How to Create the Ultimate Outdoor Living Space in Wausau This Summer

As the snow melts and the days grow longer, Wausau, WI transforms into a hub of summertime activity. The warm months offer the perfect opportunity to embrace outdoor living, making it the ideal time to design or upgrade your outdoor living spaces. With thoughtful planning and the right elements, your backyard can become a haven of relaxation, entertainment, and style. Whether you envision cozy gatherings around patio fireplaces or sophisticated lounging zones complete with custom backyard fireplace designs, creating your dream outdoor oasis in Wausau is more achievable than ever.

Summer in Wisconsin is fleeting, but its impact can be lasting when you maximize every moment outdoors. The key to designing the ultimate outdoor living space lies in blending functionality with beauty. From selecting durable materials suited to the Wausau climate to integrating features like fire elements and shaded retreats, each detail contributes to a space that invites you to slow down, soak up the sun, and savor the season.

Embrace the Climate: Designing for Wausau’s Unique Summers

Wausau’s summers are relatively short but delightfully warm, with average highs in the 70s and 80s. To make the most of this prime season, your outdoor living space must be ready to withstand both intense sun and the occasional thunderstorm. This makes choosing weather-resistant materials a top priority. Composite decking, treated wood, and natural stone are excellent choices for patios and paths, offering resilience and low maintenance.

Equally important is the layout of your outdoor area. Consider how the sun moves across your yard throughout the day. Strategic placement of seating areas, shade structures, and cooking zones can ensure that your space remains comfortable from morning to evening. Installing pergolas, retractable awnings, or even stylish umbrellas provides necessary shade without compromising aesthetics. These features not only protect you from the heat but also preserve your furniture and flooring.

Don’t overlook lighting. As the sun sets, warm and ambient lighting can transform your outdoor living spaces into an enchanting nighttime escape. Opt for a combination of solar-powered garden lights, string lighting, and LED spotlights to highlight walkways and focal points. These touches keep the party going long after dusk and add a magical ambiance to every evening.

Create a Cozy Focal Point with Patio Fireplaces

One of the most sought-after features in outdoor living spaces, especially in WI, is the patio fireplace. It adds warmth and ambiance, extending the usability of your backyard into cooler evenings. A fireplace acts as a natural gathering spot, drawing people together and offering a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of campfires and starry nights.

In Wausau, patio fireplaces can be particularly beneficial. Even in the summer, evenings can become brisk, making a fire feature a practical yet stylish addition. Whether built into a retaining wall or designed as a standalone structure, fireplaces can be customized to match your home’s architecture and personal style. Choose from materials like natural stone, brick, or stucco to create a look that complements your overall outdoor design.

Wood-burning fireplaces offer authenticity and the nostalgic aroma of a real fire, while gas-powered models provide convenience and cleaner burning. Whichever option you choose, incorporating a fireplace into your backyard creates an inviting focal point that encourages relaxation and togetherness.

Design with Personality: Custom Backyard Fireplace Designs

If you’re truly aiming to elevate your outdoor space, custom backyard fireplace designs are the way to go. These bespoke installations allow you to infuse your personality into the project, ensuring the fireplace is more than just a heat source—it’s a statement piece.

Custom designs can range from sleek, modern fire walls with linear burners to rustic, stone-laden hearths that resemble traditional lodge fireplaces. The choice of materials, scale, and shape gives you the freedom to craft a piece that harmonizes with your yard and lifestyle. Want to integrate seating into the structure? Add built-in benches with cushions. Prefer a dramatic, multi-functional centerpiece? Consider combining your fireplace with a pizza oven or an outdoor kitchen island.

In Wausau, where community and hospitality are cherished, a custom fireplace becomes a cornerstone for entertaining. It’s the spot where marshmallows are roasted, stories are shared, and memories are made. Add personalized features like engraved stonework, decorative tile, or integrated lighting to make your fireplace truly one of a kind.

Entertain and Dine in Style: Creating Multifunctional Zones

Your ultimate outdoor living space should be more than just beautiful—it should be functional. Creating distinct zones for different activities allows you to host with ease, whether you’re planning a casual family barbecue or a sophisticated evening soiree.

Start by defining areas for dining, lounging, and play. A dining space should include a table and chairs durable enough for WI weather, ideally positioned near your indoor kitchen or outdoor cooking station for convenience. Add a grill or built-in kitchen setup to keep the chef part of the action. Don’t forget about shade—dining under a pergola or canopy makes meals more enjoyable.

For lounging, choose furniture that’s both comfortable and weather-resistant. Sectionals, chaise lounges, and outdoor rugs create a living-room vibe in the fresh air. Accent pillows and throws add color and texture, while side tables provide spots for drinks and snacks.

If you have the space, include a play area for kids or a quiet nook for reading and meditation. These tailored zones transform your backyard into a dynamic retreat where everyone has something to enjoy. By thoughtfully planning your layout and investing in quality furnishings, your outdoor living space in Wausau can become a versatile extension of your home.

Bring It All Together: Personal Touches and Local Inspiration

The final step in creating the ultimate outdoor living space is adding personal flair and drawing inspiration from your surroundings. Wausau is a city that celebrates natural beauty, from the Rib Mountain State Park to the scenic Wisconsin River. Let these local treasures influence your color palette, textures, and layout.

Use native plants in your landscaping to reflect the environment and ensure hardiness through the seasons. Incorporate elements like birch bark, pine, or granite into your design to echo the region’s natural aesthetic. Water features such as small ponds or fountains can add serenity, while art pieces or sculptures showcase your personality.

Your outdoor space should also reflect your lifestyle. If you love gardening, install raised beds or vertical planters. If you’re a music enthusiast, add a sound system with outdoor speakers. For tech-savvy homeowners, smart lighting and fire features can be controlled with a smartphone, offering modern convenience in a rustic setting.

Conclusion

In the end, your goal is to create a backyard that feels like a personal retreat. With careful planning, quality materials, and features like patio fireplaces and custom backyard fireplace designs, your Wausau home can become the envy of the neighborhood this summer. Whether you’re sipping lemonade in the shade or gathering around the fire under the stars, the perfect outdoor living space is where summer memories begin.

Need Fireplace Professionals Near You?

Since 1949, we have been building, repairing, and renovating fireplaces all across Wisconsin for both commercial and residential locations. Our showroom offers a wide variety of fireplaces including accessories, fire pits, fire tables, and pellet style stoves. We even do stonework, chimneys, and mantles! With our full-service chimney sweep service, we can keep your fireplace prepared and safe. Marcell’s Specialties Inc. is available for either indoor or outdoor work, with the best equipment available. Give us a call or visit our showroom to have a member of our staff help you pick out the perfect piece for your home! We can even create a custom design based on your specifications!

Categorised in: Outdoor Products

This post was written by admin