Back yards are becoming summer sanctuaries for families that have been holed up indoors all winter. With the current economy in mind, many families are opting for ‘staycations’ where the home is the summer destination.

What better way to celebrate the long-awaited warm weather and longer days than with a pool party, barbecue bash or a cocktail soirée hosted in your beautifully landscaped yard?

Make a Splash

This might be the Midwest, but our summers have their share of scorchers. Lots of families opt for a pools to enjoy the summer weather and get a good workout at the same time. Pool parties are great ways to take advantage of a backyard pool.

There’s no shortage of reasons to throw a pool party — whether you’re honoring a graduate, celebrating Father’s Day or kicking off the Fourth of July with a splash.

Arvidson Pools & Spas (3209 S. Rt. 31 in Crystal Lake, 815-459-0660) has a variety of pools and spas to choose from, from inflatable to custom-built options. According to Retail Division Manager Nadine Browry, the big trend this year in pools is lighting features from equipment manufacturer Pentair Water Pool and Spa.

“People are so excited about the fun lighting available, such as cool color-changing pool lighting, floating globe lights, and glow-in-the-dark candle and beverage holders shaped like ducks and turtles,” she said. “There are floating movie projectors so you can watch a movie poolside.”

For pool owners who want to go green and say goodbye to the expense and work of adding chlorine, salt pool systems — long popular in Europe — are now gaining speed in America, according to Michele Gill, owner of Elite Pools and Spas (9114 Virginia Road in Lake in the Hills, 847-854-7767).

Although installation is costly, the savings on chlorine adds up. Plus, “Salt is softer on your skin and hair and the systems monitor and clean themselves,” Gill said. “This is a very self-sufficient and green system.”

License to Grill

The first 60-degree day in the Midwest, and you can smell the aroma of grilled meats and veggies hovering any given neighborhood. Grilling in the backyard — whether it’s on a charcoal grill or a custom outdoor range — is a rite of passage for many grill masters. Cookouts are the perfect get-together for neighbors, family and friends. Your summer grill out menu should include a variety of meats and veggies — and don’t forget kid favorites like burgers and hot dogs.

If you’re looking to take your grilling to the next level this summer, explore a bevy of state-of-the-art grills at Gulgren Appliance Inc. (424 W. Terra Cotta Ave. in Crystal Lake, 815-459-4380).

The 5,000-square-foot showroom features a huge selection of top appliances, including top brands like Holland, Viking, DCS, Wolf and GE. “We carry everything from grills starting at $750 to outdoor kitchen systems that run $4,000 and up,” Salesman Andy Kolls says. In addition to grills, other popular outdoor appliances include refrigerators, kegerators and smokers.

For a unique take on outdoor cooking, Bjorkman’s Ace Hardware (4520 Crystal Lake Road in McHenry, 815-385-3660) sells the Big Green Egg, a ceramic smoker and grill in one.

Hit the Deck

When it comes to entertaining, a tiny concrete patio slab just won’t cut it for most. But a backyard deck is the perfect setting to arrange a patio set, some planters and accent lighting. Really, a deck’s potential is only limited to the owner’s imagination (that, and budget, of course).

Scott Remodeling (in Union, 815-923-4531) specializes in constructing the ideal deck for local homeowners.

Manager Mike Scott handles deck building from concept to completion, and offers one- and multi-level decks and pool decks, as well as screened-in porches and gazebos.

Scott uses a variety of materials, such as pressure-treated wood and cellular PVC.

He has seen more business than previous years, possibly due to people spending more time at home in the current economy.

And for homeowners on a budget, he recommends a “U-Finish” package where the client supplies the drawings and obtains the permit, and Scott purchases material for and installs all concrete piers and posts, completes the house attachment, builds the entire frame and installs all railing posts. “You then purchase and install all the decking, railing and extras of your choice, which saves you time and money,” he said.

What deck is complete without trendy and comfortable outdoor furniture? The Gardens of Woodstock (5211 Swanson Road in Woodstock, 815-337-2509) makes finding the right collection simple. With everything from furniture to fountains, the outdoor entertaining mecca stocks it all.

The Summer Classics outdoor furniture line is especially popular with options in wicker and cast aluminum, and fabrics in a variety of patterns and colors.

Backyard Paradise

Outdoor parties are just not complete without a lush yard and inspired landscaping. From building a calming koi pond to simply planting some flowers and shrubs, local landscapers and nurseries can help create an outdoor oasis to beautify your next get-together.

Kathleen Carr, owner of The Growing Scene (17015 Harmony Road in Marengo, 815-923-7322) said a big trend in gardening is to make the backyard an outdoor sanctuary.

“People upgrading their landscaping through the creation or extension of patios and decks makes the home inviting when entertaining,” she said. “A good landscape design can create the feel of an outdoor room. The feel of a party can only be enhanced when you are surrounded by beautiful flowers and interesting plants underneath the canopy of flowering or shade trees.”

This is The Growing Scene’s 14th year of “helping homeowners achieve their dreams through landscaping,” Carr explained. “We handle projects of all sizes with the same level of commitment to a high-quality end result.”

Nierman Landscape and Design (1317 Lamb Road in Woodstock, 815-337-8873), which also offers landscaping services, said this year, outdoor hearths are popular. “We’re seeing a lot of outdoor fire pits and fireplaces this year,” President Tom Nierman said. “We offer [everything from] a Unilock package, which includes interlocking paving stones, to very custom options using natural stone.”

Most fireplaces are in conjunction with new patios, some which include outdoor kitchens, he said. These projects range from $350 to $15,000, he said.

Marcy Cronin, marketing director of Countryside (5301 E. Terra Cotta Ave. in Crystal Lake, 815-459-8130) agrees that outdoor kitchens are “the big thing these days. They are incredible.”

Also, recycling rainwater is a cost-effective way to irrigate the lawn and garden. “We carry a number of cool-looking rain barrels — they are very trendy this year,” she said.