Turn your backyard into an idyllic garden retreat perfect for relaxing and entertaining, regardless of its style — be it rustic, modern, or a blend of both! There are various methods available to you when creating a breathtaking landscape design.
Add structure to a small garden with paths and borders composed of flagstone or gravel, then fill any difficult-to-access spots using smaller plant varieties such as flowers.
Fire Pit
Fire pits provide the ultimate outdoor experience, inviting guests into your space long into the evening and creating a welcoming, year-round destination in your garden.
Modern fire pits come in all sorts of styles and materials, from sleek urban designs to organic concrete forms that blend harmoniously into your landscape. Stephens Design Studio created this verdant space complete with a Paloform fire pit which blends in perfectly with the surrounding lush greenery.
Green Wall
Green walls provide numerous environmental and personal benefits. It purifies air, lowers ambient temperature and increases biodiversity.
Green walls can be constructed using loose soil, mat media or structural media depending on the types of plants being used to construct them. They provide an opportunity for food cultivation within limited spaces while adding visual interest through plants with differing colors and textures.
Trellis
Trellis are an elegant way to frame an entrance or draw attention to architectural features on your home, whether its traditional lattice design or unexpectedly creative structure is chosen. A garden innovation provides endless possibilities when designing this outdoor feature.
An inexpensive wall-mounted trellis is an efficient way to grow trailing clematis or blackberries on its branches while keeping vegetables off of the ground where they might rot or be eaten by pests.
Lush Pathways
Garden pathways can serve more than a utilitarian purpose – they’re also an opportunity to show off bold contrasts, playful accents, and the natural beauty of plants. By applying design principles properly, pathways can become beautiful works of art all their own
Proportion: Strike a balance between your pathway and garden canvas as a whole. Gleaming concrete pavers add an earthy palette, while gravel adds textural variation.
Water Feature
Water’s soothing sound brings peace and serenity, whether that means enjoying its beauty in a serene pond, rushing waterfall or bubbling fountain in your outdoor space.
Water features provide more than aesthetic value; they attract wildlife such as birds and amphibians to your yard, helping humidify dry climates by adding humidity.
Solar-Powered Outdoor Lights
Solar-powered outdoor lights use motion-sensing technology to bring illumination into any garden at the touch of a button. Solar panel-powered lights soak up sunlight during the day and store energy to light your space at night without adding anything extra to your energy bill.
Solar spotlights or string lights can add the perfect ambience for garden paths or outdoor gatherings, illuminating features or providing a welcoming ambiance for guests.
Layered Landscape
Plants add life and dimension to your outdoor space, and layering plants into distinct groups creates a diverse and eye-catching landscape.
Plan your back layer with large shade trees and shrubs, followed by medium-sized shrubs and perennials in the middle layer and, finally, ground cover plants to enclose your garden.
Height, texture and color variations will bring life and variety to any landscape layered garden. Try mixing soft textures against hard ones, spikes against curves or light green against dark green to bring interest and vibrancy.
Outdoor Furniture
No matter the size or layout of your backyard or patio, selecting appropriate furniture and decor can transform it into an inviting outdoor retreat. From wicker chairs and tables to storage ottomans, there are numerous items available that will enhance any garden.
Bring eye-catching colors into your garden for a cohesive and expansive aesthetic. Patterned throw pillows matching your indoor color scheme or water features such as koi ponds will provide visual interest while also offering peaceful sounds and atmosphere.
Lush Plants
Plants of various sizes and shapes can instantly turn a balcony into an inviting green haven. Just add colorful flowering plants, fragrant herbs, or decorative ground covers for an instantly lush aesthetic.
Hydroponic garden gadgets such as Zooey Deschanel’s CURA or Miracle-Gro’s AeroGarden make it simple and year-round to grow vegetables, flowers and herbs – plus companion planting can even help control pests!
Outdoor Lighting
Lighting can transform your garden into an irresistibly captivating nighttime escape, not only extending usability into the evening hours but also increasing safety and functionality.
Path lights help illuminate walkways and prevent falls, while accent lighting highlights decorative features like garden sculptures or architectural features. String lights or lanterns create an inviting ambiance in outdoor seating areas for additional warmth.
