Last Updated: April 2026
We are into the home stretch of July and hopefully by now you are enjoying the beautiful Plainfield area summer. The weather has been fairly ideal here, so maybe you don’t want to travel north to freeze or south to sweat. Travel can also become expensive and challenging on a family budget.
What if you used that budget to make some modifications to the outside of your home that will always be there, instead of a one-time experience? This might be the perfect time to prepare your home for a stay-cation.
With a few enhancements and modifications, your home can become the ideal spot for rest and relaxation. Here are a few suggestions:
Fire Pit – A built in fire pit can be an elegant addition to your patio. It looks nice and gives you, and your family and friends an ideal way to enjoy the mild weather. A fire pit can be a great place to gather for wonderful summer evening conversations. Enjoy your home stay-cation with a campfire feel, and zero travel.
Aquascape Pond – An Aquascape pond can add a wonderful, rustic, nature feel to any Plainfield back yard. The look of the pond can provide an excellent backdrop to any time spent on your patio or in your yard. A Plainfield-area landscaper can help you figure out what is the right size and design for your yard.
Patio – Do you have a deck or patio that is falling apart or losing its appeal? An elegant stone patio is an inexpensive way to enhance the look of your backyard and home. It expands the usable space of your home and can be an ideal gathering spot for a stay-cation.
Outdoor Kitchen – An outdoor kitchen is another way to extend the usable space of your home. On those hot summer nights, it is a great way to keep the kitchen comfortable and not have to turn the indoor oven on. It is a great alternative, and great for summer gatherings, and or stay-cations.
Are you looking to make your home a bit more stay-cation friendly? With a few modifications, you will be able to enjoy the summer weather immensely from your own back yard. Contact a Plainfield area landscaping company and we can help make your home enhancements a reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best backyard upgrades for a summer staycation in the Plainfield area?
- The highest-impact upgrades for a Plainfield backyard staycation are a paver patio with comfortable seating, a fire pit or outdoor fireplace for evening entertaining, and updated landscaping with low-maintenance plantings. Adding a water feature — even a small fountain or pondless waterfall — dramatically enhances the ambiance and creates a resort-like atmosphere. Outdoor lighting extends usability into the evening hours.
- How quickly can BLC Yardworks transform a backyard in the Fox Valley area?
- Most patio and fire pit projects are completed within 1-2 weeks from start to finish, including excavation, base preparation, and paver installation. Simpler landscaping enhancements like planting beds and edging can be done in 1-2 days. BLC Yardworks has been serving the Fox Valley area since 1999 and can often schedule projects within a few weeks depending on the season.
- What outdoor features give the best return on investment in Plainfield IL?
- Paver patios consistently deliver the strongest ROI in the Plainfield real estate market — adding functional living space that appraisers count toward usable square footage. Fire pits are high-value additions relative to their cost. Mature landscaping also improves appraised value and sells homes faster. A well-designed outdoor living space can add 10-15% to a home’s market value in the Fox Valley area.
Related Resources: Hardscaping Services | Outdoor Kitchen Ideas | Get Your Free Backyard Design Estimate
Written by BLC Yardworks — Fox Valley hardscaping, landscaping, and water feature contractors serving Oswego, Yorkville, Plainfield, Naperville, and surrounding communities since 1999.