We Share the Outdoor Spaces That Are Keeping Us Sane Right Now

“My husband and I live in a one-bedroom condo and while we do have a container garden on our balcony, outdoor space is pretty limited. Right by our building, however, are various walking trails completely shrouded by trees. All we can hear as we walk through are the birds and the creek’s running water. It’s an absolute sanity-saver on most days.” – Laura G., assistant editor, HGTV Canada and Food Network Canada

“Having an outdoor space has never felt more valuable and necessary than it does right now. And with everything so up in the air, I decided to bring summer vacation to us. I dressed up our upper patio space on a mad budget with a $40 rug, solar string legs and faux UV-resistant palm tree. You call it cheesy, I call it a little slice of paradise.” – Brittany D., digital strategist, HGTV Canada and Food Network Canada

“On warm and bright days, my family and I love spending time in our backyard. When you are couped up inside, it feels like a luxury to have your own personal outdoor space and have your morning coffee on your deck. We wanted our backyard to be functional for the kids to play, while us adults could sit on the deck and keep an eye on them. My husband installed this custom built-in seating on our deck, plus a second set of stairs so we could easily access our kids if we needed to. Hand me a burger fresh off the grill with a cold beer – and this is definitely my happy place.” – Heather M., producer, History

“These days, my 600-square-foot apartment in Toronto’s Cabbagetown is also my office, so it’s nice to have an outdoor space to go to for a change of scenery. Even though I live in the city, the view from the balcony looks onto a small and quiet green courtyard. With some vibrant outdoor area rugs, string lights and lots of plants and flowers, I decorated my entire balcony for less than $125.” – Jen F., editor, Food Network Canada

Related: How to Makeover Your Backyard for Less Than $100

“My current home doesn’t actually have an outdoor space, so I’m forced to get creative when it comes to creating the illusion of one. Having had a rooftop deck for a decade, this transition has been tough. So, to bring some green life into my home, I gravitate towards terrariums and low-maintenance plants that I place near windows for natural light. They’re fun to assemble and not super expensive.” – Chloe T., editor, Slice

“As luck would have it, we were halfway through a renovation when the pandemic struck, so our backyard was a dumpster – literally. This cramped our style, but also made us search for alternatives for getting outdoors. We discovered a whole network of trails that stretched through Toronto’s Rosedale Ravine. There were ducks in the streams, woodpeckers in the trees and new wildflowers sprouting every day. One of the bonuses is that the trails are wide enough to keep two metres away from other hikers. And on some of the more drizzly spring days, we had the whole trail to ourselves. It’s magic.” – Frank P., producer, HGTV Canada

“As soon as the quarantine started, I decided to flee Toronto and head to my family home in Mississauga to enjoy more peace, quiet and outdoor space than my second-floor Bloordale apartment could safely provide. I’ve been enjoying quiet walks by the river and cozy porch mornings watching the neighbourhood go by. Huge bonus: the backyard has lots of space to garden as the weather warms up.” – Lydia H., producer, Food Network Canada

Related: 16 Low-Cost Ways to Make Your Backyard Feel Like a Permanent Staycation

“Now that the rain has finally fled Vancouver, my work-from-home experience has vastly improved now that the weather allows my patio to become my outdoor office.” – Brent F., writer, HGTV Canada

For more inspiration, find out how to transform an awkward nook into into a useful home office.

“This is my sanctuary garden in Toronto’s west end. The little green house is a coach house at the back of my hme – a semi-renovated Georgian. I’m all about wild, lively gardens because they have more personality. I’ve got flowering chives, two types of lilac bushes, a Japanese maple and a purple clematis that gets crazy big in the summer. The barrels at the front are tomato plants and the raised strip bed holds a variety of herbs. There is a seating area among the madness, by the fire pit – and a deck too.” – Iris B., writer, HGTV Canada

“I was visiting Guatemala when the coronavirus hit and I’ve been stuck here ever since. I rented a small house that is a very short walk from Lake Atitlan – one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. I go for sunrise walks at 5:30 AM daily, which definitely helps keep my outlook bright.” – Doug M., writer, HGTV Canada and Slice

“I have a tiny bench on my front porch. It’s actually an old church pew that I painted a cheery bright orange-red. I love to sit here any time of day, but especially late afternoon when it is bathed in sunlight. I also have a serviceberry tree in my front yard that brings me joy year-round – it’s visible from every front window. It’s actually quite big for this type of tree and I especially love it at this time of year before its tiny white petals blow away.” – Christy W., writer, HGTV Canada

Related: 15 Balcony and Front Porch Design Ideas We Want to Steal