Backyard patios can be expensive, but they can cost less than a family vacation. (Photo: Istockphoto)
Facing tight budgets, some homeowners are looking to play and stay in their own backyard oases this summer instead of traveling. The trend is affecting furniture sales: The Associated Press reports that even while overall furniture sales are down by nearly double digits in recent months, sales of summer and casual furniture have been steady.
How much to spend
Perhaps I'll add to that trend this summer. My family and I most likely won't go away for vacation, so I am hoping to improve the backyard -- either by keeping the budget really small, and just purchasing a picnic set or picnic table so there's somewhere to sit in our grassy backyard, or, by spending more and having a brick paver patio professionally installed. I figure we could spend less than $2,000 for a professionally installed 12-foot by 12-foot paver patio. If a paver patio proves to be too expensive, we could look into a stamped concrete patio or perhaps a simple platform/floating deck instead.
Says Jerry Epperson, an industry analyst at Mann, Armistead and Epperson, a Richmond, Va., investment bank, in the AP story, more people are "spending money on their home instead of going away. They're building these vacation sites in their homes." Four out of 10 Americans plan to limit vacation time this year because of the recession, according to a January survey for the American Home Furnishings Alliance.
Readers: Are you hoping to update your backyard this summer? If so, I'd love to hear from you.—Lauren Baier Kim