Jeremiah Brent's Practical Tip For Elevating Your Outdoor Space On A Budget

HGTV's Jeremiah Brent, design expert and one-half of "The Nate and Jeremiah Home Project," has given out plenty of advice on how to make your home visually appealing over the years, and his tips for improving your garden space are equally helpful. Speaking to MyDomaine, Brent shared, "So much of what I love about a water feature is the visual it creates, but the sound is equally important." Don't have the budget for a water feature? Brent offered some alternative advice on how to take your outdoor space to the next level.

"If installing a fountain feels unrealistic, try an outdoor speaker and your favorite Spotify playlist," he suggested. "Sound is one of the biggest factors when creating an environment, and there's more than one way to address it in your space." If you're interested in creating an outdoor oasis using the HGTV star's tips, there are lots of different ways to go about it. Fortunately, even if your budget is minuscule, making your outdoor space work for you doesn't have to involve any grand changes. But a water feature will really make it sing. 

If you are interested in adding an outdoor water feature to your garden, it should be large enough to make enough noise to create the desired atmosphere that HGTV's Jeremiah Brent mentioned above. Even if you only have a small backyard area, you can still install a water feature. A standalone mini-feature is a great idea for a smaller space and won't cost as much to install. To ensure you get the full water trickle effect regardless of size, look for a feature with a higher spout. The longer the distance of the water falling from top to bottom, the louder it will be, so keep this in mind when searching for one.

There are a couple of things you should know before installing a water feature. The first is to always stick within your budget. This doesn't just mean when you're buying the feature, but also when it comes to maintenance. A bigger water feature will require more maintenance than a smaller one, especially if it has other features included like lighting or even fish. Another key thing to consider is buying a water feature that can be turned off at night. This is especially crucial if you have neighbors on both sides. You may love the relaxing sound of water trickling, but they may not find it as comforting when trying to sleep.

Moreover, most water features will require attachment to a water supply (unless you opt for a solar-powered feature). This is something to bear in mind before purchasing so you don't end up having to put your feature in the corner where it won't make much of an impact. If a water feature isn't for you, take Jeremiah Brent's money-saving advice by using a speaker to bring a better atmosphere to your garden instead. The easiest and most convenient way is to buy a Bluetooth speaker. You can then cue up different playlists for different events. Music can be a great icebreaker and is also a very budget-friendly way to create a pleasant ambiance. 

If your internet connection is too far away from your garden, you might want to invest in an internet booster so the signal doesn't drop while you're streaming music. And, similar to a water feature, it's important to be mindful of noise when playing music outdoors — especially for longer periods of time. While it's, obviously, perfectly acceptable to have people hanging out in your garden, particularly in summer, loud noise levels after a certain time may cause your neighbors to be annoyed. Whether you choose a water feature or stick with the speaker, Brent's advice means you can enjoy the garden space you do have without blowing your budget.