Apr 28, 2020 / Home Equity
Vacations are always over too soon. After a week, you’ve got a great tan and fun photos, then it’s back to real life. But what if you could slip into vacation mode anytime with the perfect retreat in your own backyard? When your outdoor space is designed like a getaway, you don’t have to go anywhere to feel like you got away!
The only thing standing between you and your at-home resort experience is an affordable way to fund it. A Utah First HELOC gives you the flexibility to create your dream setup over time, so you can start enjoying it now and keep leveling it up as you go.
Not sure what your backyard vibe even is? We’ve got you. Check out the inspiration we’ve dreamed up below, and let’s bring it to life!
This lush, layered, vacation-coded design style creates a coastal feeling through warm-weather vacay-inspired design choices that work with Utah’s climate. Here’s how you can bring the tropics home with your HELOC.
A Freeform or Lagoon-Style Pool
A pool is the anchor of this setup — specifically, a freeform or lagoon-style pool with a blue or green tile finish. An in-ground pool in Utah typically runs from $105,000–$116,000+, depending on size and features. Lock in a fixed rate on this HELOC draw, get it built, and start enjoying it while the rest comes together!
Drought-Tolerant Landscaping
As a natural phase-two draw once the pool is done, landscaping completes the vibe. Cold-climate palms (like Mediterranean Fan Palms), ornamental grasses, and drought-tolerant shrubs, layered around the pool edge, create the textural greenery of a beach getaway with minimal maintenance. Here in Utah, the cost of landscaping installation averages $2,790 to $20,750, depending on the extent of your project.
The Shade Structure
In the same way that a pool anchors the yard, a pergola anchors the lounge area of your tropical getaway. A pergola or shade sail positioned over a seating or hammock area gives your space that resort-y, intentional feel. Pergola costs depend on the size and materials you choose, as well as labor costs if you opt for a professional installation. On average, you can expect to spend between $3,000 and $13,000.
The Furniture & Accessories
Rattan or teak lounge chairs, bold botanical cushions, a hammock, string lights, and a tiki-style bar cart are the finishing details that make the whole thing click. Budget anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000 based on how far you want to take it, and draw from your HELOC as you add each piece. That’s the beauty of a flexible line!
A spa retreat is a clean, serene, wellness-forward design style focused on restoration. Incorporate warm wood tones, soft lighting, natural stone, and other calming elements that make your shoulders drop when you step outside.
The Hardscaping
Before you get too excited about finding the perfect hot tub, it’s important to get the surface right for the spa that sits on it. The hardscaping is a natural first HELOC draw, whether you go with natural stone pavers, a wood deck, or a concrete pad to create the foundation of the space. Hardscaping in Utah typically costs $5,000–$18,000+, depending on your chosen materials and square footage.
A Hot Tub or Barrel Sauna
The hot tub is the centerpiece of any spa retreat, and you’ve got options. Expect to spend anywhere from $5,000 to $16,000 for an installed hot tub, or $3,000–$10,000 for a barrel sauna, depending on size and materials. Can’t choose? Many HELOC users end up with both eventually, thanks to a flexible HELOC line that makes this phased approach completely doable.
The Lighting
Warm Edison string lights, low-profile path lighting, and soft landscape uplighting create an atmosphere that elevates your space after dark. Budget $500–$3,000 depending on scope, and draw for this as a finishing phase once the hardscaping and main feature are in place.
The Furniture & Accessories
Teak or cedar lounge chairs, thick outdoor cushions, a side table for drinks, plush towels, and a few potted evergreens for privacy screening are all great ways to put the finishing touches on your spa retreat. Budget $1,500–$4,000, and draw from your HELOC as you layer each piece in. Getting there gradually is usually the way to go!
The mountain lodge is a warm, rugged, and deeply cozy design style that turns your backyard into a favorite gathering spot. Natural wood, stone, and firelight create the kind of outdoor living room that feels as good in October as it does in July!
The Fire Pit or Outdoor Fireplace
This fireplace is the main focus of a mountain lodge backyard. A built-in fire pit with a stone surround usually runs $700–$5,000, while a full outdoor fireplace runs $1,500–$20,000+, depending on materials and complexity. Lock in a fixed rate on this draw and build around it from there!
Natural flagstone, stacked-stone edging, and a well-defined patio hardscape ground the space and give it a deliberate look.
The Pergola or Covered Structure
A covered outdoor living area is what makes your outdoor space feel like a true lodge experience rather than just a yard with a fire pit. A pergola with a ceiling fan, weather-resistant curtains, and outdoor-rated lighting extends the usable season well into fall and creates the enclosed, cozy feeling the mountain lodge vibe is all about.
The Furniture & Accessories
Built-in bench seating around the fire pit, oversized weather-resistant chairs, plaid or sherpa throw blankets, and Edison string lights are the finishing touches that make your mountain resort-inspired space feel lived-in and welcoming. Budget $1,500–$5,000 for these features, and draw from your HELOC as you build it out.
The Mediterranean villa is a sun-drenched, tile-accented, chic design style that makes your backyard feel like the Amalfi Coast. It features terracotta tones, natural stone, and a relaxed sophistication that feels both timeless and completely of the moment.
The Pool
A Mediterranean villa lives and dies by its pool. Go for classic blue tile, clean geometric lines, and a water feature, such as a spillover edge or wall fountain, that adds movement and sound to the space.
Terracotta or stone pavers, mosaic tile accents on walls or steps, and a defined patio or courtyard area create the architectural character that sets this style apart. The details are worth the investment and make the whole space look effortlessly elegant!
The Pergola & Shade Structure
A pergola draped in linen curtains or climbing vines creates the shaded lounge area that’s central to the Mediterranean outdoor living experience. It’s the spot for daybeds, dinner, and cinematically filtered afternoon light.
The Furniture & Accessories
Daybeds, wrought-iron or whitewashed-wood furniture, overhead string lights, and terracotta pots overflowing with drought-tolerant herbs and flowers pull your whole villa together. Budget $2,000–$6,000, depending on how fully you want to furnish the space, and draw from your HELOC as each piece comes together. The Mediterranean villa style rewards layering — and a flexible line of credit is the perfect way to build it.
You don’t have to have the whole backyard figured out before you apply! The whole point of a HELOC is to grow with your vision. Start with the fire pit, add the hammock the following month, then come back for the hot tub next spring. We’ll be here, and so will your revolving line of credit.
Check your home equity and see what a Utah First HELOC could do for your backyard space today!
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