Making your outdoor environment more livable and inviting is not just about the spaces, but how you use them. There may be too much focus on landscaping elements, such as trees, shrubs, walkway and patio surfaces. In fact, it’s the spaces and subspaces they create that matters most.
When our company renews outdoor spaces, our clients are often surprised how rearranging spaces can completely transform how they work together. They also discover that many plantings they had marked for disposal can be used again.
Landscape design greatly depends on your personality. Some people want privacy to enjoy habitat and wildlife while communing with nature. Others thrive on stimulation from fire tables, wind chimes, and water features.
We understand that it can be difficult to choose what works when you may not fully understand what’s possible. This is why we ask many “what if” questions during our initial consultations. For example, if you could have anything, what does that look like in your imagination
Visual Beauty and Appeal
The initial impression of a space is most important. It should make you smile when you enter or glance at it from a distance. And of course, it should make you proud when you show it to friends and family.
Visually appealing outdoor spaces are uncrowded. They often have a focal point that draws you in. This may be a specimen plant, a piece of garden art, or simply a pathway that cleverly disappears around the corner.
Beautiful outdoor spaces have an intentional color palette. They are seldom a random arrangement of colors. How leaves and hardscape surfaces reflect or absorb light is also planned to achieve a cohesive look and feel.
Texture, shapes, and lines should be considered too. How they are used can enhance the apparent size of the space to create interest. For example, small textures can make spaces feel smaller, but a linear hedge of small textured plants can be dramatic too.
Desired Experiences
Think about how you want to feel and what you want to experience in your outdoor space. If you want a cozy space where you can relax, you’ll want to define the vertical space. Pergolas and shade tree canopies bring the vertical space down to a comfortable level, just as ceilings do within indoor spaces.
You can take this further by creating options, such as quiet corners for reading and relaxing, or centrally located open spaces for group settings. An active focal point such as a firepit or water feature encourages gathering around them.
If you love wildlife, bird feeders, butterfly gardens, and natural ponds are all fan favorites. You just need to understand there is additional maintenance that goes along with them. Low maintenance options are ornamental grasses and perennials that offer soft movement and sounds with the wind, and persistent seedheads that attract birds in the winter.
Preferred Comforts and Conveniences
An inviting outdoor space should be comfortable and convenient for you and your guests.
It has been our experience that seating around central spaces should be flexible. This accommodates the appropriate social distance for various types of groups. If fixed seating is used, it is usually best located in perimeter areas where it faces into the overall space.
Regarding patio spaces, try to extend them at least two feet beyond the expected seating limits. This makes the space look and feel more comfortable, and it makes it safer to navigate around the seated area without stepping off the edge.
Here in Oklahoma, the sun can be intense during spring, summer, and fall. Thus, you’ll want to consider how to provide shade. Umbrellas and shade trees are the most common solutions. A pergola may be the perfect element for its function and integration with the home’s architecture.
Also, be sure to consider technology will impact your spaces. You may need to add electrical outlets for powering water features and outdoor equipment such as power washers. This is especially important for smaller, more intimate spaces where access to the home may not be as convenient.
To maximize the use of your outdoor spaces, outdoor landscape lighting is one of our most requested features. More than extending the use of your outdoor spaces, it can transform them into uniquely special experiences. There’s nothing like our cooler Oklahoma evenings as the sun goes down and sparkling outdoor lighting comes to life.
Expected Care and Updates
When it comes to maintenance, we like to remind homeowners that the highest maintenance item is the weekly lawn mowing expense. You can minimize the need for watering with an automatic irrigation system. Just know that it needs a little care – bringing it up and making minor tweaks and repairs in the spring, and winterization before the cold temperatures arrive.
All plantings require care, with faster grows needing more. The tradeoff is that slow growing plants will take longer to fill a space. The best compromise is combining plants to achieve a balance that allows you to enjoy your outdoor spaces now and for years to come.
Annual flowers and perennials are fast growers that will provide color and fill spaces within a season or two. Those annual and perennial beds can be maintained for the duration or reduced in size to make room for surrounding plants as they mature.
Finally, always keep in mind that any landscaping improvements can change the flow of water. Be sure to determine if supplemental drainage is necessary. For example, you may need to arrange for carrying water from a new patio so that it doesn’t settle into a nearby flower bed or play area
By thoughtfully considering these elements, you can create an outdoor environment that is both livable and inviting, tailored to your personal preferences and lifestyle.
Proactive Landscaping: Helping Oklahoma Homeowners Enjoy Outdoor Living
Our top priority is creating living spaces that are right for you. We pride ourselves on working with you from concept to construction to create the right landscape for your needs. Contact us today for a free consultation to explore your next landscaping project.
