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Anyone who owns a home can attest to the fact that landscaping not only improves the aesthetics of your home but also leaves you feeling fulfilled and at peace with your space. However, creating the ultimate outdoor area is definitely not a walk in the park. It requires patience, planning and resources. Tasks such as building a patio may seem quite easy and straightforward, yet can end up being extremely daunting.
Let’s explore several useful tips that you can employ as you develop your outstanding outdoor space.
1. Seek Inspiration
Believe it or not, you don’t necessarily need to seek the services of a professional landscaper to create an amazing outdoor space. The internet has so many amazing ideas in this particular niche, and you can use them to come up with a design for your garden, patio or terrace. Social media sites such as Pinterest are full to the brim with ideas and pictures you can use to create an outdoor design of your dreams. Soe there are actually quite a number of things that you can do by yourself and you could end up saving money in the process.
2. You may require professional help
While you might not require to hire a professional for the entire project, you may want to bring in expert help and services for some of the more crucial elements. For instance, slight mistakes made when installing a patio design can be costly. Patios that are installed incorrectly are not only unsightly but can also be dangerous as they tend to be uneven and may lead to drainage issues that can eventually damage your home’s foundation. You may, therefore, want to consider hiring landscapers to pave a patio, particularly if it’s big. Even for tasks that you will attempt yourself, it is wise to consult with a professional to avoid making mistakes that could cost you hours of work and numerous resources.
3. Making the most of your outdoor space when entertaining
Most of us occasionally want to invite friends over for a barbecue or pool party but have no idea how to spice up our outdoor spaces. Whether you have a small or big patio or backyard, it’s very easy to make the most out of your space, especially when entertaining. For those with small patios or backyards, you can maximise on space by keeping furniture and barbecue grills to the side and leaving the middle space open. You can also place colourful rugs on stone steps as a means of providing extra seating for your guests. Additionally, consider using smaller tables to place food on, as a huge table might take up a lot of space.
Because patio tables tend to take up a lot of valuable space, you can be creative by setting up a multipurpose counter island in the middle of your patio, complete with bar stools. What this means is that you will have come up with an area for food preparation, eating, and outdoor entertainment – with only one piece of furniture.
4. Take advantage of DIY’s
This is especially so when it comes to furnishing. Buying furniture for your outdoor spaces can be quite expensive, and almost impossible when you have a tight budget. However, this should not discourage you as it is very easy to create amazing furniture by yourself. All you need to do is look up DIY’s on the same and trust me, you will find thousands of them. DIY’s will also come in handy when you’re decorating your outdoor space.
5. Split up your landscaping project into phases
This is beneficial in a number of ways. First, few people can afford to landscape their entire outdoor space in one go. Dividing the process into phases will help you save up for the next phase of the project. Secondly, by not doing the entire process in one instance, you can comfortably implement any new changes or ideas that come up along the way. Thirdly, splitting the process helps you monitor progress effectively.
6. Furnishing the area
As indicated earlier, DIY’s are a goldmine of inspiration when it comes to furnishing your outdoor space. Needless to say, they also help you save a lot of money. However, you need to be extremely thoughtful about the kind of furniture you put in your outdoor space. For instance, for small patios, you might want to consider large floor pillows and small chairs to create the illusion of comfort and coziness in the area. Additionally, this will help make the area appear more spacious. Take advantage of the ‘revive not replace’ concept. This means that instead of throwing out your old outdoor furniture, you can revive it by redecorating it or even applying a fresh coat of paint. This saves you loads of money in the long run.
Another creative idea is getting furniture pieces that serve two functions. For instance, furniture with storage compartments provides extra seating and can also be used to store decorative pieces that are not used frequently. A two-in-one bench with a lounger can also be used to seat extra people and at the same time helps maximise space.
7. The right light
Your outdoor space is totally incomplete without the right kind of lighting. The good thing is, you can also use lighting to add an extra touch of uniqueness to your space. The right kind of lighting helps create a cozy ambiance whether it’s for evening summer barbecues or drinks by the pool. Jimmy Duhig, creator of Creative Lighting Design in San Francisco recommends just a little ambient lighting. This means hanging strings of light on branches, the deck, fence, and tree branches. For extra oomph, one can add hurricane lanterns and tea lights.
8. Outdoor heating
If you’ve been looking for ideas on how you can expand the use of your outdoor space, then installing an outdoor heater might just be the solution you are looking for. With the correct heating, you will gradually find yourself using your outdoor space not only during the summer but also during cooler seasons. There’s a myriad of heating options to choose from such as portable heaters and built-in fireplaces. Over the past few years, bioethanol outdoor fireplaces have gained popularity, and for good reason. These fires are environmentally friendly, in that they use renewable energy sources, which don’t produce harmful emissions. They are also conveniently portable, as they do not need a utility connection. They have been deemed as perfect for nearly all types of outdoor spaces including gardens, patios, pool decks, and terraces.
In conclusion, it is clear that landscaping is a very engaging process. This is why it is very important to not only plan ahead but to also do thorough research on whatever design you want to implement on your outdoor space. Remember that large and small mistakes alike cost large amounts of money and you, therefore, need to be very careful and evaluative with every single decision you make. That being said, remember not to underestimate your own designing skills, there is still a lot you can do without needing to engage a professional.
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