A well-groomed yard allows for a favorable frame of the house, provides a self-presentation and a basis for further impressions. Well thought out and organized yard design and landscaping should complement the natural setting and continue the design of the interior. About everything in more detail later in the article.
5 Essential Landscape Aspects
When designing a landscape design, it is important to think not only about aesthetics, but also about the contribution you will make to the environment.
Customizing your outdoor space starts with proper landscaping. First of all, answer yourself the following questions:
- Do you rarely spend time in the backyard?
- Do you have a dilapidated porch or an old patio?
- Do you hate wasting time and water to maintain a large lawn?
- Does your backyard have no room for entertainment?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it sounds like you might be ready for a backyard makeover. Get to know the key factors to consider when planning your yard.
At times, starting a landscaping project can feel overwhelming. But with these five tips, you can design the landscaping and yard you've always wanted, either on your own or with the help of a landscape designer.
Use and purpose
When you start a landscaping project, the first thing to consider is how you want to use the space. Decide what the purpose or goals of your ideal yard are before making any other decisions.
Popular outdoor uses include:
- entertainment;
- summer kitchen and dining room;
- swimming;
- game Zone;
- rest zone;
- garden.
Next, you need to think about who will be using the space. Will this area be needed to accommodate small children, or will it be primarily an adult shelter? Don't forget to think about pets - animals often dictate landscaping decisions too.
Environment and climate
Now it's time to take inventory. You will want to mark areas such as:
- sunny areas;
- shady areas;
- review;
- Direction of the wind;
- water supply and drainage.
Next, your attention should be turned to the soil. It's important to make sure your soil has the nutrients to support your chosen plant material. Your soil, which may be mostly sand, clay, or gravel, will dictate which plants you should grow. A landscape designer can perform soil tests for you and make soil amendments if necessary.
drop zone
An important factor to consider when choosing is the drop zone for them. It is determined by climatic conditions such as temperature and rainfall. Knowing your area to plant will help you and your designer choose plants that are suitable for your location and thus more likely to establish.
hydrozone
Once you have an idea of what plants will be used, start thinking about how the water behaves in your yard. If there are certain areas where water is collected, you will want to create a group of plants that need a lot of water. On the other hand, if there are certain areas where water drains quickly, you'll want to have a group of plants there that like dry conditions. This process is often referred to as hydrozone planting.
garden style
The last thing to think about is the aesthetic appeal and style of your landscape design. Consider interior and exterior styling and try to create unity between home and landscaping. Make an open space that reflects your personality and makes you feel happy and relaxed. For a little inspiration, browse through these garden styles, which include Japanese, modern, cottage, and desert.
backyard makeup ideas
After considering the basic rules of landscape design, move on to landscaping the space. Check out the ideas below for decorating your backyard.
Replace obsolete materials
For this, solid concrete with brick strips is now often used. Make a patio area with concrete, fill with white sand and add a fountain to make it stand out.
Expand your patio area
A common backyard mistake is making the patio look too small. When you're working on your backyard makeover, consider extending your patio to accommodate larger furniture and allow for walking around the space.
Redo the paving
Plain gray concrete can be pretty boring. Transform your backyard paving to transform the feel of the whole area. When remodeling paving slabs, you have two options: remove the existing pavement, or transform what you have. Create stains and engravings on the concrete path to make it look like natural stone. If you want to remodel an existing paving, you will save money on materials and labor.
Don't let small or awkward spaces limit you.
Narrow spaces can present a problem and often end up being unused. However, you can turn a narrow space into a backyard fully equipped for outdoor activities. Creative and space-saving techniques can be used to accommodate more options for a small or inconvenient backyard.
DIY your backyard
You can redo the backyard on your own, without professionals with their resources, if the matter is limited to feasible work. However, this does not include demolition and installation of new landscaping, as this work will take the average homeowner weeks to complete, while a team of professionals can complete it within days.
Additionally, projects that include the installation of running water, gas or electric lines can be complicated. If you want a fountain, a built-in grill, or lots of lighting, your best bet is to hire a licensed professional. However, for a DIY option that will save you some money, consider planting your own plants. If Make sure you know the requirements for each plant, to choose the best place. Consider also the option of installing a patio area yourself.
Patio Design Ideas
Patio is outdoor living. You are likely to spend many hours with friends and family on your patio. Instead of buying a big house, many people are looking to expand their outdoor living space. As a result, the patio area is becoming larger, more luxurious and more protected.
Outdoor patios have become activity centers focused on fun and relaxation. A well-designed patio will not only add extra living space to your home, it will also increase its resale value.
Since your patio will provide the foundation for outdoor living space, it needs to be solid, well constructed. You can choose from a variety of patio and sidewalk materials. Determine what size, shape, and patio style best suits your needs. Use the information here to start gathering ideas for your new patio.
It's time to stop thinking of your patio as just a place to spend time outdoors. It can serve as a hub for a variety of functions, including dining, cooking, socializing, and relaxing. The style of your patio will change depending on what features you want it to feature.
concrete patios
The durability and versatility of concrete makes it an excellent choice for paving patios. A concrete patio has many advantages over corrugated board and other surfaces.
Benefits of concrete patios:
- High strength.
- Low operating costs.
- Adaptable to any style.
- Can be poured into any shape.
Decor options:
- Colored concrete. There are several ways to paint concrete, including contrasting, integrating, solid and liquid painting methods (used in combination with embossing) and full coloring.
- Embossed Concrete - The surface of your particular patio can be embossed to create a texture that mimics stone, brick, or other materials.
If you already have a patio that is cracked or dirty, you can clean it up with concrete. Concrete sanding will make your patio look like new. A reclaimed concrete patio can be painted and stamped.
Another strong trend is to integrate plants into places where expansion joints would otherwise be located. They help create a more breathable surface and dilute the vast structure with greenery. It is not uncommon to use artificial turf in these areas, especially in areas where moisture needs to be maintained.
Are concrete patios prone to cracking?
Concrete is good for warm climate landscapes that do not experience the extreme cold and thaw cycles of northern regions that cause uncontrolled cracking. Other factors can also lead to cracking.
Ideas for gazebos
Pergolas and other shady structures are another way to enjoy nature, even if the conditions outside are not the best. In the hot summer, you can relax and have fun outdoors without being exposed to sunstroke. Shady structures also extend the season into autumn and winter. If your structure is built with a solid roof or even insulated walls, you can enjoy a calm winter morning while sipping your tea without the worry of rain or snow.
Types of shadow buildings
Pergolas are a self-contained structure, organically placed in the landscape. They can stand on the path and define a space for a walk, or they can designate a patio area or outdoor entertainment space. A pergola usually has open sides, as well as a slatted or solid roof.
Patio structures are similar to pergolas, except they are attached to the house. This can be an advantage because a patio area can use the house for support and therefore can cost less than a structure on its own.
Pergolas of an octagonal shape with a solid roof are most often used in traditional landscape gardening areas. They can be an attractive addition if the style of the surrounding landscape works with the structure.
A canvas canopy is a modern way to get relief from the sun. The fabric is stretched across specially designed poles to accent and cover a seating area or patio. A canvas canopy looks great with the straight lines and simple geometry used in contemporary homes and doubles as a decorative and artistic part of the landscape.
A mesh deck is built right outside the house, usually at the back door for easy access. Instead of glass windows, she has large nets that keep out insects. The netted terrace is great for dining as you get a quality outdoor experience without intruders.
A solar room is also being built right outside the house. Since it can be fully insulated and built with double panel windows, it is a four season structure that acts as an addition to your home. The sun room is completely weatherproof so you can watch birds and wildlife in comfort even in winter. The sun room is really different from the rest of your home in that it has many windows that enhance the outside view.
Terrace decoration
No matter what size backyard you have, you can make the most of the available space and live the dream. Here are some simple DIY landscaping ideas to make a great outdoor space that you can enjoy day and night.
Customize your space with flooring
There's nothing better than a new terrace to turn your backyard into an outdoor living room or a great party space. It's an easy and affordable way to expand your living space that will last for many years, and with a little know-how, you can build it yourself.
Terrace - a room with flooring
There are several flooring material options. In addition to traditional wooden decking, there is an environmentally friendly alternative. Composite decking can be made from recycled plastic, which is durable, easy to install and maintain, and resistant to rot and pests.
Build with beams
You can shape your backyard to any size and give it a natural, earthy look with treated pine beams. Treated pine beams are resistant to decay, fungus, and pests, making them one of the most versatile, easy-to-use, and hard-wearing landscape materials on the market. They can be used to create a retaining wall, a stepped garden, a flower bed, or as a border along your garden beds.
Space with retaining walls
Retaining walls are a great way to create interesting steps to decorate your backyard. You can use them to create a raised garden to surround your entertaining space or make a quiet corner to relax. Retaining walls are also a good way to flatten areas of a sloped block and add extra space for the kids to play or for you to have fun. Depending on the look you want, retaining walls can be made from logs or treated pine sleepers. Use purpose-built wall retaining materials that are interlocking, durable, and available in a range of colors.
Own paving
You can bring some real definition to your backyard and create a great look with paving stones. In addition, it will be an easy project that you can do yourself. Paving stones make a solid base for your outdoor entertainment area, or you can make a walkway through your garden. There are various colors and paving designs on the market to suit any backyard, from concrete textured, panel and sand paving.
Add color and texture with pebbles
Pebbles are an easy way to bring different colors and textures to your backyard. You can use it to fill in empty spaces in garden beds, or as ground cover to complement a paved or deck area.
For a clean decorative look, you can use pebbles to create a border or landscape path. There are many colors and styles to choose from in white, blue, orange, red, green, lime, silver or gold. Using the same colored pebbles, you can create solid areas or mix colors to create a more vibrant look.
Front yard landscaping
When it comes to decorating your front yard, you'll want to think about what features of your home will be highlighted, as well as how you can turn it into an open space that will be actively used. If you want to spend relaxing time there, then privacy will be a key factor. Privacy can be created with a wall or hedge.
Get a new perspective
Before choosing a project, look at your landscape with fresh eyes and more broadly. We are so used to our landscape that it can be difficult to determine what others might see. There are two easy tricks to see the landscape from a new perspective. When using both of these methods, the goal is to forget what you think of your landscape and instead see what actually exists.
The first is the old artist's trick. Get far enough away from your landscape so that you can see everything at once. Then squint your eyes until the picture blurs and try to clear your memory.
"Paint" your picture to create a landscape
There may be areas that become dark and overgrown with a blurry look. Some areas may look dirty because there are too many small plantings, statues or pots. Or, you might have an area that is bright and clean, but a bit too empty. All of these ideas can give you a general idea of which projects to tackle first.
The second technique you can use to give your landscape a new look is to take black and white photographs of your landscape design. By adding color, you can make a familiar space feel new, so you can see it with objective eyes. Most digital cameras these days have a black and white setting, so it's easy to do even if you're not a techno-genius.
Define boundaries and add mulch
Clean edges deceive the eye, creating a neat and well-groomed landscape. If the lawn has crept into the flower beds in the garden and created a jagged line, then defining a border can improve the look of the entire landscape.
Start by laying out a garden hose to define the new boundary. Don't make the beginner's mistake by creating a wavy "drunken snake" line. Instead, make wide curves that scale to the size of your home. Then use a hoe to trim the grass until you have a clean, attractive line.
Once you've established a neat border, add a layer of wood chip mulch for a sophisticated look. The bright color is attractive, smooths out uneven ground surfaces, and generally gives the landscaping a professional finish.
Trim huge bushes
If the plant is clearly not intended to be a hedge, then it must be pruned. Otherwise, there will be a feeling that the service is out of control.
Trim the shrub at the base, removing any branches that are 15 cm from the ground. This gives a more open look and works wonders on Rhododendrons and other shrubs that can appear gloomy and overwhelming when spreading across the ground.
Another good task is to carefully prune any plant that touches the house. Plants that lean on the house can cause paint cracking as well as mold and ants. Trimming the plants 20 to 30 cm from the house will give the landscaping a more open look, as well as give you the opportunity to wash the house or touch up if necessary.
45 trendy front yard ideas
Modern front yard designs lean more towards a minimalist and desert look. Volumetric forms and an abundance of color have disappeared. The modern look consists of clean lines, earthy colors, the creative use of stone, and the absence of atypical colors.
Steps and paving stones
We are seeing a move away from hard pavement overweight towards patterned paving stones interspersed with round stones.
Horizontal Guardrail
The lines are more pronounced with a clean horizontal fence. Aluminium, vinyl, steel, and wood are popular materials for trendy vegetable gardens.
metal parts
The idea of a metal house number plate is modern, clear fonts that are made of brass, aluminum or chrome. Simple and stylish.
Herbal tie-ins
These are sidewalks covered with grass gaps so that the grass can grow right under your feet. Traditional white or light-colored patio paving stones combined with green give a clearer view of the courtyard.
Cinder blocks for the garden
Gardening is still relevant to both front and backyards, although it has become more restrained. If you love flowers, use block gardening, which introduces an interesting and new dimension.
large pots
Among the modern facade courtyards, large plant pots are very noticeable. The bigger they are, the better. The main shapes are round, square, cylindrical or conical.
Stone and succulents
The use of large and small stones is common among modern front yards. And what grows and looks best with stones? Succulents!
wall garden
Don't limit your landscaping to the ground. Picturesque wall gardens are eye-catching, innovative and look like the centerpiece of a front yard.
Clusters of color
Many modern front yards still include many colorful flowering plants. Keep them under control and in a good color ratio to avoid a messy look. Plants that require less time work well.
Illuminated paths
Illuminated pathways define and enhance your front yard design. It is also expedient and attractive.
Combination of fence and benches
It's time to replace the sleek iron seats in favor of more discreet, integrated nooks and crannies. And if they are made in the same technique with a perimeter fence, this will make the design the most harmonious.
minimalist fencing
Fence off your front yard with subdued and minimalist fencing. No more grandiose curls, monograms and bright colors.
Combination of green and white
Modern front yards are decorated in natural colors. White hydrangeas against lush greenery make your front yard pop.
Combination of stone and wood
Let's go back to basics. Rough stone and wood planks give character to the clean lines of modern front yards.
terrace gardening
Don't let an uneven façade get in the way of creating a beautiful front garden. Make it work for your space: For a sloping surface, the idea of a stepped garden with a terrace will do.
Red flower pots for plants
Bright red pots against quiet earthy flowers look defiant and striking. Use them when you want to divert attention to certain areas.
modern pergola
The gazebos are romantic and charming. Create a modern minimalist pergola to suit your garden.
stone with stone
Modern front yard designs use a variety of natural elements. The various irregularities and textures of the stones are best shown together.
The charm of the ornamental bow
The plants in today's front yards are structured and have a strong character. The decorative bow has height, shape and color: ideal for front yards.
Black flowerpots
Modern outdoor plant pots have become large, shaped and basic bold colors - especially black.
Wooden fences for succulents
A tree with a rich dark shade will shade and line dark green succulents well.
ancient greek amphora
Make your yard inviting with decorations like an ancient Greek amphora. Use the sculpture as a central focal point for your front yard.
The combination of black and green
The combination of black and green is interesting and expressive. Black makes green more fresh and vibrant.
Wooden and bamboo facade
The basic, classic and minimalist look of bamboo brings a touch of Japan to your home.
4 seasons garden
The Four Seasons Garden is a selection of those plants that become expressive in different seasons, making the composition interesting in any season. You may need the services of a landscape designer to properly place the landscaping.
horsetail hedge
Riverside horsetail is suitable for hedges, accented partitions, or as an independent decoration. A vibrant green hue, clean vertical stems and black details create a striking design.
Equipped water source
Transform a humble garden faucet into a creative project. It will serve its purpose, but it will be complemented by a wonderful design.
Owning a homestead requires much more effort from the owners than an apartment in the city. And a considerable part of these efforts is directed to the environment of the house. Despite the fact that country preferences are already beginning to be forgotten, when the main area around the residential building was allocated for planting edible plants - a garden and a kitchen garden, and the owners also do not really want to turn a country house into a village courtyard with beds and sheds for breeding domestic animals. You can't leave the yard empty anyway. Right now, a solid mansion (or at least a nice mansion), surrounded by a picturesque area, where it is so pleasant to relax, is in fashion. And watching well-groomed suburban areas on movie screens or pages of magazines, many owners are wondering if it is possible to improve the courtyard of a private house with their own hands.
Courtyard of a private house in general
We each have our own tastes and preferences. And they are expressed most often not by loud statements, but by the environment. And any little thing that really pleases our hearts unequivocally gives an idea of us. Therefore, before taking on the improvement of the courtyard of a private house, try to see in your mind's eye the general picture of the planned activities and think about whether it will coincide with your personal idea of convenience and beauty. After all, you yourself understand - if in a year some creative ideas, so enthusiastically perceived today, make you curse the presence of a backyard territory, then instead of resting you will get only a headache. By the way, often such ideas for landscaping the courtyard of a private house are photographed and posted on the Internet, and seeing such beauty, it is difficult to resist the temptation to try it on your site.
However, let's move on to more specific things. So, what exactly do we want to have in the yard of our house? There are a lot of options, but some values \u200b\u200bare present almost always. These details include:
- terrace or patio
- garage, by the way, nearby you can make parking for guests
- bathhouse - it is better to build it separately from a residential building
- outdoor shower (although it is more in a rustic style, but if properly designed, it can decorate even a modern villa)
- summer kitchen, which recently looks more and more like a barbecue and is a platform with a hearth or barbecue
- outbuildings, in a simple way - sheds, for storing various equipment that has no place in the house
- dog kennel
- playground
- a web of paths connecting all buildings into a single ensemble
- various green spaces: trees, shrubs, flower beds, lawn and other floristic thickets
- decorative elements: garden sculptures, lanterns, alpine slides, rock gardens and other decorations of the area
It seems to be a small list, but if you start to implement it, and even with your own additions such as gazebos, fountains, ponds or other landscape design tricks, then there may not be enough space for everything. Therefore, first you should play around with the plan of the courtyard of a private house, try to arrange everything on paper (remembering the ravines, of course). And only after your project of the courtyard of a private house becomes the most optimal, it will be possible to start marking the yard itself and building the outbuildings you have chosen. And landscaping will have to be dealt with at the very last turn, when all objects are in their places with communications connected.
Here's how you can equip the courtyard of a private house - a photo selection:
The layout of the courtyard of a private house - some little things
It would seem that everything has already been said about planning - imagine, draw on the plan and do it. But this is just a sketch. In the same way, one can say about the birth of a child - to conceive, endure and give birth, nothing complicated ... And yet, even an unborn baby requires vigilant care and constant trouble, and we don’t have to independently develop a project for a new person, such duties are taken on mother nature herself. And when landscaping your own yard, you will have to work a little as a demiurge - in a single country farm.
Of course, the best will be the overall planning of the entire complex, from the residential building to the thickets behind the fence. But even if the mansion itself is already proudly flaunting its facade decoration, all is not lost. Given that in the end we want to get something solid, then the entire interior of the courtyard of a private house should be designed in the same style, this applies to buildings and decorative elements.
First of all, let's evaluate our personal plot - its size and landscape. If the area is not too large, do not clutter it with a large number of outbuildings. Choose only the essentials or simply combine several elements with each other. Parking with a canopy may well replace a full-fledged garage, combining a patio with a small barbecue will also save space, and it is recommended to attach an additional room to the bathhouse where household supplies and firewood will be stored. For a vast farmstead, there are no restrictions, except for aesthetic ones.
And now a little about the arrangement of the courtyard of a private house - a photo of various options:
Making the courtyard of a private house - building codes
However, in any case, it is necessary to comply with building regulations, for example, the distance from buildings to the road and other outbuildings. Residential buildings are built at least 3 meters from ordinary roads and 6 meters from the motorway. We hope that your suburban area is located in a fairly remote place, because the proximity of the main highways negatively affects the ability to enjoy clean air and the sounds of nature. Housing and outbuildings (sheds and a garage) should be at least 7 meters apart from each other, remove your dog’s aviary from the house at least 4 meters, but wells, separate toilets and compost pits (what if you still decide build them) must be built no closer than 15 meters from the house. The fence should be separated from any buildings by a meter and a half, or even more, so that it is possible to carry out various types of repairs as needed, and sufficiently tall plants (bushes and trees) - depending on their height - at a distance of a meter to three .
Having fully planned the arrangement of the courtyard of a private house with all outbuildings, we proceed to marking the paths. They should not be narrower than 75 cm - this is again a requirement of building codes. If the size of the territory allows, make a circular path along the entire site - you will get a great cycle track for your children. In general, it is better to make these sidewalks with smooth rounded bends and turns, because such a design of the courtyard of a private house will visually increase the area and even smooth out sharp corners in family life. Although in different styles the paths and paths differ in their appearance and material, but more on that later.
Here's a look at how the interior of the courtyard of a private house looks like - the photo wonderfully demonstrates all the details:
Landscape design of the courtyard of a private house
We coped with the dirtiest and most financially intensive stage - the construction is completed, all the buildings we need for a comfortable life are already in place, to which paths have been laid. And now it's time to start putting the area in order, that is, to become a landscape designer.
It is most convenient, of course, to work with a flat surface - here the flight of fancy is simply unstoppable, because anything can be depicted on a clean sheet. If you want, plant a park, lay out flower beds, sow lawns with lawns, install fountains or gazebos overgrown with vines - for every taste and color. But if the area resembles Russian roads, where there is a ravine on a gully and seven bends per verst, then here you still need to be able to turn all the shortcomings into an individual and original face of your territory. But - you can discard any doubts - no one can repeat such a design.
But in any case, the design of the yard with the help of landscape design requires special knowledge. And they consist not only in the ability to beautifully use all the features of the site. Much more often, botanical knowledge is needed - which plants are best planted in your area. So that they please the eye and do not require special care (it is unlikely that you want to hire a gardener or constantly take care of green spaces yourself), and feel great in your climatic conditions.
So, to start independent work on the landscape, it is necessary to clearly define all the environmental factors that affect plants:
- the amount of light that your green pets get (this is both general data on the approximate insolation of a given area, and specific data on your site - some flowers are planted under trees, in the shade, on the north side, and some need almost constantly lit by the sun clearing)
- ambient temperature (here we need data on the average temperature of the summer and winter period)
- humidity - both the earth and the air (that is, not only the average amount of precipitation, but also the proximity of groundwater)
- terrain
- the chemical composition of the soil (chernozem, loam and others), water (acidity or alkalinity) and air
Knowing all the conditions, you can already easily find those types of plants that will grow normally on your site without much additional investment. And from the complete list, you can select those that you like or fit into the overall design of the courtyard of a private house. Photographs of plants in encyclopedias or simply on the Internet will help you make the right choice, but you still need to take into account that in such cases the pictures show not only the most successful specimens, but also professional photographers try to choose the most favorable angle. So you will get an idea, but you still should not count on the same ideal result in your own yard.
How to decorate the courtyard of a private house - different styles
You have already decided on all the little things, but something in the depths of your soul gnaws with uncertainty - is everything done right. Sometimes it happens. Some people are satisfied only with the ideal, which just asks for the pages of a magazine about the life of successful people. Well, the ideal is what each of us should strive for. Therefore, now we will slightly analyze the already recognized styles of decorating the courtyard of a private house, on the photos of which many look.
So, the main division of styles goes to classic (regular) or landscape (natural). Moreover, the regular style implies strict lines and clear geometric shapes of both path buildings and plantings. It is believed that this style softens the storm of feelings among the townspeople who returned to nature because of the outlines that are more familiar to the city. But I warn you right away, the regular style requires constant and tireless work to maintain shape, otherwise in a year or two only horns and legs will remain from your classic style - everything will overgrow at random. In the natural style, everything is much simpler. There is no need to rest so much on "driving" the plants into the frame. On the contrary, the result of all efforts should be the visible naturalness of the landscape.
However, as you yourself understand, the concept of naturalness is different for everyone. It seems to someone that there should be garden trees on a suburban area, someone likes park crops more, and someone prefers flower beds and shrubs. Therefore, the landscape style is further divided into several (or even many) different categories, mainly differing in the peoples from which these styles came. If you go over the information about the styles of decorating the courtyard of a private house, you will see, basically, such names:
- french style (one of the varieties of regular)
- English (or landscape) style, strict but natural
- Slavic style - slightly careless, but nothing better has been invented to surround a wooden house
- Japanese style (elegance and the ability to relax even on a tiny patch of a stone garden)
- European country style - somewhere in common with Slavic, but more streamlined
- modern style - the last word in landscape design and modern architecture, allows you to combine the interior space of the house with the surrounding nature at the level of sensations
Of course, this is not a complete list - there are many peoples and styles too. You can add Chinese, and Mediterranean, and Alpine, but we will not scatter. Why does a person living far from the sea need a Mediterranean style? Therefore, only those styles that can be useful in our conditions were listed. The choice is yours.
And I want to warn you right away - please decide for yourself in advance whether you want to live peacefully and enjoy the delights of the surrounding landscape on your private estate or you need to become the envy of your neighbors. Because in the latter case, a calm rest does not threaten you in any way - after all, you will need to constantly return to your yard that very ideal view that should outshine everything around. But even in this case, you will be quite capable of doing everything yourself. Good luck!
Landscaping, created by a professional or by the owner himself, turns an ordinary house in the village into a real country estate.
Each owner of the site (regardless of the number of acres) is aware that it will be much more difficult to create a landscape design for a private house than to make repairs, for example, in a standard apartment. And yet, the efforts spent will be more than rewarded with the beauty that will delight you every day.
By far the easiest way to create a beautiful backyard is to hire a professional landscape designer. However, this service is not cheap, and there are no guarantees that a stranger will correctly understand your preferences and create a dream plot for you.
Given the abundance of information on this topic in the public domain, you can plan and create a piece of paradise in your yard on your own. How to equip a plot near a private house, you can look at the photo in our photo gallery.
Such a well-maintained yard will become not only a beautiful area near the house, but also a favorite place for meeting friends, for family gatherings, for relaxing in the bosom of nature.
Preliminary preparation
The landscape design of the courtyard of a private house is a very complex and responsible enterprise, therefore, starting this on your own, you should carry out a number of preparatory work, including theoretical preparation.
Each owner understands that landscape design near the house has two main goals:
- make the local area as comfortable and practical as possible;
- ennoble the site, give it gloss and emphasize beauty.
In order for both of these tasks to be successfully completed, in your work you need to take into account many factors that affect the overall result. So, where do you start and what must be taken into account?
building codes
Over the years of building country houses and arranging the area around them, certain standards have been developed that allow you to properly organize work and avoid planning errors.
The main building regulations relate to maintaining the distance between objects:
- the residential building is at least 3 m behind the regular road and 6 m behind the motorway;
- a residential building and an outbuilding should be located no closer than 7 m from each other;
- the dog enclosure is 4 m from the house;
- a street toilet, a compost pit and even a well should be placed at a distance of 15 m from the main buildings;
- the distance from the fence to the nearest building is 1-1.5 m, but large trees and shrubs should be planted no closer than 1-3 m from the border of the territory.
Strict rules apply to the laying of all communications. The depth of ditches, the distance from buildings, as well as cables from each other, the possibility of planting certain plants near communications - all this must be taken into account even before the actual arrangement of the site. It is safe to bring light to the gazebo, lay water to the pool or organize a drain from it.
Thanks to the observance of these norms, in the future it will be pleasant to enjoy the beauty and peace, it will be convenient to carry out repair work, drive up to the house and move around the territory, in general, it will be comfortable to live.
Individual features and preferences
With independent work on the design of a plot of a private house, you will be able to fully realize all your dreams, make the surrounding area unique and unrepeatable.
At the same time, it is important to take into account not only your personal preferences, but listen to the wishes of all household members. Agree, in the house where children live, there cannot be no playground, and avid lovers of gatherings around the fire cannot do without a gazebo and barbecue. The professional design of the courtyard of a private house and photos of modern courtyards confirm this.
Lifestyle, family composition, the presence or absence of pets - all this significantly affects the design of a personal plot. And if you take into account all the nuances at the planning stage, in the future you will not have to rebuild, redo and regret.
Climatic features of the region
Having made a general idea of what exactly will be placed on the site, where and how the main objects will be located and, having chosen your favorite plants, be sure to take into account the peculiarities of the climate.
The landscape design of the courtyard of a private house in the photos that you will find on our website proves that outdoor outdoor pools, for example, or huge fountains are difficult to design where winter lasts 9 months a year. And a closed windproof gazebo with a huge stove would be completely out of place somewhere in the tropics.
Of course, the plants that you can plant in the garden of your dreams depend directly on the weather conditions.
Thus, the weather and temperature background during the year largely determine not only the flora on your site, but also dictate the possibility and features of the placement of certain objects.
terrain
Many people believe that a good site is a flat area. Therefore, often the owners try, at the cost of incredible efforts and financial costs, to cut off all the elevations and fill up all the depressions at all costs. And yet, it is most advisable to think over the landscape design of the yard, taking into account the features of the relief.
If the area near your house is initially more or less flat, you can do anything on it: plant a garden, plant a lawn, build a gazebo, or dig a pool.
The uneven area allows you to equip different functional areas in different planes, separating them with decorative steps or terraces. On a hilly area, an alpine slide would be appropriate, and the depressions are perfect for arranging a pond. Huge height differences also open up scope for creativity - the vertical layout is fraught with a lot of surprises.
So, the whole yard will play, gain complexity and originality. It will be your individual creation, which no one can reproduce.
Combination with buildings and structures
Very often, planning the landscape of the courtyard comes at a time when the main buildings (including a residential building) have already been built. In this regard, it is important to think over the design in such a way that the house fits organically into the environment, does not stand out from the general composition and is combined in style with the surrounding area.
Given the scale, the cottage will play a dominant role throughout the site, so all other elements should emphasize its merits. At the same time, outbuildings can be hidden behind greenery.
Proper consideration of all the features of the site, construction norms and rules, laying communications, as well as your own taste will help create the picture on the site that will delight you and your loved ones for many years.
layout
From general ideas and reasoning, it's time to move on to more specific planning of your own site.
Admiring the beautiful landscapes of private houses in the photo, many owners strive to embody everything they see. But you need to be able to control yourself and, with all the variety, choose exactly what is really needed and appropriate in each specific case.
At the planning stage, it is necessary not only to draw a scaled sketch of the site and all the objects on it, but also to place those that will appear in the future there. There are a number of "mandatory" attributes of any suburban economy (not counting a residential building):
- garden house (for inventory);
- garage and parking place;
- terrace or courtyard;
- gazebo for relaxation (with hearth);
- tracks;
- street lighting;
- green spaces;
- decorative elements.
Among the frequently encountered objects in suburban areas are:
- bath;
- dog enclosure;
- playground;
- pool, pond or fountain, etc.
All this must be properly placed so that the yard is not only beautiful, but also functional. Only after sketches and drawings on paper (or in special programs where the design of personal plots of private houses looks like in the photo), when the layout is optimal, you can start marking on the ground.
Zoning
Even at the planning stage, the owners are determined with the functional load that their site will subsequently bear. In accordance with this, the entire yard is divided into certain zones.
Among the main zones that are found in almost every suburban area, the following can be distinguished:
- entrance (front door);
- household;
- gardening;
- recreation area (quiet or active);
- children's area (if there are children).
If the territory is small, then often the functional zones are combined and not separated from each other. The main emphasis in this case is on the design of a recreation area in a private house.
When the size of the site allows, it is convenient to isolate each of the allocated areas so that when sunbathing, for example, by the pond, you do not have to breathe in the exhaust gases of an approaching car.
To distinguish between each element of the site, the following methods are used:
- green spaces (hedges);
- decorative fences;
- tracks;
- arches, pergolas;
- tapestries, screens, screens, etc.
When planning the location of each of the zones, it is important to consider how they will look from above, for example, from a balcony or from the windows of the second floor of the house. Look at the projects of the courtyards of private houses, the photos that we have selected for you, and you will understand that it is not very romantic to admire the parking from the bedroom, but playgrounds, on the contrary, should be in sight.
Style selection
The landscape design of the courtyard of a private house looks solid and complete only when it is designed in a common style with the house and other capital buildings.
There are a lot of styles. However, at the first stage of species gradation, there are:
- regular (classic) style;
- landscape (natural) style.
A regular park appeared in France during the reign of Louis XIV, so this concept of site design is often called French. It is enough to recall Versailles to understand the main features of the regular style:
- large area of the site;
- strict geometricity in everything (paths, flower beds, cutting shrubs and trees);
- order and regularity.
It is very difficult to take care of such a park, so usually the regular style is found only in large estates, where its beauty is maintained by a whole team of professionals.
It is quite natural that the landscape design of a private house is often created in a natural (landscape) style. Here, care does not require such colossal efforts and it is quite up to the owner himself.
Basically, natural design is classified according to the place of origin of one or another design model for the area around the house:
- English (as close as possible to the natural landscape, characterized by smooth lines, winding paths, cascades, artificial reservoirs);
- Slavic (natural materials, an abundance of wood, stone, rural decor, an abundance of perennials and a lack of flower beds with regular outlines) Even the design of a private house garden will be important here;
- European country (slightly more orderly than Slavic, but in general the same “sloppy”, slightly neglected in appearance);
- Japanese (restrained, strict, with artificial reservoirs and obligatory rock garden, evergreens, mostly low);
- Mediterranean (ideal for outdoor recreation: patios, gazebos, fountains, shady corners, bright plants in clay pots);
- Moorish (in the center there is always a small artificial reservoir surrounded by lush vegetation) and many others.
The choice of style depends on personal tastes, on climatic features, but the starting point is always the house, which sets the tone for the whole composition.
Landscaping and walkways
On the plan of a personal plot, not only capital buildings are designated, future functional zones are distinguished, but they also connect all objects with a network of paths, paths and paved areas.
For maximum convenience of movement, the tracks are laid along the shortest path. And at the same time, if you want to create something original and unique in your yard, you can make the paths winding, and the areas (for example, under a car or for a patio) uneven and asymmetrical.
Of course, the paving of paths and areas in the local area depends on the chosen style of decoration of the entire garden.
Judging by the photo of the landscape design of the adjoining territories of private houses, designers often try to choose a more restrained option closer to the house, but in thematic corners and various zones they allow themselves to play with the form and choice of materials.
Today, there are many tools for laying tracks:
- concrete tiles;
- paving stones;
- hewn stone;
- wood cuts;
- crushed stone and gravel;
- decking, etc.
Whichever option you choose for your site, the main thing is to plan the road and path network correctly so that you do not have to subsequently shorten the path along the lawns; and also follow all the laying rules so that the tracks perform their function for a long time.
landscaping
Although landscaping the yard of a private house (photo below) does not look that difficult, in fact it is the most problematic stage when designing a yard landscape on your own. And all because serious theoretical preparation is required here (botanical knowledge allows you to choose the right plant depending on the conditions of their growth, flowering periods, combinations with each other, etc.).
And at the same time, looking at the landscape design of the adjacent territories of private houses in the photo in our photo gallery, you just want to create something like this outside your window. We will give basic advice on landscaping the site.
Lawn
The fundamental element of landscaping the area around the house is the lawn. Areas sown with special cereal grasses serve as a backdrop for all other plants, and frame the entire green composition.
Lawns are different.
- The main type, which is immediately presented at the word "lawn", is the so-called lawns for recreation. These are the areas around residential cottages that are planted, because they grow well and are able to withstand moderate loads (animal running, children playing, and even a picnic on a blanket);
- Ornamental lawns are usually arranged in huge parks, where they create an even, dense surface;
- Flowering lawns (Moorish) are more like not an herbalist, but a summer meadow, full of all colors;
- Sports (for tennis courts and football fields).
The process of arranging a lawn and subsequent care for it is quite troublesome, despite its apparent simplicity. Prepare the soil, sow, water, loosen, sow, mow regularly - these are just the main types of work. To simplify the initial stage, you can use a rolled lawn, but here you can hardly do without the help of professionals.
The modern design of the territory of a private house in the photo does not happen without green lawns that allow you to fully enjoy the surrounding beauty.
flower beds
Leafing through photos with the design of backyard plots of private houses on our website, you first of all pay attention to flowers, without them it is impossible to imagine any yard. When large-sized plants (trees and shrubs) have already been planted, you can start organizing bright eye-catching corners.
Flowers and ornamental plants can be planted in different forms:
- a flower bed (a regular-shaped flower garden, consisting mainly of annuals);
- mixborder (composition of their perennials of complex shape);
- border (flower framing of paths);
- rockery, rock garden (compositions of stones and mountain plants), etc.
reservoirs
The design of the adjacent territory of a private house (photo from our article), in addition to lawns and flower beds, also implies artificial reservoirs. They enhance the feeling of closeness to nature, and the sound of water relaxes and soothes.
Basically, on personal plots you can find the following types of reservoirs:
- pond;
- Creek;
- waterfall;
- fountain;
- swimming pool.
Artificial ponds are created not for swimming, but for admiring nature. There you can plant special aquatic plants and breed fish.
The stream can be either an independent element of the water structure of the garden or complement, for example, a pond. Here the water must be flowing and not stagnate. That is why the equipment of the stream requires pumps and pipes.
Waterfalls and fountains are also often additional objects and require significant effort and expense for their arrangement.
But the outdoor pool is a real luxury. After all, it must be carefully thought out and properly built, so that later it can be planted with cool water on a hot day.
The murmur of water, light refreshing splashes and the mirror-like surface of the pond are the best antidepressant in the world, relieve stress and allow you to relax. The design of the plot of a private house with ponds, even in the photo, looks soothing. Therefore, a pond in a recreation area is the best solution for homeowners.
Lighting
To date, the lighting of the courtyard of a private house can be divided into two categories:
- functional light (i.e. one that allows you to safely and comfortably move around the site in the dark);
- decorative light (designed to highlight the most interesting areas and objects in the territory and allow everyone to enjoy this aesthetic view).
Without fail, light is carried out:
- to the front porch of the house,
- to the car park,
- outbuildings.
The second stage of lighting is aesthetic light. Sculptures, large trees, original flower beds will sparkle with new shades at night in the beams of spotlights, and the pond and pool will enchant with the reflections of lanterns on the water surface.
It is necessary to think over the location of all lighting fixtures even before landscaping work, because each lamp and lamp requires wiring. Fortunately, there are now many solar-powered lamps that make the job much easier.
Decor
The finishing touch in creating a dream garden are decorative elements that not only emphasize the stylistic solution of the local area, but also add variety to the surrounding picture. You will find the best options for decorating the courtyard of a private house in the photo on our website.
Decor includes small architectural forms (arches, fountains, sculptures, garden furniture). With their help, they delimit the functional areas on the site, create dynamics and make the necessary accents.
Small decorative elements (such as figurines of animals and fairy-tale characters) give the yard a touching and unique charm. Only here you need to know the measure, so as not to turn your site into a playground.
In modern landscape design, the combination of decorative and utilitarian functions is warmly welcomed. For example, a waste box decorated with trellises, a hatch decorated with floral arrangements or a cheerful and unusual bird feeder, in addition to its original purpose, will also serve as a decoration for your garden. Such a design near the house photo can be found in our gallery.
Rustic backyard landscaping can be beautiful and thoughtful. Arranging a site in a village requires a special approach - everything should be simple: from plants to decorative details.
A bit of history
In the old days in the villages they always tried to keep their plots in order. Despite the fact that our ancestors did not have any achievements of modern technologies at hand, they still managed to create real works of landscape art on the territory of the site.
In every yard there were necessarily not only flowers, but also fruit trees and fruit-bearing plants. After all, it was the household that used to provide the family with the necessary amount of food. Now a lot has changed, but all the same, the village courtyard should be decorated not only with marvelous flowers, but also with beds. They do not have to grow a lot of things at once.
You can plant carrots, herbs, lettuce and so on in even rows. Such neat beds will serve as a source of fresh and healthy food, as well as an interesting addition to the site.
How to apply?
There are many ways to recreate a traditional style even in a rustic setting. In order to achieve this, you need to know the basic rules.
Simplicity
First of all, do not try to decorate the site with any details that look unnatural. All details should be as close to nature as possible. If benches, then wicker or wooden, if figurines, then clay and so on. However, the garden style in this regard is very free.
All plants are planted the way you like it. It is not necessary to adhere to certain clear rules, to create complex compositions. The simpler the better. At the same time, the combination of simple details looks quite harmonious and beautiful.
Naturalness
This point has much in common with the previous one. The perfect rustic patio can look a bit shabby. You can skip the hassle of planting specialty grass, allowing weeds and wild flowers to pop up here and there on your property. And the walls of the gazebo or the house itself may well be entwined with ivy or wild grapes.
But such negligence is only an appearance. The owners spend just as much of their free time caring for a rustic-style landscape.
layout
Like modern backyards, traditional rustic-style lots need to be carefully planned. As a rule, one site is divided into five main zones. This is a garden, a vegetable garden, decorative flower beds, a place to store household utensils and a recreation area. Each of them is equally important and it is worth allocating at least a little free space for it.
All zones must be separated from each other not only visually, but also with the help of stones, fences or even hedges. The most practical way is to decorate the paths by sprinkling them with fine gravel or wood residues. On the one hand, you will get comfortable paths that are pleasant to walk on, and on the other hand, a beautiful detail that will complement your site.
If you ride bikes or own your own car, you will also need a driveway. On both sides of it, you can lay out stones, plant flowers or even low thujas.
Flowers
But what you definitely shouldn’t do is create some overly complex flower arrangements or use flowers that are unusual for the region in which we live. Flowers such as nasturtium, mallow, rose or bright yellow sunflower are best suited for decorating a plot in the countryside.
In addition to low neat flowers, you can also use flowering shrubs. For example, jasmine, lilac or even hops. With his green leaves, he will green one of the walls.
You can also use climbing plants as partitions. They will braid the structure of any height. This living room divider in natural green is the perfect fit for the style of the site.
Flowers and flower beds can be located anywhere on the site. Most often, they decorate the entrance to the courtyard or the territory next to the recreation area. So you and your guests can constantly admire the beautiful flowers in your yard.
Trees and orchard
After you have created a bright floral background on your site, you can proceed to planting trees. Most hardworking owners prefer to choose not decorative, but fruit trees for their plot in order to get the maximum benefit.
Even if you are not looking for a big harvest, it will be nice to treat yourself to a plate of freshly picked apricots or apple compote on a summer morning. How dense and varied the garden will be depends on your preferences and the size of the site. But at least a few trees are worth planting.
Garden
Now, few people want to start a large garden, for the care of which they have to spend the lion's share of their free time. But at the same time, the beds are an integral part of the rustic style. As a compromise, you can create a small vegetable garden. It will take only a couple of free meters, and you will receive not only a beautiful addition to the site, but also a place to grow vegetables, berries or herbs.
It is not necessary to allocate one continuous plot of land under the garden. On the contrary, it would be better if you do exactly the same as with the flower beds - divide the territory into several identical squares and fence them off from each other with stones or low wicker fences and narrow paths. This looks more aesthetically pleasing, and it is much easier to care for such beds. On neat squares, you can grow green cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, cilantro, basil, and so on. Under the beds it is recommended to allocate the most sunlit area.
Rest zone
Even in the village you need to be able to have a good rest. On a rural plot there is no place for an exquisite gazebo with luxurious decor. It should be replaced with a simple wooden table surrounded by wicker chairs and covered with a canopy.
Decor
Rustic private courtyards can be decorated with whatever comes to hand. This is both beneficial and practical. You will not spend a single ruble on such decor. To decorate the territory adjacent to the house, you can use old carts, wheels, wooden wheelbarrows that can no longer be used for their intended purpose, or even buckets and watering cans. They can be placed and hung around the site or even used as impromptu flower beds, filling with earth and flowers.
When a private house has already been built, it remains only to ennoble the territory itself. We will give you ideas on how to improve the courtyard of a private house and arrange a suburban area in an interesting, beautiful and cost-effective way.
Create a beautiful yard with flower arrangements
Who among us will remain indifferent to flowers? Flowers are one of the easiest ways to give the yard bright colors and comfort at the same time. In the matter of how to decorate the yard, flowers are simply irreplaceable.
Everyone can plant flowers, making a bright composition out of them, but to make something more original, you need to show imagination.
A flower motorcycle or a bicycle will look very unusual. I think for those who used to have such a "friend" problems with this should arise. There are two ways to make a flower bed out of a bicycle:
We take this “miracle of technology” as a basis and cover horizontal and partially vertical surfaces with a mesh filled with nutrient soil.
We install ready-made pots. If you chose hanging planters for flowers with coconut flakes, then below, you can put a baby diaper so that the water does not immediately flow out when watering, but remains inside.
Next, let's start decorating. In order to make the creation look more original, it is best to decorate it with climbing annuals, low ground cover flowers. In such bicycle beds they live well:
- petunias,
- marigold,
- viola,
- geranium.
If you are preparing for a flower show, you can cover the entire body of the bike with garden flowers. A flower arrangement will look very impressive if the flowers are of the same color.
It is very good to decorate a country house with curly flowers. To do this, you can use both the simplest, unpretentious plants, for example, morning glory or girlish grapes, as well as more noble flowers - climbing roses or clematis. These plants are able to create a real paradise in the suburban area.
Climbing roses can brighten up your yard in such a way that it will simply be full of flowers, especially if you pick up climbing roses that bloom all summer.
Do not forget that even unnecessary old shoes can become an original decoration of the site. Take a pair of bright children's rubber boots, make holes in the sole, pour drainage into it, then soil and plant flowers. You will get excellent garden pots for outdoor flowers. And it is especially pleasant that we decorate the yard with our own hands at no extra cost.
To make an original garden flowerpot, you can use not only shoes, but also old broken jugs, garden watering cans, old kitchen utensils, basins, buckets, tubs, wheelbarrows, bathtubs, barrels.
In old stumps, you can also arrange beautiful garden beds with your own hands. They are very simple and elegant. Such a decoration of the yard with your own hands can be seasonal if you plant tulips in stumps
Old logs will help us a lot to decorate the patio in the country. If there are rotten logs, then you can gouge a hole in them, lay the ground and create a beautiful flower arrangement.
Topiary
Another good way to make a beautiful yard and give a zest to the site is to give the bushes an unusual shape. This technique is very often used by experienced owners of country houses, creating stunning topiaries and a beautiful courtyard of a private house.
Some of them even manage to turn their yard into a real zoo by cutting out the figures of different animals with the help of pruners, which enliven the yard of a private house.
Waterfall, fountain, pool - the main decorations of the yard in the summer season
If you are thinking about how to landscape the courtyard of a private house with your own hands, then be sure to create a fountain or pond in a suburban area. How nice it will be to be near the water in the summer heat.
Splashes of water from the fountain will protect the plants from dryness, and the pool will become a real salvation from the sun's rays, especially children who love to splash in the water will be especially happy with it.
Looking at the waterfall, you imagine yourself somewhere far from home. Landscaping the courtyard of a private house with even the smallest fountain is very relaxing.
It is very easy to make such beauty your own. Surely, after construction, many will find pieces of tiles, tiles, stones. River stones will look more realistic.
A fountain installed in the depths of the garden will look very harmonious. You can also put benches and swings for children there. Thus, the garden will turn into a real park where you can relax with the whole family and the arrangement of the yard will be completed.
Stone garden - beautiful and mysterious
For those who want to stand out, we offer to make a stone garden on their backyard. It can consist only of stones and sand, but it is better to dilute it with different flowers, green plants, as well as a small pond or waterfall. This is a very unusual decoration of the yard.
Stone elements can become the decor of the path. From stones or bricks, you can make incredibly cozy recreation areas - patios that can decorate any courtyard of a private house.
From all this, we can conclude that if you have at least some skills in working on the ground and show imagination, you can turn an ordinary yard into a work of art!
Arbor in the courtyard of a private house
One of the most obligatory things in decorating the courtyard of a private house with your own hands is a gazebo. Arbors can be different - open, closed, attached to the house. It can be awnings and tents, tents.
The most practical gazebos in the courtyard of a private house with their own hands are made of polycarbonate.
The most romantic pavilions in the yard are tents, in which fabrics flutter and a lot of beautiful country furniture. Landscaping the courtyard of a private house with such a tent is one of the most enjoyable activities!
The classic layout of the courtyard of a private house usually includes a wooden gazebo, with carved elements. Equipping the courtyard of a private house with a gazebo is as easy as shelling pears!