Outdoor living is one of the best things about living in Phoenix. We enjoy on average 211 sunny days each year and another 85 days that are mostly sunny, making this a great place to make the most of outdoor living space. But not every yard qualifies as a true outdoor living area. Just a patch of grass and a few plants is not going to be the place that you want to entertain friends and family. But adding one or even three of these must-have outdoor features can turn your drab backyard into an oasis that will be the envy of all Phoenicians.

The three magic ingredients needed for perfect outdoor living are all related to the environment but are not all forces of nature. Water, shelter and fire features will turn your backyard into an outdoor living space that functions year round. Not only will they offer breathtaking visual interest, but they will also provide comfort from the elements, regardless of the season. And each of these must-have outdoor features can be custom designed to complement the style of your home and your lifestyle.

Water- Your Number One Must-Have Outdoor Feature in Phoenix

Water means life in the desert but it also means a great place to hang out and relax in the heat of the Phoenix summer. UNIQUE Custom Pools is proud to build hundreds of homeowners’ dream pools each year throughout the Phoenix area. We offer complete design and build service using only our own highly skilled craftsmen to turn your dream into your reality. We can include a custom spa, swim-up bar, a lazy river or even a breathtaking negative edge design. If you can dream it, we can build it. And if you are not ready for a pool or spa, then a custom designed Splash Pad could be the perfect feature to keep the kids outdoors having fun in the sun this summer.

Add the Tranquil Sound of Moving Water

If you are not interested in being in the water but still enjoy the tranquil sound and mesmerizing effect of moving water, then consider a custom water feature as a focal point for your outdoor living space. Our masonry team has decades of experience building custom water features from natural stone and boulder ponds to water feature walls and free-standing fountains. And we can custom design any water feature to fit the space that you have while blending seamlessly with the architectural style of your home.

Shelter- A Year-Round Must-Have Outdoor Feature

The second element of a great outdoor living space is a shelter or a shaded area to enjoy when the sun is beating down on the entire city. As a licensed General Contractor in Arizona, the Unique Companies is uniquely qualified to build shade structures to complement any home and outdoor living space. We offer ramadas, pergolas, gazebos and even large thatch umbrellas and Palapas. And the building materials can vary from stucco and block to match the construction of your home to huge nature pots and beams that add a rustic feel to your great outdoor living experience. All that matters is that you and your friends and family have a great place to get out of the sun while still enjoying the fun and fresh air of your outdoor living space. A shelter is one of the most versatile must-have outdoor features as it will provide shade in the hot month of the year as well as added protection in the cooler months, giving you a huge return on your investment.

Fire for Year Round Beauty and Comfort

The third element of the must-have outdoor features might sound a little odd after discussing the almost unbearable heat that can wash over Phoenix in the summer, but like all good things, summer comes to an end even in Phoenix. And when it does, you will want to be sure that you have a fire feature in your outdoor living space to take the chill off of the cool winter evenings. The beauty of Phoenix is that our outdoor living season is year-round as long as you have a fire pit, fireplace or a few strategically located fire bowls or fire features. Not only does UNIQUE offer completely customized design of both fireplaces and fire pits, but we also custom design fire features such as fire wok bowls, linear fire features, Helix Vertical Fire Torches, and Tiki Torches. These smaller fire features still offer a huge impact and can be used to add to the ambiance of your outdoor living space throughout the year.

To learn more about how you can add any or all three of these must-have outdoor features to your backyard contact the design team at Unique to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our designers.