Sometimes it’s hard to decide how to make a cool and functional transition from the inside of your house to the outside living spaces. If you’re looking for walkout basement backyard ideas to make the most of the space, you’re in luck.
There are a variety of ways to make the most of your walkout basement backyard.
From entertaining and relaxing to creating a functional and inviting space, the possibilities are endless.
Do you have a walkout basement with an outdoor space?
Making your outside living space a place where you love to hang out can make a huge difference in how much you enjoy your home.
From landscaping to adding new features, this blog post will explore some of the best walkout basement backyard ideas.
We put together some suggestions to help you transform your backyard into a functional and inviting space.
What is a Walkout Basement?
A walkout basement is a type of basement that has at least one wall built at ground level, allowing for direct access to the backyard.
This type of basement is usually found in houses that are built on a slope, with the main floor level at the higher end of the slope and the walkout basement at the lower end.
Some walkout basements have a concrete patio poured outside of the door when the house is built, others walk straight out into the grass.
Depending on the layout of your property and your house, your backyard outside of your walkout basement can be a really cool part of your home.
Benefits of Having a Walkout Basement
A walkout basement is great to have, especially if you have French doors or other double doors leading to your outdoor space.
It makes the space feel more open and connects it to the outdoor living space. This area can be made into a great extension of the indoor living space if you do it right!
Of course, this will depend on whether or not you have a finished basement.
If you don’t have a finished basement yet, you should check out my blog post about basement makeovers on a budget!
Increased living space
A walkout basement offers additional living space for your home. Your finished downstairs space can be used as an extra bedroom, family room, playroom, or office.
Other types of basements obviously can work for extra living space. However, a walkout basement seems more livable. This is because it feels like a normal room in the house with more light and access to the outdoors.
Natural light
When you think about a basement, one of the first things you think of is dark and dreary. Most people don’t automatically think of fresh air and natural light.
A walkout basement has windows and/or doors that provide much more natural light and ventilation than other types of basements.
This makes it a bright and comfortable space that doesn’t feel like a basement at all!
Increased value
Having a walkout basement adds to the value of your home.
Potential buyers may be willing to pay a premium for the extra living space, especially because that lower level can be converted to an apartment or just add some extra bedrooms down there.
The downside to this better basement space is that the increased value of your home is that it increases your property taxes.
Easy access to the outdoors
A walkout basement provides easy access to the outdoors, and can be used as access to a patio, deck, or garden area.
Outside of those basement doors is a great focal point for designing an outdoor space. You can use that space for so many different things. It all just depends on how you love to enjoy your yard.
Making the right choice for your walkout basement backyard design will make a big difference in your home and the functionality of your outdoor spaces.
Walkout Basement Backyard Ideas
The best design ideas will be different for everyone. This is depending on your house and your outdoor space from your walkout basement.
These ideas will at least spark your creativity if they don’t fit your space specifically.
Privacy and Function
If your neighbors are close, you may want to create some privacy in your backyard outside of your walkout basement so you can enjoy the area more.
You may also need to make some structural changes to the property. This will make your outdoor space from your walkout basement a space that works best for you. You can use these ideas to make a functional outdoor living space.
Landscaping
Strategically place tall shrubs or trees in a line, enclosing the area where you want to spend time outdoors. This is a simple way to create privacy and spruce up the aesthetic of the area at the same time. Plants can also tend to be cheaper than fences, so they’re a good idea if you’re on a budget.
Fencing
Putting up a fence can make your outdoor home space much more enjoyable if you have really close neighbors. For privacy, check out these privacy fence ideas.
If you’re looking to close the space just so your pets or kids are safe or so that other animals can’t get in, a chainlink fence will do the trick.
Retaining Wall
If your house is built on a sloping lot, you may find yourself wanting to flatten an area near the basement doors of your walkout basement. A flattened area will make it a more livable space. It’s hard to hang out with friends or for your kids to play on the side of a hill.
A retaining wall can help with this problem. Another option for a retaining wall is to build different levels -either down below the basement doors or off to the side, depending on how your property slopes.
The main level outside of the basement door can be a seating area, with stairs going to another level.
Entertaining
Whether you’re entertaining friends and family or just yourself, having a nice setup to hang out outside is great! Creating this space can be very inexpensive, or you can make a big project out of it. Here are some ideas for entertainment spaces for your walkout basement backyard.
Deck
If the space outside your walkout basement allows, a deck is great. The key here is building the deck over your walkout basement doors. This gives you a great hangout spot above but also covers the space below where you walk out of your basement. This creates two spaces where you can entertain, and one will be out of the elements.
Patio
A traditional walkout basement patio is really all you need to set up a nice outside living area. Sometimes a patio is the best option to walk out on from the basement level. It all depends on your home and yard.
If you have an existing patio, you may want to expand on that if you don’t feel like you have enough space to entertain. This can be fixed by adding more concrete pad or even a low deck that has two or three steps up to it off to the side.
If you’re good with the size, all you need to do is spruce it up.
Some good patio furniture will do the trick!
Really take it to the next level by adding a wet bar or an outdoor kitchen in this space.
Swimming pool or hot tub
If you’re up for a big project, an in-ground swimming pool would be nice to walk out of your basement to. For a smaller project and lower cost, a hot tub could be installed, especially under a deck for privacy. This would provide a great spot to relax after a long day while also creating a unique and attractive backyard feature.
Firepit
This is one of the best options for upgrading your walkout basement backyard!
A fire pit can be installed in-ground or above ground with really inexpensive materials. Check out these 50 Backyard Bonfire Ideas for inspiration.
If you have any natural stones around your property, you may even be able to build a fire pit at no additional cost to you!
If building a firepit doesn’t sound appealing to you, you can always purchase a portable firepit that you can move if you want to.
Either way, having an outdoor fireplace is a great option to spruce up your walkout basement house plans.
Lighting
Outdoor lighting is a great way to spruce up that walkout basement backyard, no matter what other ideas you incorporate.
Use string lighting, firefly lights in your landscaping, or just some solar ground lighting to light your path.
Outdoor lighting increases the amount of time you can spend outside comfortably, and it really makes a difference in the vibe of your space.
Natural Look
Planting
Creating flower beds or a terraced garden is a great way to design your walk-out basement outdoor area.
Planting a mix of flowers, herbs, and vegetables in a tiered layout that travels down the entire length of the walkout basement.
The tiers can be connected with a winding path of natural stone pavers or stairways. This will create a beautiful view from the basement.
Another idea is to create a koi pond. This could involve digging a shallow pond near the walkout basement, filling it with water, and then adding fish, plants, and rocks. Then create a path to it from your walkout basement door.
A deck or patio could also be built around the pond, providing a peaceful and tranquil spot to relax and enjoy nature.
Pathways
Sometimes, a walkout basement door is not in a good place to create a cool outdoor space. You can always create a pathway with stone or other landscaping features to lead to the main outdoor area. Make this a whimsical walk through a beautiful flower garden if you really want to spruce up the space.
As you can see, there are a lot of great walkout basement backyard ideas. All can help you make the most of your outdoor space. Your choice will definitely depend on your yard, if you have a finished basement, and your preferences for outdoor space.
Whether you decide to install a patio, deck, pool, or any combination of these, your new outdoor space will be an asset to your home.
Not only will it add value to your property, it will also be a great place to relax and entertain.
With the right design, landscaping, and the right materials, you can create a beautiful walkout basement backyard. It will be the envy of your neighborhood. Hopefully, you are feeling inspired by these ideas, and you’re ready to jump into your own walkout basement backyard upgrade!
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