Last Updated on February 15, 2024 by Nasir Hanif
There are many things to love about owning your own home. It becomes your sanctuary, and it’s a place where no one can tell you what you can and can’t do. One of the best parts of owning a home, however, is the fact that you have a backyard with limitless opportunities for different professional landscape designs.
If you’ve never had the opportunity to design your own outdoor living space, you might feel a little overwhelmed at the prospect. Thankfully, we’re here to help. Read on for tons of great outdoor and landscape design ideas!
Table of Contents
1. Draft Your Landscape Wishlist
Long before you buy any landscaping materials, you need to sit down and draft a master plan. There are so many different ways in which you can design your outdoor living space, it’s important to make sure that you have a theme for it.
For example, do you want it to look like a wild English garden, perfect lounging and cozying up with a book? Or would you prefer that it’s well-suited to entertain friends and family for football games and birthday parties?
Knowing what you want to get out of your yard will help you plan everything you want to do.
2. Move the Kitchen Outside!
One of the best parts of spring and summer is the fact that you can comfortably enjoy your outdoor space all day long. That means you can accomplish all of your indoor activities in the great outdoors. This includes cooking!
Transform your outdoor living space to a gourmet kitchen through the inclusion of things like a gas grill, a wood-fired pizza oven, and even a wine fridge. Not only does it make cooking more fun, but it creates an undeniably beautiful outdoor space. If you’re a cooking aficionado, then an outdoor kitchen is a must!
3. A Cozy Place to Read
Sometimes, all you want is a place to curl up and read a good book while a cool breeze blows. Your backyard can be transformed into just that!
If you have mature trees in your yard, make those the base of your reading area. Consider adding a comfy hammock to your yard between trees or on a stand. You can also add cushy patio chairs to the base of the tree if hammocks aren’t your thing.
Last, but certainly not least, you can add old-fashioned rocking chairs to a shady patio space to make for the perfect reading spot if you don’t have mature trees on your property.
4. Create a Focal Point
Want to make your yard stand out? Create a focal point in the yard and design around it.
For example, create a dramatic look by building a sweeping outdoor fireplace out of brick. Place furniture like rattan garden sofas and armchairs around the fireplace to emphasize the focus of your design.
If you’re more interested in emphasizing the landscaping, consider adding a large statue or water fountain and adding landscaping around that particular feature. There are so many options!
5. Pergola Paradise
One of the best things you can add to your yard is a beautiful pergola. Pergolas add shade to your outdoor space, while also allowing you to embrace natural sunlight.
Most people add pergolas to their patio areas. You can dress yours up by growing climbing plants like star jasmine, morning glory, or English ivy. These plants provide more shade to your patio area and make your patio cozier.
The only downside of pergolas is that they can be tricky to design and install. It’s definitely a good idea to reach out to a professional for pergola design and installation.
6. Boost Greenery with Potted Plants
The purpose of a backyard is to get in touch with the great outdoors. Adding things like furniture, fireplaces, and television sets is great, but it’s important to remember that you’re outdoors. This can be accomplished by adding more greenery to your outdoor living space.
If you have an outdoor table, add small potted plants along the middle to carry the theme of outdoor space to your patio. Add small plants that are happy in the shade to your patio to boost the amount of greenery. You don’t have to get carried away, but greenery will instantly make your landscape design more appealing.
7. Add a Water Feature
What do plants need to survive? Sunlight and water, of course! That means that adding a water feature is a great way to emphasize your landscaping.
Many people opt for a swimming pool or a spa, but those can be costly to install and maintain. You don’t have to go all out when it comes to your water feature. Something as simple as a lovely birdfeeder can be enough to add a special touch to your backyard.
8. Consider a Landscape Design Pro for Bigger Projects
Feeling overwhelmed? Is your backyard simply too big for you to tackle all on your own? Then it might be time to call in the pros!
Landscape designers are trained in making people’s landscape design dreams come true, no matter how big or small the space. They can help you determine which plants will work well with your yard, and create a focused design. It might cost a little bit more upfront, but it’ll be worth it in the long run when your backyard is everything you dreamed of!
Prepare for the Outdoor Living Space of Your Dreams!
For homeowners, a backyard is more than just land on which their house sits. It’s a place of solace and quiet, or it can be made into the best spot to gather and catch a football game. Your backyard is a blank canvas, and landscape design is the key to making your house the home of your dreams!
Life as a homeowner is pretty great, but it comes with its own set of complications. You’re bound to have lots of questions along the way. Check out the rest of our blog for the answers to your most important questions as a homeowner!
Read More: How to Create the Perfect Landscape?
