Best Landscaping Ideas for Upgrading Your Outdoor Space
Your outdoor space may be the major selling point of your home. It may affect the value of your home in ways that you wouldn’t expect it to. It may also help upgrade your outdoor space, making it more picturesque and giving you a reason to spend more time in the backyard.
Now, none of this will happen without some effort on your part. With that in mind, here are some of the best landscaping ideas that you can use to upgrade your outdoor space.
Vertical garden
If you have a smaller garden or want to make it appear more complex by using all the levels of your property, there’s no better way to do so than with a vertical garden.
First, vertical gardens reduce soil erosion quite drastically, meaning that surrounding lawns will also benefit from it.
Second, vertical gardens are quite complex, meaning they give you a higher sense of accomplishment. Overall, they give you something to do all year round, a value that shouldn’t be underestimated.
Fiery element
Generally speaking, adding a few rock-based or concrete structures to your backyard can make quite a difference. Ideally, you would use the landscaping to break away from the monotony of your lawn and make a few focal points that will impact the observer.
One of the ways to do so is to add a fiery element. An outdoor fireplace or a fire pit is incredibly aesthetic, even when unused. In the evening, they serve as a perfect conversation hub and a place to gather some of your friends.
If you have the time and money, you can attempt to make a DIY fire pit. For a fireplace, you’ll still need some professional help.
Play area
Have you ever considered the idea that your kids are not playing in the backyard because there’s nothing for them out there? You want to animate your kids, and the simplest way to do so is to create a small play area. This way, they’ll spend more time outdoors, benefiting their physical and mental health.
While making a treehouse is smart because it gives your kids a unique playground while not occupying space on the ground level of your property. Still, this project is ambitious; you may want to consider something simpler.
Simply designate an area for play and add a swing and a climbable object. If you have more than one kid, installing a seesaw is generally a good idea.
Raised garden beds
Raised garden beds perform amazingly, regardless of what you plan to grow. They help improve soil quality because you usually mix them with compost and other organic matter. The drainage is better, the soil preserves the ideal temperature, and there’s no risk of stepping onto them, which reduces soil compaction.
It’s also a quality-of-life upgrade. Weed control becomes much simpler, and you get easier plant access. For those with lower back problems, not bending over too low can make a difference.
Keep in mind that, depending on the material they’re made of, how well they’re made, and what the rest of the layout looks like, raised garden beds can be a nice visual addition to your outdoor space.
Outdoor kitchen
Preparing food outdoors is more satisfactory than you’ve ever thought. After all, there’s something primal in preparing food beneath the open sky.
At the same time, this is a smart move from the budgeting perspective. You see, having an outdoor kitchen means you can prepare food outdoors, a saving grace during hot summer months. If anything, your AC unit will have an easier time keeping the place cool.
Sometimes, what the rest of your property needs is utility. Like with the kids and the playground, by giving yourself a reason to spend more time in your backyard, you’ll do so intuitively.
Hammock
Until you’ve caught a nap in the hammock, you have no idea how relaxing and stress-relieving this can be.
Also, a hammock takes up very little space; you can just “unhook” it when the colder season arrives. The biggest challenge lies in having where to hang it. Ideally, you would have two adjacent trees since this would provide abundant natural shade; even installing poles for your hammock and creating some artificial shade will work.
Hammocks are inexpensive, versatile, and playful. Even when not used, they enrich the background quite drastically. Remember that there are many different styles of hammocks, and you need to pick one that suits you the most.
Privacy screen
Another thing you should consider installing is a privacy screen. Sure, some may argue that having a hedge is better. However, there are a few downsides. For instance, it will take years for a hedge to grow to the desired height. Moreover, a hedge requires consistent trimming and pruning, while a privacy screen requires less effort.
If you want the “natural barrier” visual effect, you can create a privacy screen with a vine climbing up against it. There are many fast-growing vines out there, and by finding the right one, you can have a green, leafy cover in a matter of weeks.
Also, remember that privacy screens are incredibly simple, and you can make them independently, even with the most rudimentary carpentry skill.
Beautiful pathways
Building a pathway will add much functionality to your backyard. Generally speaking, you need something to break the lawn into patches and increase the commute-friendliness across your backyard.
The key thing to remember is that you have so many options, and they greatly vary in price.
For instance, you can go with pea pebbles as the low-cost option or pick stone pavers as the most expensive way to go. Besides this, you can go with brick pavers, concrete pavers, and even concrete slabs. It all comes down to your budget and your preferences.
Wrap up
Ultimately, your property is your canvas. With so many great decisions, you’ll have the freedom to express your creativity. Just remember that landscaping is an art. Therefore, doing some research and consulting professionals is advised.
