You know that blissful state of mind that a retreat helps you tap into?
You feel relaxed, nourished, and inspired — all at the same time?
Of course, nothing can truly replace a getaway from your everyday environment.
But imagine if you could experience some of that refreshing feeling for yourself...even when you can’t actually travel to a retreat.
Over the years, we’ve transformed Bliss Farm into a soulful location for hosting healing, nurturing retreats. And the reality is, creating a safe and inspiring space didn’t happen overnight. Building Bliss Farm required quite a bit of attention to detail and thoughtful design.
Since we’re all spending so much more time at home this year — and dealing with more stress and anxiety than ever before, we’ve teamed up with Bliss Design and Interiors to present these seven tried-and-true ways for creating your own healing oasis at home.
Ready to try your hand at creating your own back-yard retreat?
Why Create Your Own Oasis?
When we go on retreats, we’re able to fully relax knowing that our needs are taken care of.
We step away from our day-to-day responsibilities and refill our cups, enabling ourselves to reenter our lives feeling deeply refreshed.
Due to current circumstances, many of us won’t be participating in retreats this year as planned. But we can still carve out time and space to replenish our precious energy! Taking even 15 minutes a day to enjoy a cup of tea in your own oasis can help calm your nerves and focus your mind.
If you’re able to create your retreat oasis in an outdoor setting, like your backyard, patio, or screened-in porch, then you may find additional soothing qualities, like the wind brushing against your hands or the sound of crickets at night.
The Japanese are well aware of the benefits that nature can provide, and they’ve embraced a practice called “Forest Bathing” or shinrin-yoku to acknowledge and channel the healing power of wild spaces. By creating your oasis in a comfortable outdoor setting, you, too, can benefit from the restorative aspects of the great outdoors.
Questions to Ask Before You Get Started
Before you start designing your outdoor oasis, you’ll want to clearly identify your personal decorative style and the goals for your space. Ask yourself:
“What sensory items make me feel relaxed, nourished, and safe?” Make a list of your favorite things to touch, hear, smell, or see.
“What was my favorite vacation destination?” or “Which travel destination is at the top of my bucket list?” Chances are you’re drawn to these locations at least partially because of their culture and aesthetic. Are there elements of these destinations that you can weave into your design?
“What is it that inspires me to go on retreats?” If it’s yoga, then try to include space to unfurl your yoga mat. If it’s the community, then try to incorporate enough seating—even stackable floor pillows—for friends and family to occasionally join you.
“Which colors do I find most soothing?” It will be helpful for you to identify a cohesive color palette, so spend a moment thinking about which colors you find most soothing. Do you prefer warm golds and reds, cool blues and greens, or earthy neutrals, like tan and brown?
“How do I want to use this space?” If you want to nap, then you’ll want to include a chaise lounge or small day bed, if you want to drink tea and watch the sunset, then you’ll want to add a small cafe table. This is your space to design as you please, so make sure you’re clear on what you want to get out of it.
“What is my budget like?” If you’re working with a tight budget, then you’ll want to get creative with items you already own or can thrift second-hand. If you have a larger budget, then you may be able to invest in a few statement pieces or new outdoor furniture. Even if your budget is $0, you will still benefit from carving out a small space in your home that’s reserved for your rest and relaxation.
“What challenges in my environment do I need to overcome?” For example, if you get attacked by mosquitoes every time you sit on your patio, then you’ll want to incorporate mosquito netting and citronella candles into your oasis. If your neighborhood is noisy—and you want to use your space to meditate or nap—then you may want to include a water feature or small speakers to broadcast relaxing music.
7 Design Tips for Creating a Backyard Oasis
After answering the questions above, you should have a good feel for your overall goals and budget, along with the type of decor that inspires you most. Here are our seven tips for bringing your vision to life.
Texture, Texture, Texture!
Most outdoor furniture is hard metal, wicker, rattan, or wood. You can soften your surroundings by adding texture with pillows, cushions, throw blankets, outdoor rugs, and curtains. These textural items are the ideal way to pull in your color palette and global inspiration. For example, are you inspired by warm colors and a bucket-list trip to Morocco? Fantastic! Keep your eyes open for yellow, orange, and red pillows with Moroccan prints or patterns. (If you need help figuring out which prints and patterns correlate with your dream destination, then search Pinterest for ideas and consider making your own backyard oasis board!)
Pro tip: If your outdoor oasis is exposed to the elements, then add a waterproof storage basket or bin so you can safely store your throw blanket and any indoor pillows if a storm comes!
2. Let There Be Light
Lighting is an often-overlooked element that can truly make or break a space. At Bliss Farm, we’ve hung string lights over our outdoor dining area to create a warm and inviting, celebratory atmosphere. Outdoor string lights are a popular choice for backyard spaces, and you can also consider adding solar- or battery-powered candles and lanterns for soft ambient lighting. If mosquitoes are a nuisance where you live, then incorporate natural citronella candles or torches!
Pro tip: Attractive solar- and battery-powered lanterns can be surprisingly expensive, so shop around and then wait for a big sale to make your purchase.
3. A Hero is Born
Hero pieces are eye-catching items that serve as the focal point of your decor. At Bliss Farm, our outdoor oasis is inspired by Bali, so one of our hero pieces is a sculpture of a Hindu deity, and the other is a sculpture of a reclining elephant. Metal sculptures work well as hero pieces in outdoor spaces because they hold up to the elements, but you can also find stained-glass windows, whimsical planters, seasonal wreaths, and other interesting items to serve as hero pieces.
Pro tip: If you’re on a budget, then keep your eyes open for a secondhand hero piece (you may have to be patient) or consider making your own. Perhaps this is the time to bring that macrame project out of storage or learn how to make your own floral wreaths!
4. Plants a Plenty
One of the best parts about having an outdoor oasis is that you can fill it with as many plants as you please! Many people find it soothing to be around living plants, and botanicals also lend a natural bohemian elegance to any space. When choosing your pots, try to get a variety of shapes and sizes for added interest, and consider including a few hanging pots, if possible. New planting containers can be surprisingly expensive, so keep in mind that even the ugliest secondhand pot can be rejuvenated with a fresh coat of paint.
Pro tip: Plants will grow better if their pots have drainage holes. If the planters you own don’t already have drainage holes, then consider drilling some yourself (here’s how).
5. Bring Indoor Luxuries Outside
Many of the things that we typically associate with indoors, including rugs and candles, can easily be incorporated into your outdoor space with a bit of forethought. Companies like Ruggable have made it possible to purchase beautiful outdoor rugs that hold up well to the elements and can even be washed! Gone are the days of cheap plastic outdoor “rugs” that deteriorate in the sun. You can also find candles with lids so the wax is protected if it does rain.
Pro-tip: Before dismissing an idea as “indoors only” do a quick online search to see whether there are any waterproof, weather-resistant options or alternatives.
6. The Sweet Sounds of Nature
Sound can be extremely relaxing - or distracting - depending on the situation. If you live in a rural spot and the only noises you hear outdoors are birds singing and insects chirping, then you can go ahead and skip this section (lucky you!). Many people, however, have to contend with noisy neighbors, traffic, trains, barking dogs, rattling air conditioners, and other sounds that can easily pull your attention away from your cozy outdoor oasis.
To work around this potential nuisance, consider hanging wind chimes or installing a plug-in water feature. A decorative water feature is a great choice because it instantly transports you to nature.
Pro tip: If a decorative water feature is outside your budget, then consider bringing portable speakers or your phone outdoors to play ambient, relaxing music.
7. Conjure Memories with Scents
Smell is our oldest sense, and with one whiff you can conjure your favorite memories, be it a hike through an old-growth forest, a day exploring exotic spice markets, or an afternoon baking pumpkin pies with grandma. Identify the scents that help you feel relaxed or inspired, and then add them to your oasis with candles, incense, diffusers, or natural linen sprays. Like lighting, smell is an easy-to-overlook element that has the potential to truly elevate your oasis from a typical backyard corner to a heavenly respite.
Pro tip: Many candles and potpourri blends are made with synthetic chemical scents that can cause headaches, nausea, and discomfort. If you or your family members are sensitive to synthetic smells, then look for products scented with essential oils and natural ingredients.
In Closing,
Just because we can’t go on as many retreats or vacations this year, doesn’t mean we can’t still reap the benefits of a blissful space. Transforming a corner of your yard or patio into a relaxing oasis is a creative and rewarding way to prioritize self-care and your own worth. We hope these tips are helpful, and if you share a photo of your backyard oasis on social, then please tag us @blissfarmandretreat so we can cheer you along!
