6 Ways to Keep Your Outdoor Space Looking Tidy As Ever, According to Pros

As your outdoor space gets used more often, especially during the summer months when you're hosting friends and family or lounging outdoors, it's important to properly maintain it. From landscaping to cleaning up any debris or garbage, we've asked experts to give their insights on how to keep outdoor living spaces clean and tidy.

Maintain Landscaping

Nothing can ruin the fun in the sun like grass that has gotten too long and an abundance of weeds taking root on the lawn. Keeping landscaping on a regular rotation sets the stage for other tidying tricks—it also makes it less likely that you’ll step on any garbage or hidden toy in the blades of grass.

Although mowing is an obvious task in any yard, there are other chores to keep in mind as well. “Create a schedule for lawn care, pruning, and general cleaning,” says Eric Tamminga, owner of an outdoor accessories manufacturer Iron Embers.

“Regularly sweep or hose down hard surfaces, remove fallen leaves, and inspect the furniture for any necessary repairs," says Tamminga. "Consistency is key to keeping your outdoor space looking tidy and inviting.”

Create Activity Zones

Just as you would plan what rooms in your home will be used for certain activities, doing the same with your outdoor space will keep it from looking out of control.

It will be much more visually appealing when furniture or intended accessories are arranged all in one place.

“Create separate areas for dining, lounging, playing, and gardening,” says Tamminga. “Use outdoor rugs, furniture arrangements, and planters to clearly demarcate each zone. This not only enhances the overall aesthetic but also helps prevent clutter from spreading across the entire space.”

Make Furniture Pull Double Duty

Any living space needs comfortable places to lounge, but imagine if they also doubled as storage too? Get multifunctional pieces to help maximize your space and act as a storage unit for toys or pool accessories.

Just be sure that whatever piece of furniture you add to your great outdoors is able to handle the elements. 

Encourage kids to place their outdoor toys and games in the storage bench and get everyone doing their part to keep things looking neat. Not only does cleanup go faster with more hands but involving the whole family teaches good habits that will last well beyond the outdoor entertaining season. 

Make Trash Cans Visible

This is a case of out of sight, out of mind. Making sure that a readily identifiable wastebasket is near a designated outdoor eating area helps trash out of your grass. Not only is that crucial for keeping the space neat, but it will keep unwanted littering throughout the day away.

Keep things looking stylish with wicker-look resin trash receptacles or colored industrial bins.

Decorate With Flowers

Strategically positioning large pots or planter boxes with beautiful blooms makes your outdoor living space cheery and adds visual appeal. It also serves as a draw for your eyes, which makes any lingering clutter less noticeable.

Pots can be found in many shapes, styles, and colors. Using similar-looking varieties will keep things looking tidier than going with a mix-and-match approach.

“Many types are available, from hanging baskets all the way down to large-scale containers,” says Rhys Charles, a lawn care expert.

“These can be filled up seasonally based on what flowers bloom throughout each period, allowing for some aesthetic diversity when hosting friends or having kids running around playing games outdoors," says Charles. "Plus, they provide additional visual depth which helps break up open spaces like patios or decks into smaller sections making it easier to manage and ‘compartmentalize’ different activities that may be taking place at the same time.'”

Consider Native Plants

Whether you plant flowers in a decorative pot or right into the ground, be sure to choose pretty plants that grow in your area naturally. By doing this, you will significantly reduce the maintenance required for such landscaping and will be brightening up the entire outdoor space at the same time. 

“Utilizing native plants in your landscape, for instance, can help you use less water and fertilizer while also luring in beneficial insects and wildlife,” says Jack Williams, CEO and editor of Handyman Reviewed.

“Hardscaping elements like mulch or gravel can also aid in preventing the growth of weeds and lessen the frequency of mowing or pruning. You may keep a neat appearance in your outdoor area while also reducing your environmental effect by adopting natural solutions.”

Adding mulch, whether it is wood chips or rubber pellets, protects more than your plants. It provides a softer place to land for kids who might be running around your space.

Making a plan for how you intend to use your outdoor space and staying on top of necessary maintenance will pay off big by keeping things entertaining-ready whenever the mood strikes!