Top Tips to Make the Most of Your Large Outdoor Space
Do you wish to have extra space in your home? We are used to maximizing our living spaces, looking for effective ways to store more while making rooms appear bigger. While it’s true that balancing the two can be difficult, we seem to be overlooking the most underused asset in our homes: outdoor space. In addition to contacting a Greenwich landscaping professional, here are a few tips to help you make the most of your large outdoor space.
This is a fantastic addition to any property, as well as one of the most versatile. Having an apartment in the city that has a spacious balcony, terrace, or roof deck is most city dwellers’ dream. For those in the suburbs, having a green backyard is practically a requirement. Having a garden is like having an extra room, fantastic for gardening, playing, al fresco dining, and much more. Most people view their outdoor spaces as an afterthought and assume they’ll have to spend a fortune on extravagant features, but nothing could be further from the truth. With a little planning you can turn your outdoor space into a stylish, comfortable, and functional space –and on a budget.
Establish Traffic Patterns
Your outdoor space will work better if traffic patterns are established. This can be done in a variety of ways, including planting trees or shrubs to create corners and borders, laying formal walkways, or even creating shifts in hardscape features. You can also add plants that attract wildlife to your garden for added movement. Paths do more than just helping you find your way. By including a gentle curve, you can instantly create a walkway that establishes a sense of discovery and exploitation in your outdoor space.
Let There Be Light
Outdoor lighting illuminates your outdoor living space while making it easier to maneuver around it. It also adds security and keeps everyone safe as it deters trespassing and theft. Lighting can go a long way towards creating the right ambiance for your outdoor space. You can also make it look bigger by suspending a string of lanterns or fairy lights. That way, people are encouraged to look upwards rather than across, making your garden seem more spacious.
Experts agree that string lights are the best and most affordable form of outdoor lighting as they are easy to install, are built to withstand the elements, and have a beautiful clean look. Be sure to make your lights as energy efficient as possible by using LED bulbs. Plus, they add a warm glow and are fantastically versatile. Lighting can also be used to highlight landscaping décor, like highlighting specimen plants.
Create Spaces with Purpose
Creating additional living space outdoors is on the rise. If you have a large yard, it’s best to divide it up into small functional areas, so it doesn’t feel like one large space. You can include spaces for entertainment, like building a mini outdoor bar or relaxation areas for a little peace. Be sure to section off an area for a kitchen or grill, as well as a place to add a dining table and chairs for dining with friends and family. A fire pit is also essential as it provides warmth and adds a distinctive style to your outdoor seating area.
Last but not least, you can transfer the living room function into your outdoor space by adding seating options to accommodate large groups of friends and family. You can invest in a large table and chairs or find ways to incorporate seating into hardscapes such as retaining walls and other parts of the landscape. That way, you’ll avoid the need for additional furniture and have more space to view or add other features.
Be sure to create continuity and flow among these sections, using similar patterns, concepts, textures, lighting, and colors. Otherwise, your outdoor space will become too busy and noisy.
Add a Water Feature
It’s important to add points of interest to your outdoor space that provide both sound and motion. That’s where water features come into play. They not only make a great focal point but also create a tranquil environment that’s perfect after a long day. Contrary to popular belief, water features don’t have to be significant investments that can only be installed by a professional. You can go for larger outdoor water fountains or choose something simple and low-maintenance like a bubbling urn.
Use Vertical Space
Just as we use vertical space indoors for mounting pictures, cupboards, and mirrors, we can do the same for outdoor space. Walls, fences, and garage doors can provide extra growing space. Be sure to use creepers and large trailers such as Trachelospermum and Phlox subulata to add interest, color, and height to your outdoor space. Adding climbing plants is an obvious choice, but you can also include pouches and wall hanging pots with tomatoes, fresh herbs, and even salad leaves.
Cover Up
Don’t let the weather prevent you from enjoying your outdoor space. There are plenty of ways to shelter from the hot sun and the rain. Fixing retractable awnings to the outside wall is one way to go. For a more permanent solution, a fixed roof canopy or a glass veranda will do the job.
