Do you live in the desert? If that is the case, then you are probably used to high temperatures. In fact, you might feel like there is no escape from the heat, no matter whether you are at work or out shopping. But what if we told you that it does not have to be this way? All you need to do is consider turning your desert home into an oasis!
Obviously, such a transformation is not going to be an easy task. You will need to consider many things, ranging from determining your budget to coming up with landscaping ideas. To make it all easier for you, we created a list of things that are bound to make your house a great place to be during even the most dangerous heat waves. Take a look!
Invest in Exterior Design
If you want your house to become an oasis, you need to make it blend in with its surroundings. That is how natural oases look like. Even though they are brimming with life, they do not stick out like a sore thumb. Instead, they look like a part of the desert. If you want to achieve that effect, all you need to do is invest in the exterior design of your house.
For instance, you might want to consider looking into the Adobe style! It draws inspiration from the Pueblo and Spanish Missions in New Mexico. Houses built in this style are made out of stucco and characterized by flat roofs and rounded edges. As a result, they go really well with their harsh desert environments.
Once you decide to go for this style, you can purchase stylish Amarr garage doors, add gravel walkways, and install warm lighting. All of these things are bound to make your Adobe style home look really pretty!
Keep It Cool
The temperature outside of your house can increase the temperature inside of your home, that much is obvious. The most effective solution to that problem involves installing air conditioning. After all, more than eighty percent of households in the United States use air conditioning systems of some sort. But there are many more things that you can invest in to keep your house cool!
Firstly, consider installing ceiling fans if you have not done it already. As long as you set them to run counter-clockwise and at a higher speed, their airflow is guaranteed to create a pleasant breeze effect that will make you feel a whole lot cooler. Secondly, make sure that your windows are properly insulated, as it will help keep the cool conditioned air inside.
Build a Swimming Pool
A swimming pool can be an excellent addition to any home. It can help you relax and cool you down on a hot summer day. However, there are many things that you will have to keep in mind before building a swimming pool. Most importantly, it is not cheap. You need to take care of heating, landscaping, and decking, among other things.
On top of that, you have to remember that keeping a pool in top shape comes with many maintenance costs. After all, it will not keep itself clean, and swimming pool pumps can break down from time to time. You will also need to buy a test kit to check and maintain the pH levels of your pool water, as well as its chlorine levels.
To ensure that you will not end up overspending, make sure to determine your budget before you get down to business. Even a simple spreadsheet can prove to be really helpful!
Start a Garden
A desert oasis without plants would not look quite right, would it? Because of that, you definitely need to consider starting a garden! But before you do that, come up with a good landscape design that will match the style of your house.
For instance, if you decided to go for the Adobe style, you might want to plant a few fruit trees. They will go well with the stucco walls! The easiest trees to grow in the desert include figs, pomegranates, and mulberries. Why is that the case? They do not require specialized care and can be planted into native clay. Consequently, you should be able to take care of them without any issues!
Other than that, you will have to replace traditional grass with drought-tolerant ground cover, rocks, and gravel, which are more suitable to the arid climate of the desert. You might also want to set up a few rain barrels or a drip irrigation system to ensure that your plants receive an optimal amount of water.
Add a Fire Pit
Some deserts can get really cold at night. It can be quite frustrating if you want to spend the evening in your backyard. Luckily, there is an easy solution to that problem! All you need to do is build a fire pit. It is relatively simple, and you should be able to do it yourself without any issues.
Begin by choosing the location of the fire pit. Keep in mind that it needs to be located away from any structures and low-hanging trees. Otherwise, you might end up starting a fire. Once you find the right spot, choose the shape and the style of the fire pit. It will determine the type of blocks that you will need to purchase.
Then, you can get around to building the fire pit! There are many tutorials out there that should help you with that. All of the tools you will need are relatively cheap, so do not worry about the costs too much. And after you are done, you will be able to spend your evenings outside in warmth and comfort!
Turn Your House Into a Desert Oasis!
In conclusion, there are many things that you can do if you want your home to feel and look like an oasis. While some are a little bit more costly than others, they will definitely be worth it! After all, they are bound to make your house beautiful and functional, which can increase its value by a significant amount of money.
If you do not have the time to take care of any of the things mentioned above, consider hiring professionals who specialize in landscaping, architecture, and construction. Provided that they do their job well, your home is guaranteed to become an oasis in no time!