Creating an Exterior That Actually Excites You: From Bland to Beautiful
Got an exterior that could use some sprucing up?
You look at your yard and think… meh.
The landscaping is just kind of there. Nothing really pops. You’ve got grass, some bushes, and tons of wasted potential.
BUT WAIT! There’s more:
Your lackluster landscape is costing you way more than you realize.
Sure, a boring yard is unattractive to look at. But did you know that it also decreases your property value and steals precious outdoor living space you could actually enjoy?
Fortunately, the solution is a lot simpler than you might think.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Why your exterior really matters
- Why a boring yard costs you money
- Steps to professional landscape design
- How to make your yard Pinterest-worthy
How Your Exterior Impacts You (And Your Wallet)
Alright… let’s get real for a minute…
When you drive up to someone’s house and their landscape looks like something out of a gardening magazine, you naturally assume they’ve got their lives together.
The cool thing about landscapes is that they instantly make an impression that your furnishings and decor simply can’t match.
That impression matters because
A Virginia Tech study shows that an attractive landscape can increase your home’s value anywhere from 5.5% to 12.7%.
On a home worth $300,000, that extra bang for your buck ranges from $16,500 to $38,100.
Not too shabby.
But what a lot of people fail to realize is that professional landscape design services don’t just whip up cute flower beds and sprinkle some mulch around.
They craft beautiful outdoor rooms you’ll actually want to spend time in.
Companies like True Design know this concept and employ strategies and methods that accentuate your lifestyle – not some pretentious magazine’s idea of your best life.
The True Cost of a Drab Yard
Would you believe that if you don’t take care of your yard, it can actually:
Hurt. You.
Here’s how:
YOUR exterior can hurt your wallet and happiness in three ways:
- It decreases your property value
- It wastes space you could use
- It pains you daily
Yup. All that hard work you put into designing your interior deserves an exterior that compliments it. Not feels like a national dump stop.
And here’s another kicker…
According to one poll by This Old House, 77% of homeowners don’t spend enough time outside their homes.
WHY?
Because their yards are lame.
Sad but true.
Think about how often you venture out into your yard. Now visualize what it could look like with a stunning landscape…
Coffee in the morning?
Sunsets on your patio…
Sunday barbecues that feel like a vacation…
It’s all possible with some professional landscape design help.
Let’s Landscape!
Want your yard to go from drab to fab? Professionals start with a foundation of four primary concepts before diving into your yard.
If you’re wondering how landscape designers do what they do, here’s a little inside look at their secrets.
Plant Appeal
When your eye is drawn to a pretty landscape, what catches your attention?
Flowers, bushes, trees, and all of their colors, shapes, and sizes matter.
Before landscapers plant anything in your yard, they consider the maintenance and appeal of each plant. Will it flourish where they put it? When does it bloom?
Great landscapers create pockets of plants that bloom at different times of the year so that something is always captivating in your front yard or backyard.
Hardscaping Heaven
Trees, shrubs, and flowers aren’t the only stars of your landscaping show.
Elements like patios, pathways, decks, walkways, and retaining walls help fill out your yard and create “rooms” that you can use for maximum efficiency.
One trick landscape designers use is to balance your hard and soft scapes.
By giving your eye something solid to focus on amongst the chaos of plants, you get better design flow.
Create “Outdoor Rooms”
Continuing with the idea of rooms…
Just as your house may contain a kitchen, dining room, living room, and more. You can section off areas in your yard for various activities.
Maybe you have an area for fire pit gatherings, dining alfresco, and a quiet zone for reading.
There are endless opportunities to partition your yard into outdoor “rooms”.
Light It Up!
Finally, a professional landscaping crew won’t forget about lighting.
When it comes to your landscaping, lighting tends to be an afterthought. Don’t make this mistake.
Enhanced lighting allows you to use your outdoor rooms well into the night and create ambiance like no other.
Bonus? Well-designed landscape lighting deters crime and puts the spotlight on your yard’s best features.
Ready To Get Started? Here’s What to Do
Feelin’ pumped about transforming your yard?
The next step is to find a company that’s willing to listen to what you have in mind.
Not all landscape designers care about your vision. Many are just looking to sell you the cheapest yard possible.
When you work with a trustworthy company that values your opinion, you’ll find they:
- Ask questions about how you want to use your yard
- Show you different design options and don’t just start building
- Explain why they recommend certain changes and plants
- Give you realistic timelines and prices
A true professional walks you through the entire process from start to finish.
Learn How the Process Works
For the most part, all landscaping design firms operate similarly.
The process begins with an assessment of your property. They look at existing conditions like:
- Types of soil you have
- Drainage issues
- Areas of sun and shade
- What you’d like to keep, if anything
Next up is the design phase. Your designer will go over concept drawings with you and explain how they arrived at their conclusions.
Lastly, installation happens either in phases or all at once depending on your budget and goals.
Budgeting for the Yard of Your Dreams
Don’t let this stop you from getting the yard you’ve always wanted…
Landscape design costs money. But it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg either.
The Average Cost of Professional Landscape Design:
According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, you should spend about 10% of your home’s value on landscaping. If you own a $300,000 home, spend about $30,000 on landscaping.
Now keep in mind that you don’t have to do your entire yard in one go. You can split it up over a few years if you need.
Investing in your landscaping will always pay off in the long run. The better your landscape fills in, the more value it adds to your home.
Wrapping Up
Rolling up to your dream home should make you feel awesome.
You shouldn’t settle for a yard that does nothing for you.
If you’re ready to take your yard from blah to bananas, reach out to a landscaping company near you and see what they can do for you.
Review: Here’s what you should know about landscaping:
- Your landscaping can increase your home’s value
- Professional landscapers can craft your dream yard
- Great landscapes start with a plant strategy
- Don’t forget the hardscaping and lighting either
