When designing or renovating a home it can be easy to get lost in details pertaining to the faucets used throughout the bathrooms and laundry areas and the size of the bedrooms. However, equal thought must be given to both the front and backyard.
The front yard is the first chance your home has to make an impression on guests, whether they be family, friends or the postman. As such, the front yard needs to be a reflection of what to expect from the rest of the home.
While the backyard is by nature situated at the posterior of the home, it is an important space. Particularly when you consider the trend towards making a backyard an outdoor oasis that preaches privacy, functionality and comfort.
By designing or renovating the front and backyard with thoughtfulness in mind, these outdoor spaces can transform from transitional places into functional and beautiful spaces that, above all else, are inviting.
Essential landscaping ideas for your front yard
When it comes to landscaping a front yard homeowners need to strike a delicate balance. You want to create a space that is a suitable first impression for the home, yet something that is also low-maintenance so that you can enjoy the space rather than spending all your time tending to it.
1: Creating a welcoming entrance
With this in mind, make an effort to create an entrance to the home. This can be achieved by laying down a pathway that is illuminated by outdoor lighting. This will work to give your home a clear entrance point in both the light of day and during the night.
To further highlight the entrance, you might choose to install something unique such as a water feature or even a statement plant. Think of a large established tree or bushes that are vibrant and lively, whatever matches the style of your home best.
2: Choosing low-maintenance plants
One of the ways a home’s front yard can make an impression while still being low-maintenance is by featuring the right plants. Native plants that can thrive in the weather conditions typical of your climate are non-negotiable.
By choosing plants that can withstand weather conditions you can enjoy many benefits. Firstly, healthy plants can help add to the aesthetic picture of your home. Secondly, having low maintenance plants reduces the time you need to spend watering and weeding.
3: Incorporating hardscaping elements
Another great tip when it comes to front yard landscaping is the notion of incorporating hardscaping. This means things like pavers and stone walls or even decorative rocks. These additions help lay the foundation for easy maintenance.
For one, these elements take up space so you don’t have to worry about tending to a large lawn. Additionally, these hardscaping elements create focal points where you can retreat with your morning coffee or even sit down for a good catch-up with neighbours.
Maximising functionality in your backyard
There are so many different ways to design and fit out a backyard. By taking steps to maximise functionality, you can create a backyard that doubles as an outdoor entertaining area or even a private oasis you can retreat to amidst the chaos of life.
4: Designing outdoor living areas
To play into the idea of outdoor living you can create a space that invites people to sit and eat or sit and chat. From the inclusion of patios and decking to things like fire pits and rock gardens, outdoor living areas can be designed to either add a point of difference or flow on from the existing home for seamless indoor-outdoor living.
5: Creating privacy with strategic planting
Most homeowners will have to contend with neighbours. This means hearing their conversations or feeling as if their house looks right into your backyard. To help create privacy, you can use everything from the addition of sunrooms and furniture pieces to planting to create privacy.
With strategic planting and planning, you can position trees and other shrubbery to block out your neighbour’s side of the fence without going too high or so dense that you end up blocking out the sun and its natural light.
6: Sustainable landscaping practices
When designing a backyard it’s also important to note that there are ways to infuse the process with sustainability. From eco-friendly pavers and decking material to the creation of composting areas, you can create a space that increases sustainability.
Balancing aesthetics and functionality in landscaping
One of the hardest things about designing outdoor spaces is trying to make them equal parts aesthetically pleasing and functional. With a few simple tips, outdoor design can be a seamless experience.
7: Combining soft scapes and hardscapes
One of the best tips is to combine softcapes with hardscapes. For example, those who opt to build a deck or patio might consider installing vertical planters, hanging plants or even growing ivy on lattices to play into the notion of being outdoors.
8: Using colour and texture
When thinking about outdoor design the colour palette typically revolves around greens and other natural colours. By picking colourful flowers and planting little gardens at the perimeter of a patio or decking, you can add something different to your outdoor space. Once you have the planting sorted, you can look for furnishings that feature the same colours in order to create a cohesive space.
9: Lighting and water features
One of the main reasons to create an outdoor space is to be able to use it. By paying attention to details such as installing lighting, you can ensure that you can comfortably eat and entertain family and guests no matter the hour.
Other elements of detail will pertain to how you envision using your outdoor space. Some people might want a backyard oasis. To play into this vibe, consider installing water features that will provide a calming and serene backdrop.
Low-maintenance landscaping tips to boost resale value
For those looking to renovate their front and backyards with a view towards selling the home, it’s important to note that there are small but powerful steps you can take to help improve resale value.
10: Mulching and ground covers
The fast-paced nature of modern living means that people want to enjoy their homes rather than waste precious time maintaining lawns, gardens and other features. To cater to this growing market, consider reducing your lawn size through the use of mulch, pavers and even ground covers.
By incorporating these tips you can drastically cut down on the time spent watering and weeding without compromising on elements of aesthetics. All of which creates the perfect yard in the eyes of potential buyers.
11: Automating irrigation and lighting
Taking the time to install smart irrigation systems and automated lighting undoubtedly adds value. Offering seamless maintenance and functionality, these features highlight to potential buyers that the home is easy to both manage and maintain.
12: Year-round interest
Oftentimes people wait to put their home on the market during spring as the garden is in full bloom and the lawn is vibrantly green. In order to avoid being limited to selling in a peak season, look to landscape with plants and features that can shine in all seasons.
By creating a yard that looks inviting all year long you increase two vital things. Firstly, curb appeal and secondly, the perceived value of your home. All of which make quite an impression on buyers.
The importance of front and backyard landscaping
The front and backyards are extensions of your home. These areas work to create a great first impression that invites guests inside and an oasis where you can retreat to no matter the time of day.
By planning both front and backyard landscaping strategically, homeowners can add value to their house through improved aesthetics and functionality without sacrificing valuable free time on maintaining such areas.
Whether you are thinking about the future marketability of your home or you’re wanting to create aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces, start your landscaping journey today with the help of Artilux.
