The 6 PM Test: Why Your Backyard Fails (And How to Fix It)

By Haley Tew

Here's a simple test: It's 6 PM on a Tuesday. You just got home from work. Dinner's done, dishes are in the sink, and you have two hours before the evening routine takes over.

Do you walk outside to your backyard? Or do you sink into the couch?

If you're honest, you probably choose the couch. And that's not because you don't love the idea of being outside. It's because your backyard is failing the 6 PM test.

What Is the 6 PM Test?

The 6 PM test is the moment of truth for any outdoor space. It's that brief window after work, after dinner, before bedtime when you have a choice.

Will you spend it outside? Or will you default to the living room, the TV, your phone, the familiar comfort of air conditioning and soft cushions?

Most backyards fail this test every single night. Not because the homeowners don't want to be outside, but because the space doesn't give them a reason to choose it.

When I design outdoor spaces, this is the metric that matters most. Not how it looks in photos. But whether you'll choose it on a random Tuesday at 6 PM when no one's watching.

Why Most Backyards Fail the Test

I've walked through hundreds of backyards in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. Beautiful homes. Expensive landscaping. And yet, nobody's using them.

Here's what I see over and over:

There's nowhere comfortable to sit

You have a patio table with metal chairs that haven't been sat in since last Thanksgiving. Maybe two plastic loungers by the pool. Nothing that makes you think, "I want to curl up there with a book."

Compare that to your living room couch. Deep cushions. Throw pillows. A blanket within arm's reach. Of course you're choosing the couch.

It's uncomfortable at 6 PM

In Arizona, 6 PM in July still means 105 degrees. If you don't have shade, misters, or fans, you're not sitting out there. Period.

There's nothing to do

You walk outside and then... what? Stare at the fence? There's no fire pit to gather around. No outdoor kitchen to putter in. No reason to linger.

Inside, there's the TV, the snack drawer, the cozy corner where you always sit. Your backyard has no equivalent.

It goes dark

By 7 PM, your backyard is pitch black except for one harsh security light that makes everything feel like a parking lot. No ambiance. No warmth. No reason to stay.

It feels like work

Every time you think about going outside, you have to drag chairs out of the garage, clear off the table, sweep the patio. It's a project, not a retreat.

The couch? You just sit down.

What a Backyard That Passes the 6 PM Test Looks Like

Now imagine this:

It's 6 PM. You step out your back door onto a covered patio. The ceiling fan is already on, creating a gentle breeze. You sink into a deep-cushioned sectional that's just as comfortable as your living room couch, maybe more.

Soft landscape lighting has already kicked on automatically. Path lights lead to the fire pit. Uplighting makes the desert trees glow. String lights overhead create a canopy of warmth. It doesn't feel like your backyard anymore. It feels like a resort.

Your partner is at the outdoor kitchen. Your kids are at the fire pit, arguing over who gets to light it. Nobody had to be convinced to come outside. This is just where everyone naturally ended up.

An hour passes. Then two. You realize you haven't looked at your phone once.

That's a backyard that passes the 6 PM test.

The Five Elements Every 6 PM-Ready Backyard Needs

You don't need a million-dollar budget to pass the 6 PM test. But you do need intention. Here are the five non-negotiables:

1. Seating that competes with your couch

Deep cushions. Weather-resistant fabric. Enough room to sprawl. If it's not as comfortable as your living room furniture, you won't choose it.

2. Year-round comfort

In Arizona, this means shade structures, ceiling fans, and misters for summer. Fire pits and heaters for winter. If your outdoor space is only usable 4 months a year, you're losing 8 months of potential use.

3. Lighting that extends the day

Landscape lighting on timers. String lights for ambiance. Path lighting for safety. If your backyard goes dark at sunset, you've cut your usable time in half.

4. A reason to gather

Fire pits are the ultimate gathering magnet. Outdoor kitchens give you a reason to cook outside. Water features create soothing soundscapes. You need a focal point. Something that pulls people out and keeps them there.

5. Zero friction

Everything should be ready to use at a moment's notice. Furniture stays outside. Cushions are stored nearby. The fire pit has a gas starter. If using your backyard requires 15 minutes of setup, you'll skip it every time.

What a Remodel Actually Costs

Let me be straight with you about numbers:

$75,000 to $150,000: The Essentials Remodel

Covered patio extension, quality outdoor furniture, landscape lighting, fire pit, upgraded desert landscaping. This gets you functional, comfortable, and attractive. You'll pass the 6 PM test.

$150,000 to $350,000: The Full Experience

Everything above plus: outdoor kitchen with built-in grill and bar seating, pool resurfacing or new pool, water features, multiple gathering zones, upgraded hardscaping, built-in sound system. This is where your backyard becomes an extension of your living space.

$350,000+: The Resort-Level Transformation

Custom pools with grottos and swim-up bars, full outdoor kitchens with pizza ovens, expansive ramadas, putting greens, bocce courts, custom water features. This is the backyard you don't want to leave.

The Real Question

The real question isn't "Can I afford it?" It's: How much is it costing you NOT to fix it?

Every night you choose the couch over your backyard, you're losing time. Time you could be spending outside with your family. Time unwinding in your own private retreat instead of scrolling your phone on the sofa.

If a well-designed outdoor space gives you even one extra hour outside per week, that's 52 hours a year. Over five years, that's 260 hours. Nearly 11 full days of time you wouldn't have spent together otherwise.

That's worth remodeling for.

Take the 6 PM Test Tonight

Here's what I want you to do:

Tonight at 6 PM, walk out to your backyard. Stand there for 60 seconds. Ask yourself honestly:

• Would I choose to sit here right now?
• Is this comfortable?
• Is there anything inviting about this space?
• Would my family naturally gather here?

If the answers are mostly no, you're failing the test. And that's okay. Most people are.

But now you know what to fix. And more importantly, you know why it matters.

Because the goal isn't to have a beautiful backyard that looks good in photos. The goal is to have a backyard you actually use. A space that competes with the couch and wins.

A backyard that passes the 6 PM test, every single night.

Haley Tew is the founder of Lavender Landscape Design, specializing in outdoor living spaces in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley that families actually use. With a focus on year-round comfort and intentional design, Haley helps homeowners transform neglected backyards into spaces that pass the 6 PM test every night.

Ready to create a backyard you'll actually choose at 6 PM? Schedule a consultation to discuss your remodel.

‍