Phoenix Backyard Patio Ideas

Modifying your backyard can be a significant investment, both in terms of time and material costs. You’ll likely be living with the backyard modifications you make for decades to come, so it’s important to approach any large-scale changes with caution and forethought.

For example, having a new pool or hot tub installed might seem like the perfect choice for your family, at least until you consider some of the challenges and costs that complicate pool ownership.

Water evaporates quickly in Phoenix, so you will likely end up spending significantly more on your water bill every month. You may also need to power your pool pump for roughly eight hours a day.



If your pool doesn’t have an automatic filler, you’ll need to use a garden hose periodically to keep it full. Various filters and pumps can also break down and need to be replaced, which isn’t always cheap. You may need to invest 20 or 30 minutes of your own personal time into weekly maintenance and cleaning.

For some families these added expenses and maintenance chores aren’t issues, but for others it may become an unwanted nuisance that detracts from the satisfaction they get out of their pool.

If you’re considering selling your home soon, getting a pool installed might not be the most valuable backyard improvement you can make. Pools do appeal to some homebuyers, but others will view pool ownership as a significant downside. And it’s uncommon for the value of your home to increase by as much as the pool cost after installation is complete. A pool in poor condition that needs a lot of work may end up detracting from your home’s valuation.

This doesn’t mean a pool is necessarily a bad idea for your backyard, but it’s certainly not an investment that should be made without consideration.

Investing in Backyard Patio Improvements with Broad Appeal

If all your children have grown to adulthood it might be time to invest in an outdoor kitchen, build a large standalone grill island and add a gas-powered firepit. You might want to remove the grass in your backyard and replace it with thoughtfully designed desert landscaping.

This backyard might not appeal to families with children and pets who benefit from large grassy areas for play, but it may be perfect for older adults who’d rather use the space for dinners and get togethers on cool Phoenix evenings.

Backyard Shade Options

In Phoenix, the accessibility of your backyard spaces will be highly dependent on comfort and shade. A patio or sitting area with no shade might have its utility limited during much of the year, even during the relatively mild autumn and spring months.

If you’re making your existing patio deeper, it may just be necessary to have a new patio awning installed that extends further out to encompass the entire new seating area.

If you do end up adding a pool, the addition of a shade structure can make using the pool safer and more enjoyable during the summer months.

Adding a shade structure over a pool can result in a dramatic drop in water temperature, even during the hottest part of the summer. Shade also makes swimming far safer. Many of the shade sail and shade structure fabrics used by Arizona Awnings reflect most UV radiation.

Retractable awnings might be an attractive alternative to static awnings for people who want to regulate when sun enters their home or patio areas. If you enjoy the sun coming into your patio door during cold winter mornings, having a retractable awning that can be extended or collapsed on demand may be the ideal solution.

Some Phoenix homes have existing patio areas covered by extended roof overhangs that would benefit from exterior vertical solar shades or sun shades that can be pulled down during certain times of day. These types of shades can add extra privacy to a seating area and reduce the amount of sun that enters your home during evenings or mornings.

Standalone backyard features you add, like an outdoor grill or kitchen that’s constructed apart from your existing patio or home, can be covered a with a variety of permanent shade solutions, from square or rectangular shade structures to shade sails of different shapes and sizes.

Get the Right Shade Solution for Your New Backyard Patio Features

Arizona Awnings installs all different types of awnings, from small awnings for individual windows to extensive patio awnings, retractable awnings and shade structures. Whatever your backyard shade desires, you can trust Arizona Awnings to design and install the perfect solution that will exceed your expectations.

Call us at 602-252-3430 to schedule a FREE estimate