Hardscaping has become a popular trend in recent years for folks looking to beautify the outside of their homes. While landscape design deals with things like your trees, lawn, and garden, hardscape design covers all the non-living stuff like your rocks, concrete, pathways, etc.
Homeowners who undertake a hardscape design project will usually end up with an exterior they will greatly enjoy, as well as enhance the value of their home. There are a few areas to focus on to make the hardscaping a success.
First, let’s take a look at the sculptures and planters. It is important here to look for the proper balance. Flower plants in your yard and garden are great, but you need to be careful not to overdo it. If you have too many of these things, it will start to take over your yard, and it will be difficult to highlight any of the other features. See to it that you strike the right balance of planters with flowers, and well as sculptures, for the size and shape of your yard.
Retaining walls are another hardscaping element that can do wonders for your yard. The main purpose of an exterior retaining wall is to hold back the soil from erosion and keep the landscaped areas in place. Retaining walls can also be useful as a border to divide one area of the yard from another. When you have areas of your yard that are unattractive, retaining walls can be strategically placed to cover them up so visitors don’t see them and they don’t become a hindrance when it comes time to sell your home.
Pavers or bricks are another element of hardscaping that can greatly enhance the look and attractiveness of the home’s exterior. Many homeowners these days build walkways or even patios out of bricks or pavers. There are several potential advantages to using these materials instead of traditional concrete. First, bricks and pavers come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. For whatever style you are trying to achieve, there is usually a design available that will make a perfect match for your home.
Another reason using brick or paver is popular is that many homeowners can install it themselves without the need for a professional. Of course, you need to know what you’re doing and have a general idea of how you want the finished product to look. But if you have all that, then hardscaping a walkway or even a patio without the help of a professional can be accomplished.
Overall, hardscape design is an increasingly popular way to create the home exterior of your dreams. It goes hand in hand with traditional landscaping of the plants, trees, gardens, etc. create a design that will be aesthetically pleasing and significantly increase the value of your home.
