A great landscape should be full of color and texture, light, sound and motion. It should have a sprinkling of wildlife, lots to look at and enjoy, and even plenty to do. A great landscape can smell and taste as great as it looks, and can offer you four seasons of enjoyment – day and night!
So how do you achieve this magical unicorn of landscaping? With diverse elements, of course! That means thinking not just about the plants and flowerbeds but about all the supporting actors.
Wondering what those are? Read on! We’re sharing eight resources to get you thinking differently about landscaping, and helping you envision the outdoor space of your dreams.
1. Want A Stunning Home Landscape? Think Beyond The Plants!
It’s right there in the title! We’re starting with this one because it’s the perfect introduction to thinking differently about your landscape. Yes, plants, trees, shrubs and blooms are all part of the equation, but there are so many other elements that a view wouldn’t be the same without them.
But more than just a lovely view, these landscape elements can add usefulness and enjoyment to your space in a way that a mere flowerbed can’t. Take a look at some of the other beautiful – and functional – features that can be included in your landscape, and start envisioning a holistic scene that you can use and love all year.
2. 4 Brilliant Ways To Use Natural Stone In Your Landscape
Stone can serve as the foundation for your landscape – think patios, walkways and steps. Or it can serve as an accent, in the form of gravel cover, oversized boulders as a focal point, or stone gardens.
However you use it, don’t overlook the beauty and functionality that natural stone can bring. See how stone plays a role in everything from ponds to walls and start thinking about how you might be able to enjoy it in your space.
3. 5 (More!) Creative Ways To Use Natural Stone In Your Landscape
You can never really have enough stone, can you? It plays host to summer fun (would a pool be as fun without the surrounding patio to lounge on?) and looks great all winter long after blooms and greenery have faded. It’s incredibly low-maintenance, and it comes in so many varieties, with so many options for using it, that you’re only limited by your imagination.
Use it to build, use it to accent, use it in décor. Whatever you do, use it! These are a few more ways you can enjoy the beauty and benefits of stone.
4. You’ve Thought About Landscaping. How About Hardscaping?
What comes to mind when you think of hardscapes? Do you imagine a patio, or something strong and foundational? That’s a good start, but when it comes to landscape elements, there’s a lot that can fall under the umbrella of “hardscape”. And it’s all gorgeous and infinitely useful!
Find out why you need hardscapes, what’s included in this category, and how you can beautifully incorporate them into your outdoor space.
5. Transform Your Outdoor Living Experience With The Right Seating
Seating is arguably the most important element you can include in your space if you want to truly use and enjoy it. It’s foundational to just about everything you can do outdoors – lounging, relaxing, koi-watching, dining, entertaining, gathering around a fire pit, even watching movies, playing games, or just sitting and appreciating your gardens.
But that doesn’t mean you can plunk down a few benches or chairs wherever you see fit. There is an art to great seating, with so many varieties and styles that you really need to find the right one to suit you. Start here with this guide to making great seating choices.
6. 6 Captivating Ways To Include Water In Your Landscape Design
Few things are as soothing, as healing, as truly blissful as the sight and sounds of water. Whether it’s a sparkling koi pond, a bubbling waterfall or a tiny water garden outside your patio door, there is something fundamentally therapeutic about watching and listening to water.
It’s just as great for your landscape as it is for your soul. And it will invite wildlife into your yard for an extra layer of enjoyment. Here are some ways that you can incorporate water, whatever the size of your space.
7. Outdoor Lighting Ideas To Create Your Own Personal Paradise
You’ve got the plants. You’ve got the water features. You’ve got the patios, structures and hardscapes. You’ve even got great seating from which to enjoy it all. But something is missing.
To truly enjoy your landscape, not just “sometimes” when the conditions are right, but all the time, you need to add lighting! After all, there are more hours than just the ones between sunrise and sunset, especially during fall and winter when nights are longer.
Don’t be fooled thinking a few runway lights along a walkway are enough! Check out some of the stunning and useful ways that lighting can be included in your landscape, and start imagining how much more you’d enjoy – and appreciate – your outdoor space with it.
8. 8 Ways Outdoor Audio Can Make Your Time Outside More Fun
We’re concluding with a landscape element that you may never have considered at all. We take it for granted in other areas of our lives – in our living rooms and offices, in our cars and in the grocery store. But we often forget all about it the minute we step outside. We’re talking about music!
Unplug your headphones, put away the boom box and see how outdoor audio can make a world of difference to your experience. Enjoy the sounds of nature set to your favorite background tunes, or turn it up for a party. However you use it, outdoor audio is the icing on the landscape. Check out some of the ways it can make a great experience even better.
Today we’ve shared some ways that “other” landscape elements can enhance and extend your outdoor experience. But there are so many more ways to make your time outside more enjoyable, pleasant and meaningful. If you’d like to discuss a landscape design that fits your unique needs, personality and lifestyle, contact us for a consultation. Our landscape and pond designers are here to make your dreams come true.
