Do you find yourself spending time admiring the natural beauty of landscapes in your everyday life? Have you always dreamed about having a yard that looks just as beautiful? If so, this blog post is for you. We’re going to take a look at some tips and ideas for creating an outdoor space that will make all of your friends jealous.
1. Think About Your Yard
You might think that you need to go out and find the perfect turf, planters, flowers, shrubs, etc. However, the first step is to really figure out what it is that you want. Do you want a space for entertaining or are you looking for something more serene? For example, if your dream yard is filled with eclectic seating areas, water features and fire pits then chances are that it’s going to be on the loud side. Maybe all of your friends are people who love listening to music outdoors while sipping wine or beer at bars/restaurants…but maybe they aren’t. On the other hand, if your goal is to have a quiet private garden so that people can sit alone with a book, then you may want to go with a more subdued aesthetic.
When it comes down to it, the most important part of your yard is that you love it. You will spend time there and if you don’t like what you see then chances are that you won’t enjoy hanging out there as much as you would otherwise. Make sure that your dreams for your space match up with what’s possible and achievable before getting started on anything else!
2. View Other People’s Yards
This step might seem obvious but so many people forget about this one essential idea: You can learn SO MUCH from other people who have already created their dream outdoor spaces. Look at magazines, websites and even Pinterest boards dedicated to landscaping ideas – just make sure that you understand which ones apply to your specific style.
For example, if you dread the idea of mowing the lawn, then don’t go for a yard with a huge grassy area…unless you can afford to pay someone else to do it for you every week! If all of the trees in your yard are going to die in 5 years because they’re not native species then you might want to go with something that is more low-maintenance.
3.Add plants that are native to your region
One of the best ways to make sure your yard looks amazing is to plant native species. Not only will you avoid spending hours every week watering things that will eventually die, but you’ll also give bees and other important insects a place to live. These little guys are essential for keeping our planet’s ecosystems in check so it would be an absolute tragedy to kill them all off!
4. Add some fun extras
You don’t need to go out on a limb here but if you have an extra couple hundred dollars lying around then it might be worth investing in adding some fun features to your space. For example, something as simple as an outdoor rug can transform the look of any room without breaking the bank. At the same time, if you feel like creating a space for entertaining, adding some funky lights and festive tableware might be exactly what you need.
5. Create a water feature with rocks and plants
Adding a little water element to the yard is also another great thing that you can do. If you’re not careful it’s really easy for this type of idea to end up looking like something out of Disneyland (which might be cool if that’s what you’re going for but it should probably be your last priority). Instead, start with one or two rocks…place them in an interesting spot and then plant some colourful flowers around them! Then sit back and enjoy the compliments from all of your friends about how good your backyard looks š
6. Make sure there are spaces to sit
Having outdoor seating areas isn’t always essential but they can make a pretty big difference when it comes to having people over. If all of your guests have to stand around while trying to hold a drink and get one of the only seats, then this isn’t exactly going to be a fun time for anyone involved.
Instead, try to think about your yard in terms of what it would look like if you didn’t have access to any chairs/tables/benches etc. Would there still be spaces that people could enjoy? Instead of cramming all of your seating into one or two spots, create multiple points where guests can sit and relax after they burn themselves out from standing around!
7. Plant trees, bushes, and flowers in groups
When it comes to planting large groups of plants, start off by studying what other people have done. You can learn a lot from professionals but also remember that they might be using plants that aren’t native and therefore require a lot more maintenance. Start with something small…get feedback from your friends/family/neighbours and then decide if you want to go bigger!
8. Think about your outdoor lighting needs ahead of time
When siting any new piece of outdoor furniture or even just hanging out around the yard, you’re going to need access to some good lighting. As such, you’ll want to take into consideration the types of lamps that you already own as well as pinpoint exactly where they will need to go so that everything is perfectly lit.
If your house doesn’t already have a lot of lighting features, this might seem like a daunting task but it’s actually not so bad once you get the hang of it! As long as you know exactly how much light each area needs then you can go from there. Fortunately for most people, lawns are usually pretty large and therefore require a ton of spots to be well-lit š
9. Make sure all paths are clear
When you’re thinking about designing your yard, remember that certain elements (such as pathways) will be integral when it comes to making yourself and other people feel safe at night. This means that it’s really important to make sure that these areas remain open and accessible in order to avoid potential issues.
The key here is to never cut corners when it comes to thinking about safety. Make sure there are well-lit areas, sidewalks or paths that lead straight to your doors and even consider installing outdoor security cameras if you’re feeling extra cautious š
10. Create separate social spaces
If all of the people who come over want to do completely different things, then creating multiple social spaces within your backyard might be a good idea. This way you can still have beautiful scenery without everyone getting in each other’s ways! Just make sure that everybody stays on their own turf š
