Tulsa Outdoor Living - Plan Now to Revamp Your Space

Now is the best time to think about all the things you would can build for your Tulsa outdoor living space this summer. And now is the time to make a plan so that you can start in the spring!

The Tulsa outdoor living experts at Oklahoma Landscape can help design and build the best outdoor environment for your home. We can work with you from concept to creation in designing and building your dream Tulsa outdoor living space. Here are some ideas to get started . . .

Add an outdoor kitchen. These outdoor cooking areas make entertaining a breeze. Today outdoor kitchens in Tulsa can be built to care for all your cooking needs. They not only caninclude a grill but also stainless steel refrigerators, pizza ovens, wine coolers, sinks for easy cleanup, storage, outdoor televisions, burners, and more. Everything you need for game day or an elegant outside dinner with friends is right there in your outdoor kitchen. 

Create a dining area and plenty of seating. What goes better with an outdoor kitchen than an outdoor dining area? There are a variety of design options when it comes to outdoor dining tables, but creating a designated dining area adds sophistication and structure to your Tulsa outdoor living space. More and more homeowners are bringing the indoors outside so that they can enjoy all the comforts of home while also enjoying the outdoors. An outdoor dining area does just that, creating the perfect area for family picnics and dinners to entertain friends or clients.

Creating plenty of seating areas is another addition you may consider for your outdoor space. Whether you add benches, chairs, or even outdoor sofas, your outdoor living space will be more inviting if there is plenty of seating space for guests. However, be careful not to have too much seating so that it overcrowds your outdoor living space.

Build an outdoor fireplace or fire pit. The crisp spring, fall, and even summer nights can be enjoyed by the glow of an outdoor fireplaces or fire pit. These outdoor amenities create a great place for people to gather around and share old stories. Outdoor fireplaces in Tulsa can be constructed using a variety of materials to match your outdoor environment. Not only are they a great entertaining spot, but they also can help to increase the value of your home and property. Whether for a chilly fall night or just to create a romantic ambiance, Tulsa outdoor fireplaces are the perfect makeover addition to your outdoor living space.

Create a focal point in your outdoor space. Some backyard areas can begin to seem a little unplanned or haphazard, but creating a focal point in your outdoor space adds the design needed to create a stunning outdoor space. Maybe it’s an elegant water feature or custom swimming pool. Often the outdoor fireplace or outdoor living/seating area can be the focal point of the space. Whatever outdoor element you use, a focal point can bring direction to your outdoor space and transform your backyard from ordinary to spectacular!

For more ideas on Tulsa outdoor living space design, please contact us at 918.296.9679 or check out our Outdoor Living Gallery.

Makeover Ideas for Your Tulsa Patio & Outdoor Living Space

Whether you want to just spruce up your Tulsa patio or totally revamp your outdoor living area, we have some great ideas for transforming your outdoor environment.

Outdoor seating. Of course, to have a practical outdoor entertaining space, you definitely need plenty of seating for your guests, and there are numerous creative ways to add more seating to your Tulsa patio – from the simple to the elaborate. You could add benches, even storage benches, bar stools, or repurpose old chairs you already have for use in your patio. Outdoor sofas are popular decorative features of outdoor living spaces.
These sofas are made particularly to withstand the elements provide a cozy and relaxed atmosphere for entertaining while better defining the seating area for guests. If you’d like more elaborate and permanent seating, you could build a sitting wall for guests. Often these decorative walls are built around fire pits or as part of a retaining wall. These hardscapes bring an elegant charm to your outdoor living space by complementing the style of your other outdoor elements.  

Water features. The soothing sound of water can add so much to your outdoor living space. Whether in a small fountain or an elaborate water feature like a babbling brook, pond, or full water garden, water trickling over stones creates an instant peaceful ambiance for your Tulsa patio.
 

Custom walkways. Paths that guide guests to your outdoor living space add an elegant dimension all their own. Using a variety of hardscape materials, you can build a custom walkway to your patio using pavers, stamped or stained concrete, or even just stepping stones or concrete pads.

Pergolas, trellises, and gazebos. Having a patio in your backyard is nice, but when the heat of summer returns, you may want some shade on your patio area. Pergolas and gazebos can provide some shade for your outdoor space while also adding dimension and character to your landscape. These outdoor structures help to define various areas of your outdoor environment. Pergolas are perfect for accompanying an outdoor kitchen and dining area.

Flowers and climbing plants. One of the easiest ways to spruce up your Tulsa patio area is to mix in some new flowering plants. Add a flower border of annuals and perennials around the edge of your patio to really enliven the outdoor space. Better Homes & Gardens even suggested planting flowers that are known for their rich aroma such as licorice-scented sprays of hyssop or moonflowers to create a fragrant path. If you have a trellis, you can add vines or other climbing plants to accent your trellis and patio area.

Outdoor lighting. To extend the time you can enjoy your Tulsa patio and simply to create more interest and a romantic ambiance, you can add an outdoor lighting design.

Fire pit or outdoor fireplace. Nothing goes better with a Tulsa patio than a fire pit or outdoor fireplace. These bring a unique and elegant charm to your outdoor living space while affording practical warmth and a place to gather around and talk with old friends. Fire pits and fireplaces can be custom-designed and built using a variety of hardscape materials to match your outdoor living space and home.

The Tulsa patio builders and outdoor environment specialists at Oklahoma Landscape can help you create an amazing outdoor living space. We can design and build the entire space to best meet the needs of your family and that will perfectly complement your landscape and home. Call us today to see how we can help you “find yourself outside.”

Tulsa Outdoor Fireplaces - Transform Your Outdoor Living Space

Nothing creates in your outdoor living space the warmth - figurative and literal - that an outdoor fireplace can. Many Tulsa residents are putting in outdoor fireplaces to their outdoor living areas as they see the increased flexibility and value they offer their space.

Outdoor fireplaces also permit you to extend your time outdoors both earlier in the spring and later in the fall. This accounts for why fireplaces are one of the most popular outdoor living additions. When the nights start getting colder, outdoor fireplaces create the perfect place for warm conversation in a relaxed atmosphere. Or to have an elegant dinner party for clients or a cozy night by the fire with family and friends. Extending your outdoor living season with a fireplace allows you to extend your time in your outdoor kitchen as well. An outdoor fireplace is the perfect counterpart to your outdoor kitchen, pool, or spa.

An outdoor fireplace can instantly transform any backyard into an upscale outdoor living space. A plain patio can transform into a sophisticated lounge area with the romantic ambiance of a stone fireplace. They can become the dramatic focal point of any outdoor area and really anchor the outdoor environment. Outdoor fireplaces turn regular outdoor living spaces into a kind of luxury resort retreat. By adding a sense of style and luxury to your outdoor space, this outdoor element can thus expressively increase the value of your home and property.

Outdoor fireplaces can be made using a variety of hardscape materials like concrete, stone, and brick and be custom-designed in a variety of styles to match the architecture of your home. From Mediterranean, Old World style, or with a Spanish theme, outdoor fireplaces can be as basic or ornate as you would like. Adjacent seating can be installed for pleasant  conversation or dining by the fire.

A stone, brick, or concrete wall can be added to the fireplace to create a “dividing” effect to different areas of your outdoor space. A pergola, roof, or other outdoor structure is can built to encapsulate the fireplace to provide protection from the weather. Thus, you can comfortably sit by the fire and watch snow cover the rest of your landscape.

These visual design elements offer a wide variety of uses in a wide variety of entertainment settings. Providing warmth, light, and sometimes cooking, depending on the design and fuel sources, outdoor fireplaces offer great flexibility.
Offering a distinctive ambiance and luxurious style, outdoor fireplaces were among the ‘most wanted additions’ in the 2013 Outdoor Living Trends survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects.

The Tulsa outdoor fireplace designers at Oklahoma Landscape would be glad to design and build a custom fireplace for your outdoor space. We can coordinate it to perfectly match your home, lifestyle, and entertaining needs. Our custom outdoor fireplaces are built with quality design features and materials so that your family can enjoy them for many years to come. Check out our Outdoor Living Gallery for outdoor fireplace and fire pit design ideas.

How to Have a Great Summer Party in Your Tulsa Outdoor Living Space

Tulsa residents will have fun firing up the grill in their outdoor kitchen this summer and entertaining friends and relatives as they celebrate goodtimes. But planning a party can get stressful, so we’ve got some great tips to getting your Tulsa outdoor living space all ready for the event.

Here are some tips from Real Simple on outdoor entertaining:


Outdoor lighting is a must. A little ambient lighting is enough to keep your guests safe out the dark. Globe string lights that are elegant and give off a warm glow, the article reported, are great for outdoor dinner parties as well as hurricane lanterns and tealights along with string lights.  The landscape lighting experts at Oklahoma Landscape can also install the right accent and pathway lighting to complement your home and landscape during anytime of the year.

Make sure there are enough seats. If you anticipate running low on seating, you might think about using some of your indoor furniture or even renting folding chairs. Another option the magazine mentioned could be to spread out quilts on the ground for picnic-style seating, if it’s a very casual party.

Repel flying pests. If you don’t have a mosquito misting system already in place, you might try adding some fans to your outdoor living space. “Mosquitos are weak flyers, so even if a fan is set on low, it can create enough airflow to keep them away,” Laura Harrington, an associate professor of entomology at Cornell University told Real Simple. This works best in small areas like a deck, she said. Also she recommended emptying anything with standing water in it, and giving guests bug wipes that contain repellent picaridin in place of DEET, which could damage clothing.

Keep the kids entertained. Many Tulsa homeowners have a custom swimming pool area where kids can have fun during the party. But some other kid diversions, Real Simple suggested were blowing bubbles, a Slip ‘n Slide or sprinkler, and even some inexpensive disposable cameras to let them capture the event, “say cheese”.

Make the music memorable, not just loud. Don’t make guests have to cover their ears with blaring music. “If you’re using a boom box or an iPod dock, place it above ear level so it’s not blasting directly at guests’ heads,” Michael Antonia, owner of the Flashdance, a Los Angles production company said. “And turn it toward the side of the house – you can make it a little louder and the sound will spread out better.” For the best music setup, the article noted that using four or more speakers, spread out and set at a lower volume work best.

Remember these outdoor entertaining tips to have a fun and be safe! For more ideas on designing and building the perfect outdoor living space, contact the Tulsa landscape contractors at Oklahoma Landscape.

Keep Your Tulsa Outdoor Enviroment Inspired!

 Perhaps your looking for ideas for your perfect summer entertaining spot? Wondering about are  the luxury outdoor living trends for Tulsa? Well, here is some help that is sure to inspire!

Outdoor entertaining. What better place to cook for a dinner party than in your outdoor kitchen? Cook in style with a state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen, complete with built-in pizza oven and wine refrigerator.

Make the premier outdoor entertaining spot for your kids or a romantic night underneath the starts with an outdoor entertainment center complete with a giant movie screen! Watch the game with friends while you grill or have an awesome pool party with these giant backyard theaters with surround sound.

Have an elegant evening of entertaining by adding an al fresco dining area under a pergola with dangling vines and surrounded by sparkling lights.  Try a long European-style table for an even more opulent look.

Beautiful pool design. Every Tulsa outdoor living space needs a custom-designed swimming pool. Especially if your home overlooks a beautiful landscape or cityscape, an infinity pool might be the perfect addition to your outdoor space. And a custom spa or hot tub would be the perfect complement to your pool. An outdoor shower with a built-in bench can provide great functionality for your outdoor pool area.

Every luxury pool area pairs nicely with a great lounge space. Why not opt for a luxury cabana by the pool? Create the ultimate napping area with a canopy cabana bed outside by your infinity pool.

Keep warm on a cool night. Whether underneath the stars or built in connection with a covered patio area, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits provide practical warmth and add a consistent elegance to your Tulsa outdoor living space. They can become the focal point of your outdoor environment. A place for people to gather, mingle, and reminisce. Add luxurious lounge seating and you have a complete backyard getaway area.

Outdoor fireplaces are a great place to chat with friends and family. Fire pits create the warm atmosphere we all love to gather around on a cool summer or fall night.

Do you want to transform your backyard into a luxury outdoor living space? The Tulsa landscape contractors at Oklahoma Landscape can help you create the outdoor environment of your dreams.

Small Spaces Can Still Have Big Tulsa Outdoor Living Ideas

Tulsa outdoor living spaces do not need to be large to be interesting, practical, and filled with amazing beauty. Notice these tips for creating functional Tulsa outdoor environments in even not-so-big landscapes. 

Plan, Plan, Plan

Tulsa homeowners may want to dive in and renovate their outdoor space quickly, but careful planning is worth the wait. 

How would you most like to use your Tulsa outdoor living space? Do you do a lot of entertaining or cooking out? Would you use the space mainly to relax, read, and get away from the world? Would like to have a spa or a decorative water feature? How you plan to use your landscape will shape what features comprise the space, and with thoughtful design you can add more features. Know what your focal or main decorative points will be, and then you can design other things around those features.

 

It’s important to have things planned out so that every portion of the space is utilized to get the most function from the area. Although you may have less ground space, you can create more vertical space for gardens and additional storage. 

Our Tulsa landscape designers can assist you with planning and designing the most practical design for your outdoor space. 

Create Specific Outdoor Living ‘Rooms’

Make the most of your small outdoor space by creating different outdoor living areas in the same space by artfully dividing the space depending on its intended use. 

For instance, you may have a dining area on a small patio and cover it with an arbor or small pergola that will separate the space visually. Create a ‘living room’ area with an L-shaped sectional sofa made of indoor-outdoor materials, an area rug and even a coffee table that will divide the space. A fire pit can also be a focal point for a seating area and can form a comfy atmosphere for entertaining. 

You can use raised flowerbeds as edging, foliage such as vines or bamboo to separate and add privacy, or use different pavers and hardscape materials to differentiate the spaces. Although you want these areas to be visually divided, you will also want them to connect or seamlessly flow from one to another so that it does have the feel of one complete outdoor environment. Walkways or stone paths can help accomplish this. 

Enlarge the Space with Texture and Color

Color makes the world seem brighter and livelier. Texture can add dimension and personality to a space. Adding these to your outdoor living space will create more depth and interest in your yard. Colorful container gardens filled with plants of varying textures are very practical. 

Pavers and other hardscape materials come in an array of colors, sizes, shapes, and textures. These can often add more charm and are easier to replace or repair than concrete. 

Bright, coordinated colors and attention-grabbing fabrics for rugs, throw pillows, and seating areas can make the space more inviting. Using reclaimed, distressed, or antique pieces can tastefully be used in your outdoor space to add character and sometimes even a pop of color. 

With a little planning and creativity, any size outdoor space can be the setting for a gorgeous Tulsa outdoor environment. As your premier Tulsa landscaping company, Oklahoma Landscape can help you design the most practical and most engaging outdoor living space.