Best 10 Design Tips To Spruce Up Your Yard
A garden makes for the perfect space to relax and spend time with family and friends. Adding different elements to the yard to suit the owners’ needs would make it even more appealing to relax and enjoy the space.
Designing the best possible area that would bring enjoyment to all who visit could be challenging when we don’t know where to start. A few pointers on the available options could help decide what to do with the yard.
These design tips to spruce up your yard should be inspiring enough to get you jumping at the opportunity:
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Planning Of The Space
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There is more to planning than just deciding where things should go. Other considerations like the functionality of the space could also weigh in.
When looking at the yard, decide the main activities and design around those activities. If the entertaining of guests will make out a big part, add a patio or barbeque area or perhaps a fire pit. Comfortable seating would be a must too.
It could be helpful to sit down and draw a rough sketch of the area to start forming an idea of what the outcome could look like when done. Keeping an open mind would help at this point of the process because there may be many additions along the way.
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Professional Opinions
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Asking someone like Bend Pine Nursery Landscape Design and other similar companies could open up many new possibilities. The yard could be transformed into a slice of paradise with a fresh pair of professional eyes.
Landscapers look at a garden differently than a layperson would. They may see a three-dimensional space instead of the sometimes-flat view of others. Adding elements to each dimension would draw the line of sight in different directions, making beholders appreciate all the viewpoints.
Angles may make a garden look bigger or focus on a specific point. Focal points can be anything from babbling fountains to beautifully trimmed topiaries. Both of these aspects would have to fit in the garden, and the space and professionals could help find the right ones for each area.
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Spend Time In The Space
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Each space is unique in a way. To know the garden would mean that some time would have to be spent getting to know it.
In which direction is the garden facing? Are there any spots that nothing wants to grow? How much sun does it get and where? These are some of the questions to ask before starting the yard renovation.
The climate of the area would also have to be considered. If you have lived in the area for some time, you would know how hot the summers are and how cold the winters could become. It would influence the type of landscaping you would have in the garden.
Rainfall, or the lack thereof, could change the kind of added plants, and having a water feature in a dry climate could create the illusion of an oasis in the desert.
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Begin Small, Expect Big
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Some people may prefer to start by changing something small before committing to a significant change. Remember that plants will grow and cover some of the open areas, which could change the garden’s whole outlook.
If the thought of doing the whole yard seems overwhelming, start in one corner and let it grow on you. Keep adding elements next to it until the entire garden is done. This systematic approach could give some much-needed thinking time.
As time goes on, it may get easier to notice where the gaps in the design are. Choose the element that would fill this gap perfectly to supplement the overall look. It may be as simple as adding more curves to the garden with stone pathways or trimmed hedges.
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Creating A Flow
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It won’t be necessary to go full-on Feng Shui in the garden. Just create a flow that would make you want to wander through the garden aimlessly, thinking of everything and nothing.
Adding some hidden elements to explore could give the garden an Alice In Wonderland feel. Japan and other oriental countries create hidden spaces by planting overgrown hedges and having archways that lead into a smaller sitting area with pebbles and comfortable seating.
A little reading nook hidden beneath thick, leafy trees could be just what the garden needs. A hammock or swing chair could also make for the ideal relaxation spot. Get creative and make a gazebo from scratch with plants covering the structure to create a hideaway from the hot summer sun. Gravel or stone paths leading to the hidden spots could flow into the space.
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Add Accessories
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Now is the time to use all those unwanted items destined for the rubbish heap. Upcycle anything you’d like, from old metal buckets to shoes and more, to add quirky elements to the garden.
These unique features could spark conversations and give the garden a personal touch. Old glass containers could create a cute succulent garden or plant some herbs for cooking. Bicycles that are no longer fit for use could be a beautiful addition between the thick shrubbery or the hidden areas to add to the mystery.
Bird ponds and feeders could attract more birds to the garden to delight everyone with their sweet songs. Ensure that the water and feed are filled regularly, sit back, relax and enjoy!
Another favorite will be old wheelbarrows and even full-size cars if the space allows it. Water features like fountains and ponds are popular too. It could be anything that would add some extra flair to the garden.
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Plant More Edibles
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Fruit, vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, and anything else on a plate can be planted and harvested when needed.
Make your own raised bed planters for the vegetables, herbs, and flowers to keep close to the kitchen door. This way, darting out to quickly get some dill from the garden is much easier. Edible flowers are a cute addition to kitchen windows in planters set up just within reach outside.
Family and friends would not believe that the ingredients for the Sunday lunch were mainly from the garden and that the salad at the barbecue was homegrown.
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Light It Up
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Gardens can be enjoyed at night just as much as they would during the day. Adding lighting to strategic or specific areas or spaces could illuminate all the beauty after dark.
Perfectly positioned spotlights could enhance the exquisite landscaping, while a dimly lit fire pit area could bring more ambiance. Understanding how the space will be used could be a good indicator of the type of lighting needed.
Temporary mood lighting in the form of fairy lights or candles would be perfect for a romantic evening with dinner on the patio or string some rope lights over the pergola and along the pathways.
Solar options are available for more extensive gardens or when installing electrical connections is not an option. Most of them can be planted into the ground. Around the plants, next to the garden paths, or even buried next to stepping stones to show the way. You can Learn More About: How To Light a Fire Pit.
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Define The Boundaries
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Are those nosy neighbors snooping around again? No problem! Use a thick shrub wall as a way of keeping them out.
If putting up a fence seems too stark, plant one instead. Not only does it give a more natural look to the garden, but it could also grow thick enough to define the boundaries of the yard still. This technique could be used in other places for those who prefer this method of walling off an area.
With the increased use of outdoor showers, these growing walls could offer the perfect amount of privacy while enjoying the fresh outdoor smell to go with a lovely shower.
Specific areas of the yard could be defined by using hedges. Create a low hedge fence around the swimming pool or barbecue area, or a slightly more raised version for patios. Whatever you would like to add privacy could be done using boundary-defining hedges.
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Be Patient
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Like they say: ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day,’ neither is a beautifully landscaped garden. It may take some time for all the elements to come together before it looks like the planned version.
While everything is coming together, be patient and enjoy the process. Watching the plants grow and transform the space gradually could be very rewarding. Before starting the big project, remind yourself that there will be times when things won’t look put together yet.
Growing It Together
When choosing to renovate the garden, planning would be the first step. Taking hands with a professional could make the whole process smooth sailing, but remembering why the renovation would be done gives the project meaning. Whether it is to enjoy the space with family and friends or create a private getaway, options are available for you.
Adding more features to the garden that would encourage rest or relaxation would eventually feel like a slice of heaven in the backyard, never mind the curb appeal. That could be enough motivation to get growing.
