Creating Outdoor Living Spaces – The Key to Functional Landscape Design
Committing time to outdoor living spaces is a rewarding experience that benefits our health. Aside from the physical perks, a garden filled with plants and wildlife can help us relax and unwind.
Use a sculpture, water feature, or other distinctive garden object to create a focal point in your landscape design. Adding seating options can also increase the functionality of your outdoor space.
Think About the Functions of the Space
A well-designed landscape can offer a range of functions and benefits. It can allow homeowners to connect with nature, entertain guests, and add value to their homes. It can also serve as a retreat for relaxation and provide an oasis from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Contact Hyatt Landscaping today and unlock the endless possibilities of your outdoor space!
A design can also enhance the use of space by introducing transitional spaces that guide visitors from one outdoor area to another. Transitional elements include entrance gates, paving changes, planting alleys, gazebos, gate arbors, and bridges.
In addition, a design can be enriched with geometry by creating a balance of repetition and variety. Repetition contributes to unity and simplicity, while a balanced variety reduces monotony and heightens visual interest. This is achieved using different shapes, textures, forms, and colors of plants and hardscape materials (Figure 19-24).
Create a Sense of Enclosure
When people spend time in outdoor living spaces, they want to feel comfortable and protected. This sense of enclosure can be created by explicitly walled spaces or implicitly with a screen of vegetation-like trees.
Adding a sense of enclosure with lighting and heating elements is also possible. Kevin often uses string lights to add a magical twinkle to garden pathways at night, and fire pits can be added to provide warmth and comfort during cooler weather.
Achieving the right amount of enclosure in a space is crucial for making it feel inviting and where people want to spend time. It’s a balance that can be achieved through planning, zoning, and design guidelines. For example, communities may adopt standards for fence heights to establish a consistent sense of enclosure in public spaces.
Think About Lighting
Outdoor living spaces are a great way to add value to your home, entertain guests, and relax with family. They can also help improve your health by encouraging you to get out into nature, which is proven to reduce stress levels.
When planning your landscape, don’t forget about lighting. Proper lighting can highlight your space and extend its usability after the sun goes down. For example, adding a simple fountain to a garden will create an elegant focal point when lit at night.
You can even create a fun movie-watching experience for your family by attaching an outdoor projector to a pergola and hanging fairy lights. Alternatively, set up a fire pit area with comfortable seating options for everyone to cuddle around. The possibilities are endless!
Plan for Privacy
A lot of people create outdoor living spaces to host friends and family. If you plan to sit and chat outside, you want to ensure your guests have privacy.
Instead of putting up brick walls, try more organic approaches that offer natural privacy. For example, a pergola topped with billowing curtains can create a sense of enclosure while protecting guests from harsh sun or prying eyes from above.
Hedges are another excellent option for creating natural walls in your outdoor space. They can also act as a backdrop, guide movement, or create visual interest in your landscape design. When selecting hedge options, consider evergreen varieties that can provide privacy all year round. They also require less upkeep than other plants.
Think About Water
A successful outdoor living space considers the senses; nothing is more relaxing than moving water. A simple fountain can be a beautiful focal point, or you could install a small creek for a more organic look.
Benches of all shapes and sizes can add seating to a garden area. Look for weatherproof options that can withstand rain and sunlight. Chairs and pint-size stools are also good choices for seating. However, avoid overcrowding a seating area to prevent traffic patterns from getting cluttered.
A well-designed outdoor living space makes a home more comfortable while increasing value. And who doesn’t want that?
