A hammock under a tree waits for you, iinviting relaxation and shade on a sunny day.
For many Mainers, relaxing means going away—to the lake, the coast, or the mountains. But what if your greatest escape didn’t require packing a bag or driving hours from home?
What if your sanctuary was waiting for you… just outside the back door?
A thoughtfully designed backyard is more than a landscaping project. It’s a shift in lifestyle. It’s a quiet revolution in how we rest, play, gather, and reconnect—without screens, without schedules, and without needing to leave home to feel like yourself again.
At Skillful Home Recreation, we’ve spent 45 years helping people create spaces that make daily life feel better. We’ve seen firsthand what happens when a backyard stops being a project and starts becoming a practice.
Here’s what we’ve learned.
Start with What You Crave—Not What’s Trending
It’s easy to look online and get overwhelmed: firepits, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, pools, fountains, furniture… But building a backyard retreat isn’t about following trends—it’s about building a life.
Ask yourself:
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What would I love to do outside if the space made it easy?
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When do I feel most grounded, most myself?
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What would bring the people I care about outside more often?
For some, the answer is soaking in silence after a long day. For others, it’s watching kids play for hours without asking for a screen. Some crave movement—swimming, stretching, or even shooting hoops. Others dream of slow dinners under the stars with friends.
You don’t need to choose everything. You just need to choose intentionally.
What We See as the Best Backyard Retreat
After thousands of conversations, installs, and backyard visits, we’ve noticed a pattern. The best outdoor spaces, regardless of size or budget, share five key elements:
1. A Place to Rest
Not just somewhere to sit. A true place to unwind.
This could be a Bullfrog Spa for deep, therapeutic relaxation. It might be a shaded bench, a hammock, or a heated dome for year-round use. The point is: you need a space that invites you to pause. Where you can breathe deeply, look up at the sky, and feel your shoulders drop.
2. A Way to Move
Movement connects us to ourselves and to each other.
For some, that’s a swim spa, offering resistance-based workouts, play time with kids, and relief for aging joints. For others, it’s a Rainbow Play System that keeps little legs moving and imaginations soaring. The key is to incorporate movement that fits your stage of life now and that can evolve with you.
3. A Reason to Gather
Laughter, competition, conversation are all easier in the right setting.
We’ve seen families transform underused patios into game zones, adding outdoor pool tables or shuffleboards that bring friends over more often than any dinner party. Add some outdoor speakers, string lights, and a stocked cooler, and suddenly your house becomes the one everyone remembers.
4. A Sense of Beauty
This doesn’t mean perfection—it means peace.
Even modest backyards can feel magical with a few intentional choices: soft lighting, a privacy screen of evergreens, a simple gravel path through perennials. Choose materials and colors that feel natural, calming, and true to your space. You’re not designing for Instagram; you’re designing for you.
5. A Reflection of Your Life
Your retreat should feel personal.
That might mean a garden shed that doubles as an art studio, a dartboard mounted on the garage, or a nook for reading while your dog naps in the sun. The best spaces aren’t “perfect”, they’re authentic. They make room for the life you’re actually living.
Why a Backyard Retreat Matters More Than Ever in Maine
We all know Maine’s seasons are short. That’s exactly why the investment in your outdoor space matters.
When you build a space that draws you outside more often, you’re not just extending the season, you’re extending your life. Fresh air. Unplugged play. Restorative movement. Natural light. These aren’t luxuries. They’re the ingredients of well-being.
And when your outdoor space reflects your values, whether that’s family time, fitness, creativity, or quiet, you’ll find yourself using it more than you ever imagined.
Not Sure Where to Start? That’s What We’re Here For.
You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Whether you’re dreaming about a spa, a swim spa, a playset, or a game table that belongs outside, we can help you think it through without pressure or overwhelm.
We’ve helped thousands of Mainers create outdoor spaces that truly work.
Let’s help you create yours.
Learn more about our:
Start here or stop by the store to explore what’s possible.
