a beautiful pergola, which you can install over a seating or dining area. For more softness and warmth, add some drapes or vines over it. You can also go for more affordable shade options, like pretty parasols, an oversized umbrella, or a sail canopy overhead.
Install a Water Wall for a Spa-Like Vibe
A water wall provides a soothing ambient sound, as if you’re at a luxurious spa at your favorite wellness retreat. It can help you and your guests feel still and calm as you bask in the serenity of your outdoor space. It’s fantastic for elevating your backyard and creating a sensory experience that makes the space feel like a true escape. This is just one option for how you can add relaxing water elements to your outdoor area. If you want to go bigger, you can do a mini waterfall or even a small pond with koi fish in it.
Set Up String Lights or Lanterns for the Evening Ambiance
Twinkling overhead lights are the secret to creating that magical glow you only see in evenings at your favorite beach resort. You can bring that magic to your backyard by installing string lights above or some lanterns for a warm, inviting glow that makes the whole space feel cozy and intimate.
Consider hanging string lights across your pergola, or perhaps scattering solar lanterns in the walkways and tabletop ones on surfaces. You might not have a view of the sunset from your backyard, but soft lighting like this can set that resort-like, romantic mood you’re craving.
Build a Pool for the Ultimate Resort-Like Centerpiece
A luxurious pool becomes the visual and social anchor of your resort-inspired backyard. Make it feel more luxe and opulent by exploring pool design ideas that are out of the box, whether that means infinity edges or some rock features to make it look more like a natural lagoon than a pool.
What’s great about having a pool is that it’s something anyone of any age can enjoy, whether you bring old friends over or are hosting a swim day for your kids and their friends. And when it’s extra hot out, you can simply take a dip and beat the heat.
Grow Tropical Greenery in Your Space
Plants can give a lush, exotic feel to your backyard, much like the vibe you get when you explore a resort’s beautiful, thoughtfully curated gardens. Make it feel tropical and beachy with some palms and banana plants. For interesting conversation starters or a modern feel, dot the area with geometrical plants and succulents. Finish it off with stylish planters in stone or rattan textures, and you’ll have your very own resort-like, effortlessly relaxed garden area.
Have an Outdoor Shower
An outdoor shower makes it more convenient for you and your guests to freshen up after taking a dip in the pool. Tuck it among your lush greenery, and you’ve got yourself something of a hidden spa in your backyard.
To make it feel more indulgent and elevated, use teak or stone flooring and add a rainfall showerhead for that relaxing vibe. Finishing touches like hooks for towels and clothes or a bench for lounging will make rinsing off after a swim feel like part of a resort vacation routine.
Install a Fire Pit for Cooler Nights
A fire pit is a terrific addition to your resort-inspired backyard, especially if you live in an area with a cooler climate. It offers warmth and glow after the sun goes down, making it the perfect area to hang out with friends and family. If you want it to look more luxe, choose one that is low-profile and made of stone. Surround it with comfy lounge chairs and keep a basket of blankets nearby for those extra breezy evenings.
Set Up a Stylish Outdoor Bar
One of the most exciting things about luxury resorts is the outdoor bar that keeps refreshing drinks within reach as you enjoy the pool and sun. You can set up your own stylish outdoor bar, stocked with your favorite drinks, an ice bucket, and some glassware.
You don’t need a full, built-in setup for this; even a simple bar cart will do. Style it with mason jars filled with herbs and citrus peels to encourage everyone to make their own summer vacation-inspired cocktails, whether it’s a piña colada or a grapefruit lime spritzer.
Endnote
Luxury doesn’t always have to mean expensive flights, front desks, and faraway destinations. Sometimes, it’s as simple as going out to your backyard and enjoying everything you’ve worked hard to create, from the spa-like water wall to the comfy lounge and pergola area to your stunning pool. Now, your home can feel a lot more like a destination than just another area to tidy up.
