Montana vacation homeowners are likely looking to spend as much time outdoors as possible. After all, it is the amazing scenery that often draws people to Montana in the first place. The gorgeous mountains, scenic wildflower meadows, and meandering wildlife truly make this area unique.
Being able to truly enjoy the outdoors to the fullest means adding outdoor spaces that make being outside simple and convenient. Along with that comes thinking ahead about outdoor living amenities that would help keep people outside longer.
To help get you dreaming about how to get the most out of your space, we’ve rounded up some ideas for vacation home amenities that you’re likely to appreciate.
The Best Outdoor Amenities for Vacation Homes
Spending more time outside taking in the splendor of the Montana landscape means creating an outdoor living space that will encourage and support this plan. Here are some outdoor amenities for vacation homes that can help.
Hardscape Space for Functionality
At the heart of most outdoor living areas is the patio. It is this hardscape area that can become the location to sit and eat, a place to roll out your yoga mat, the spot to put a hot tub, and so much more.
It is the hardscaping that adds functionality to your outdoor living space and that’s a big necessity when it comes to spending more time outside. After all, you need a place to go when you step out of your doors. A patio provides just that.
An Outdoor Kitchen
Spending more time outside means thinking about outdoor living amenities that will keep you there. An outdoor kitchen at a vacation home is a big one. You have probably already thought about dining al fresco. There’s really nothing quite like enjoying your meals outside while soaking in the beauty of your surroundings.
But what if you could prepare your meals outside, too?
If you’re thinking about adding an outdoor kitchen to your vacation home, it’s important to think about what kitchen features would prevent you from having to go back inside the house. If you incorporate elements such as cabinets for storage, a built-in grill with granite countertops, a refrigerator so that there are always cold beverages and other amenities, you can have everything that you need right in that space! That means no longer running in and out of the house.
These types of additions are all about convenience. With everything that you need right there, there’s no need to leave the outdoors!
Fire and Water Features for Your Vacation Home
Nothing quite draws people to outdoor spaces (and then keeps them there) like fire and water features. Both can be great additions that help you to spend and enjoy more time outside at your vacation home.
You’ve probably noticed that most people are naturally attracted to fire features. As humans, the light and the heat instinctively draw us in. Therefore, adding these types of features to your outdoor space makes it more enjoyable and is likely to keep you there longer. Even the functional benefit of fire (that it does add both light and heat to your space) helps you to enjoy these areas into the evening hours.
The same is true of water features. Most people find both the look and the sound of running water to be something that attracts them. It can make the outdoor experience even more tranquil and pleasant with the sound of water accompanying it.
Water features also have the added benefit of blocking out unwanted sounds if that’s an issue, based upon the location of your vacation home.
Landscape Lighting
Chances are, if you want to spend more time outside, you’re looking to be there both day and night. There is something truly spectacular about the Montana sky and our ability to see so many brilliantly twinkling stars.
To be able to spend more time outside at night, you need to think about adding landscape lighting. Lighting can allow you to safely navigate your outdoor area at night.
The most important factor to consider is that landscape lighting is not overpowering, otherwise, it can have the opposite effect of adding to the enjoyment of your space.
The last thing that you’d want to ever do is impact your view of the nighttime sky but light pollution can do just that. That’s why with landscape lighting, less is more. We understand that people love looking at the stars and we want to help enhance that experience, not take away from it.
Vacation Home Lawn Areas
While you may not initially think of them in terms of being vacation home amenities,
the areas of lawn around your Montana property can also really enhance your time outside.
Lawn areas can become a dedicated area to play some of your favorite lawn games like horseshoes or bocce. These spots can also become a place where you sit with the kids and have a picnic lunch or maybe you prefer to do your morning yoga on the lawn as opposed to your hardscaping.
Simply having space where you can feel the grass between your toes can be appealing, too. Lawn areas can really help you to appreciate time outside.
Seasonal Garden Containers
Another one that might not initially come to mind in terms of outdoor living amenities is the use of container gardens around your vacation home. But the right plants and colorful flowers can really enhance your enjoyment of time outside. 
A lot of Montana homeowners also love the idea of edible landscaping, where they can have fresh herbs or edible flowers that they can enjoy while dining outdoors. These types of plants can be incorporated into your containers for easy access.
How Proper Landscape Maintenance Enhances Your Vacation Home Amenities
As you look to spend more time outside, the last thing that you want to happen is to be distracted by a mess or have an unkempt landscape take away from the enjoyment of your amenities in any way.
This is why landscape maintenance is so important.
You can think about adding all of these wonderful outdoor living amenities that will enhance your enjoyment of your landscape, but if it isn’t cared for, they’re going to lose their value.
As a result, it’s important that you choose a landscaping company in Southwest Montana that can also offer maintenance. On top of that, you want to select a landscape professional that will take a well-thought-out approach to everything. The truth is, not all landscaping professionals take maintenance seriously but it can stand to have an enormous impact on your enjoyment of the outdoors.
Proper and ongoing landscape maintenance will be key to keeping your vacation home looking and performing its best so that you can fully take advantage of enjoying the outdoors.
Finding a Landscape Professional For Your Vacation Home in Montana
At the end of the day, it’s important that you find a landscaping company that understands what your amenities mean to your experience in your outdoor living space. They are more than just fancy add-ons to incorporate into your space with no purpose. They serve a very vital element that helps contribute to your overall use and enjoyment of your space. And that’s a very personal thing! What works for some homeowners might not be the same as what you’re looking for.
This is why we spend a lot of time talking to clients about how they want to use their outdoor spaces, as well as what features will help them get the most out of them. Not all landscape companies are going to take the time to get this detailed. Many are just interested in building a cookie-cutter space and moving on.
At Blanchford Landscape Group, it’s important to us that you end up with an outdoor living space that you love. This means a space that will inspire you to spend even more time outside.
Are you ready to get the process of designing your outdoor living area started at your Bozeman or Big Sky, MT home? Let’s connect and talk about your project. Then we can meet and begin talking about your ideas! We can’t wait for you to be able to enjoy your amazing space.
