Exterior design trends change as quickly as interior design trends do. Purchasing a property and making sure the inside is exactly as you want it to be is often the priority, which makes total sense. However, after tackling the inside, you will often find that the outside has become even more neglected and overgrown. Making over your outdoor space can pose a challenge; however, in addition to increasing your and your family’s enjoyment, a well-designed yard can also help to add value to your home. Planning any renovation or remodeling job can be incredibly stressful, which is why we have put together the following advice, so, let’s get into it.
Assess the Starting Point
Before you can get to work, you need to think about where you are starting from. Take a look around. What does your garden already have? Is there anything you want to keep or work with versus elements that you want to get rid of? It would also be beneficial to learn more about the conditions within your garden; what areas get the most light? You might also want to analyse the soil to find out if it will pose any challenges when it comes to planting or keeping the plants alive. You can then use your observations in the design of your yard.
Consider Your Needs
First things first, you will obviously need to consider the needs of your family, your personal style and any other factors that will affect the makeover, like the budget or the time that you have to maintain the yard after completion. Next, think about where your yard is versus where you want it to be. Are there any landscaping elements you want to include, things you want to keep or things that you want to get rid of? Some people find it helpful to think about the purpose of their yard; for example, those with kids might want their garden to be more geared towards them, and others might want a space to entertain or relax.
You might also want to think about the design elements that you have used inside your home and think about how you can use them outside in order to make sure everything feels cohesive. Luckily, there are no right or wrong answers. You can design your garden in any way that you choose. Your budget will likely limit your efforts in some capacities but making over your garden on a budget is entirely possible. You just might need to find some ways to save money.
Look for Inspiration
After you have considered your needs and put some thought into the different elements that you require, desire or want to avoid, you can start to look for inspiration. Now, you can find inspiration in any number of places. Obviously, the internet is a great place to find resources; there are tons of images out there to check out. You can also buy home decoration publications or even find inspiration in your local parks or the homes that you pass. Remember to snap a few pics with your phone to make sure you have something to refer back to.
You need to start compiling images and gathering your inspiration; depending on where it comes from, you could either keep it online or in physical copies. You can then begin to use those images when it comes to designing your yard. It is far better to have too much rather than too little to refer back to. This is because not everything will work in your yard, or you might have to make tweaks in order to make it work.
DIY or Don’t DIY?
The next thing that you will need to think about is whether you can execute your vision for your yard without help. Although, obviously, this will largely depend on what you want to achieve, if the work is largely cosmetic, like painting fences, clearing out overgrown plants and cutting the grass, then you will likely be able to pull it off yourself. However, if the work will be a little more involved, requiring skills beyond your skill set, then you will need to think about hiring someone.
You have a few different options. You could look into a handyman who might be cheaper; however, they often have a broad knowledge without specializing in any specific area. Depending on the work, you might want to look into a business which specializes in landscaping, like R&L Irrigation – based in Delaware, which can help you to achieve your vision.
Remember to Measure
When landscaping, it can be incredibly beneficial to take measurements of the space, which you can then use to create a visual aid to help you plan out the different zones within your garden. Drawing it out on a piece of paper using the right scale can really help. Obviously, you will need to take the measurements of the garden in its entirety to then work out what the best size for the other elements is.
It also allows you to try out different designs before committing to anything. It makes sense to start with structural elements or features that logistically cannot move, like the borders or a water feature that’s plumbed in or any decking or patio area that you might have. After you have the immovable features marked accurately, you can then begin to play around with the other features and designs until you get something that you are happy with. After you have settled on a design that you are happy with, it is simply a case of scaling up the design and applying it to the space. If you have the money to do so, you could give your sketch to a landscaper or landscaping company and have them execute your vision for you.
The Bottom Line
Pulling off a home makeover in any iteration, whether inside or out, can be a big undertaking; it does require time, energy, patience, and money. However, if you have taken the right steps and put a plan in place, things do tend to go more smoothly. The plan itself can also be invaluable when ensuring that you stay on track and, therefore, on budget too. In addition, giving your yard a makeover usually means that you and your family will get more enjoyment out of it, and it can also help to add value to your home when you come to sell it.
