Today, nearly any activity you enjoy indoors can be brought outside. Whether you love to cook, swim, garden, relax, or entertain outdoors, a backyard makeover will let you make the most of your entire Oyster Bay, NY, property. After all, you’re investing in your outdoor space, so why not make it perfect for you? To inspire you, here are some landscape architecture ideas for entirely remodeling your backyard.
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Focus on Functionality
A backyard with improved functionality and beauty will invite you to use your backyard more often—and it can increase the value of your property. But before you talk to your landscape designer with any ideas you may have, you’ll want to be prepared with some basic information: A major backyard renovation can be quite complex. You may not know exactly which features and design elements you need for the end result to be exactly what you want—but you definitely know how you want to feel in your outdoor space.
What is the purpose behind your backyard makeover; what do you imagine yourself doing in your outdoor space (break this down by daytime and nighttime activities)? What types of materials do you like? Do you want a relaxed or sophisticated feel? Do you enjoy informal landscapes, or are you mostly attracted to landscapes that are perfectly arranged and manicured? What are your must-haves? Who else will be enjoying the space? Are there any special considerations like pets, young children, or the elderly? And of course, what’s your budget?
As much as you can, get clear on the answers to these questions; this will help your landscape designer choose the right elements, materials, and space design to create unique outdoor living areas that reflect your exact preferences and way of enjoying life.
Choosing Features
Pizza ovens are immensely popular for anyone who loves to cook and entertain alfresco. An outdoor fireplace or fire pit give family and friends a place to gather when the weather turns chilly. Pergolas offer elegance and shade on hot days. Pavilions extend your outdoor season with a solid roof that keeps the elements at bay. A fire table brings a chic touch to alfresco dining. Seating walls tie the look together, allow for inconspicuous placement of landscape lighting, and offer clutter-free relaxation spots. A hot tub—especially if there’s a view—transforms a backyard into a delightful retreat. A water wall can do double duty as a privacy wall. A winding walkway can take you to a secret garden in a tucked-away corner. Clever landscape lighting not only creates ambience and a safe nighttime experience, but it also offers an opportunity to highlight your home’s architecture or shine a light on interesting features in the backyard.
Connecting All the Elements
Themed ideas can help you create a cohesive look even if you want to incorporate elements that wouldn’t normally go together. Ideas include tropical-inspired getaways complete with a backyard pebble beach leading to a pool or a pond with a waterfall; a chic spa with tall cedars, muted colors and minimalist furnishings; a family-friendly backyard with a spacious game area; a terraced gardener’s delight carved into a hillside; or a serene Japanese-style garden with a water feature, meditation spot, and a raked-gravel zen garden.
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