Our backyard used to be a patch of uneven dirt where grass never quite grew. We finally decided to try pavers partly because we were tired of mud, and partly because we wanted a space where people could actually sit.
What surprised me most was how much difference the prep work made. We spent almost an entire day digging, leveling, and adding base gravel. It wasn’t glamorous, but once the pavers started locking into place, everything suddenly made sense. The patio felt solid from the first step like it belonged there.
A few evenings later, we added string lights and two chairs. Nothing fancy, nothing staged for social media just a space that finally worked.
I catch myself standing there sometimes, thinking: that used to be wasted space. Now it’s part of the house.
