The surest way to know that you have created a comfortable and pleasant garden space is when visitors are impressed. There are several ways in which you can ennoble your garden, from mosaic tiles to painted brickwork.
Avoid fads
Contemporary outdoor design is constantly shifting. It is hard to keep up with landscaping trends, as they are constantly shifting. In fact, it is of no use to follow fads but rather come up with a design that will best reflect your needs, i.e. a functional design.
Creating contrast
If there is one thing that interior and exterior designs have in common, then that’s the need for contrast. Inside the house, it’s enough to paint one wall into a different color, while in the garden, contrast is created through different geometric shapes. You can play with the shape of paths to accentuate the contrast even further.
Repainting renders and brickwork
You might have read in an architecture magazine that painted brickwork is tacky and cliché. However, a new layer of paint can revive every space, so why not paint the bricks white, for example.
The same can be done to all rendered surfaces, such as the house’s façade. Namely, a new coat of paint adds extra protection to the bricks underneath and creates a rough texture.
A bicolor scheme
When it comes to colors inside the garden, all the colors of flower petals are definitely going to ennoble the garden. However, when it comes to artificial color, you should stick to a simple color scheme consisting of only two colors.
One of the best bicolor combos are white and green. As already mentioned, the brick wall can be painted white and the limestone paving/gravel can have a touch of green along the edges. These two colors go well together because one of them is neutral and the other pastel
Furniture made from natural materials
A truly impressive garden is one where the artificial elements blend in with the natural surroundings. Therefore, the garden furniture should be made from natural materials so it fits with the rest of the garden. From wooden benches to a rattan garden set, the possibilities are endless.
A lawn that takes care of itself
You cannot have an impressive garden without a verdant lawn. However, a poorly maintained lawn can soon turn into an eyesore, as the grass turns brown.
In order to reduce the upkeep effort, we recommend installing automated sprinklers. They will take care of watering, so you’ll just have to mow the lawn from time to time.
Repeating patterns
Apart from creating a contrasting effect, the garden should have repeating patterns when it comes to planting trees. Rows of small trees can be followed by box bushes and shrubby ornaments. Also, when trimming shrubs, try to find a unique pattern that you follow throughout the entire yard.
The use of screens for increased privacy
No matter how much you decorate the garden, there are always going to exist sections of your backyard that you don’t want others to see. Things like rubbish bins and compost boxes are necessary but should be kept out if sign by the clever use of screens.
These screens shouldn’t be conspicuous, as they can feature a green wall. In fact, you can place privacy screens all over the garden to prevent noisy neighbors and passersby to take a peek inside. Such green barriers double as dust-collectors and noise mufflers.
Solar-powered lights
After dark, your garden should truly light up. However, you don’t want your garden to an energy guzzler. Apart from cute-looking lanterns, LED solar lights are a great way to light up the yard at night.
They can be hung from the porch or placed along pathways. Although solar lights count as ambient lighting, they are powerful enough to light up the entire garden!
Tiles as pavers
Most homeowners like to use gravel as the paving material, as it’s cheap and fairly easy to “install.” However, you need to add an extra sack of gravel every half a year because the old gravel gets washed away.
In terms of alternatives, we recommend tiles. They are not only durable but there are mosaic tiles that can transform your garden into a work of art. These tiles come in numerous patterns and they are easy to install despite their small size.
Revamping the patio
Another place in the garden where you might encounter tiles is the patio. However, the mosaics are often covered with a layer of muck and lichen. The easiest way to revamp the patio is to grab a water gun and pressure-wash it.
Even if the patio doesn’t look dirty, it will still have a think patina after being exposed to the elements for years, so a good spritz couldn’t do any harm.
Everything can become a planter
Instead of standard-size flower pots, you can use reuse old tires or concrete blocks to create planters. This way, the garden will literally grow out of the backyard and visitors will become one with nature. The best thing about reusing old stuff is that you are actively helping reduce waste, which is a global problem.
A gazebo is always a nice addition
Ennobling your garden with a gazebo is always a good move. Namely, you want a covered space inside the garden from which you can enjoy the view and erecting a gazebo is the ideal architectural solution.
Whether you decide to design and construct the gazebo yourself or hire a contractor, the structure should provide enough shade, so visitors can sip a cold drink in summer away from the punishing sun.
Shade structures of all sorts
The aforementioned patio and the gazebo are just two of the numerous shade structures you can have in the garden. The most natural shade structure is a large tree canopy or perhaps a lean shrub. You should look to have several types of shade suitable for every season.
A hammock for lounging
Speaking of a large tree, hanging a hammock from it is a great way to have a place to lounge outdoors. Visitors are especially going to be impressed by this feature and they might be a line in front of the hammock on a Sunday afternoon. If you have children, they would be delighted to have a tire swing in the garden.
Classy water features
In order to show class, the garden should have a water feature other than the watering hose. If we take a look at a typical Japanese Zen garden, then we notice that a Koi fish pond is an integral part of its design. You don’t have to have fish swimming in the backyard (they need regular feeding) but a pond in the middle of the garden is aesthetically appealing.
Furthermore, you can add a fountain-cum-sculpture that would be the garden’s centerpiece. From the times of Romans, gardens and courtyards were ennobled by similar statutes. Moreover, the calming sound of water will make the garden more serene than it already is.
An aviary sanctuary
Apart from the calming burble, you can have birds’ twitter resonating throughout the garden. However, don’t expect birds to land in your garden on their own. No, you should actively attract them with a birdbath and feeders attached to trees.
Add terraces
If the ground in your backyard is uneven and you have hillocks, use them to your advantage by building terraces. This agricultural landscaping intervention will add fertile soil for you to plant herbs, flowers, and even vegetables.
The bottom terrace should have a supporting wall of stone that would double as a long bench, increasing the number of seating options for guests.
Nature is the best musician
Back to the sounds in the garden, you can try hanging wind chimes from trees. On a windy day, your garden will echo a fine melody. The tonality would depend on whether you choose a metal or a wood chime. Visitors will be impressed by this strange, alluring sound they have never heard inside a garden.
Place boulders all over the place
When digging inside the garden you might encounter large stones, some the size of small boulders. These are an indication that a body of water used to be there but what is more important you can reuse these large stones. Scatter them over the yard to stand for (literally) and symbolize tiny mountains.
We have enumerated some of the best ways to ennoble your garden. The effort you put in sprucing up your garden will pay off once the first visitors are blown away by its new look. However, they needn’t know that most of the upgrades listed above are expensive, although they are classy.