Is there a way for you to draw out the whole space to scale . My thought s think about how you use what is there . Do you use the firepit? If not start there and get rid of it . THe shed can be lifted and a proper base put under it . Does grass gro well where you are ? Ihate grass it is awaste of water needs too many chemicals to keep it looking good so we have gravel , beds arounf the edge and a ton of deck which 3yrs ago we covered in fake grass and love it no more refininsing the deck every 2 years. The best I can offer os to do this for how you live , We have 2200 sq ft of deck anda pool , we live outside in the good months so the spaces are layed out like a house interior outdoor kitchen , dining space and seating space .. Your deck is an odd shape so I really need to see a to scale plan. Also share where you live .

Patricia, grass doesn't require a lot of water or chemicals. We aerate every spring, overseed when needed, and do not water at all except new grass seed. We use a mulching mower, so the grass clippings serve as fertilizer and moisture retention. If we have a long dry spell, the grass goes dormant; as soon as it rains, the grass turns green again. No watering means less mowing!

As for emcsusc's yard - I agree that a measured layout would be helpful.

We have friends with a fire pit, and they use it all the time. In fact, in 2021 we joined them for a fire at least once a month (we set a goal of a monthly fire for the whole year), even during the North Dakota winter. But we have no interest in having a fire pit in our yard, in spite of how much we enjoy theirs. Your photos don't show a wood pile - if you have regular fires, where will you obtain and store the wood? Perhaps you need to spend a summer there to see if you use it enough to justify keeping it.

You should also wait to see what comes up in the flowerbeds. We bought our current house in the fall; our first summer there I took photos of the flowerbeds every couple of weeks, to document what was blooming at different times. The space may look a lot different if a bunch of perennials come up.

Creeping red fescue doesn't need much or any watering or feeding. It doesn't even require mowing. It grows 8-10" and falls over to create 3 dimensional tufts as a ground cover. Kentucky Bluegrass requires everything.

It’s hard to give specific landscaping advice without knowing approximately where you live. Upstate New York? Des Moines? Vegas? Missoula? Nashville?

Congrats on your retirement! I’ve been fully retired for 5 years and I’m in the process of simplifying my landscaping. No more annuals in the ground, dividing easy-care existing perennials, trench edging to eliminate weedeating along brick borders, etc etc.

Good follow up questions so far! We are in southwest Ontario in Canada. I added a pic to the original post showing full layout. Looks nice from the air, but grungy on the ground. Too much dark material. Thoughts on river rock to lighten things up? Worth it?

Do you want an outdoor oasis where you can spend many hours on warm summer days or do you just want it to look great from inside the house?

I agree with the suggestion that you should live there for a full season before deciding what to do. How much time do you actually spend outdoors in the warm months? Is there a problem with heat and humidity? Biting insects? Gale force winds? Do you use the firepit? How often? Would you prefer a simple water feature to attract birds? Do weeds grow up through the stones? Does debris collect there? What's growing in the borders? Do you need the shed? It's nice looking and could really be a cute focal point if you dolled it up. But if it's wood and sitting on bare ground it's not going to hold up for long.

I'd go ahead and take care of the deck now then plan to make changes next year after you've had a chance to evaluate what works for you and your retirement lifestyle. It's a nice space so take the time to think it through. Good luck!

I’d like both options-outdoor oasis that also looks great from inside 🙂. Really good prompts to make me think. I agree about waiting to see what comes up and to take it slow. Easier said than done…I think I can manage a few aesthetic changes and will ponder what can be done for short term.
If this were a blank space with only deck and shed in place, any suggestions on “flow” , layout in terms of mulch, more perennials? I found it was a bit bare this winter even though it looked lush in summer

How much of your dirt is garden with flowers that haven't finished coming up yet? A deck surrounded by garden will be lovely. The yard as it is in these pictures needs a lot of help.

How long have you owned the house? If you bought it recently, I'd live in it for a while to see how the hole thing works. If you're not using the fire pit, for example, remove it and sod over the area around it. If the garden is lush and full and you love it or lackluster and you don't have time to weed, that's another point.

The grass looks fine to me. In general, whatever problems you have now won't be fixed with sod. You can overseed, but the easiest thing is to just be happy with a green lawn and not fuss.

You could dig chicken wire 4 to 6 feet under the ground around your shed, but the critters aren't a big problem. We love our resident fox under the neighbor's shed (on the lot line, so one entrance to Foxy's den is on our property. This year she had 6 very cute kits.

Some option

Wow not sure how you did that! The visual is so helpful and I live seeing plants and lighter stones. This is great

The layout doesn't bother me...I don't mind it.

The firepit rock is a nice base to top with a thick layer of finer gravel that is walkable. The edging is already there and above grade due to settling of the rock and as a base should be very stable.

Earth tone gravel would be nice. Ignore the blue lol.

Stepping stones in the mulch or grass to lead the eye as a wandering path among the plants or to a picnic table etc. A random line to counter the geometry in the landscape.

Paint the shed a soft sage green. And shutters for the window that actually close. I'm surprised bats or pidgeons aren't roosting in there open like that.

This she-shed is a nice color.

The covered porch seating does not look comfortable, get two comfy outdoor loveseats facing each other.

A birdbath on the flat corner behind the stacked boulders. Or on the flat rock looks like it was meant for statuary. They make solar floating water fountains to place in it for a pleasant sound. They work great, SIL has one for the swimming pool. Get adjustable spray pattern.

I found this:

To keep your bird bath water safe from potential bird flu contamination, prioritize regular cleaning with a 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water), rinsing thoroughly, and ensuring the bath is completely air-dried before refilling with fresh water. Changing the water frequently, at least every other day, and removing any debris or droppings can also help. Gloves: Wear disposable gloves when cleaning the bird bath and washing hands thoroughly afterwards.

Love this...leans into what is there but gives it a facelift! Going to work on this. Thank you for taking the time. Really appreciate the visuals!