Making an outdoor living room is a great way to increase a home’s livable square footage and is one of the more popular equity projects today. A patio should balance backyard ambiance with an indoor feel. Depending on your climate, these projects bring the most equity in the spring and summer.

A low maintenance patio is perfect for many lifestyles. While composite decking needs little maintenance, the material can be just a little too much for some budgets. A concrete pad is another low maintenance, inexpensive choice but can be a challenging do-it-yourself project. Brick pavers are a sturdy, low maintenance, cost effective and beautiful choice for a backyard patio.

While a water feature is a nice-looking addition to a backyard, it can be a high maintenance turnoff to potential homebuyers. If you don't plan on selling anytime soon, for the relatively low cost of materials and almost no cost of labor, a bubbling brook is worth the cost of enjoyment.

If a patio needs some daytime sun protection, a pergola is a non-invasive and stylish choice for shade. It blends well with craftsman architecture.