Planning Your Outdoor Living Spaces

Outdoor Living Spaces Add Value

A well-planned, inviting outdoor space should add to your home’s value. Today, more than ever, people like to entertain at home. This puts outdoor living spaces high on the list of “wants and needs” for potential buyers.

Since you’re not yet in a planning frenzy, take some time to speak to a local realtor, or local landscape designer, about what type of outdoor living space buyers want.

If you’re thinking about selling your home over the next few years, it’s important to know what outdoor space will give you the greatest return on your investment.

How To Plan Your Perfect Outdoor Space

The first step in planning a design is easy: Determine what you want.  Are you dreaming of an outdoor kitchen where you’ll joyously feed family and friends? Or do you want a cozy fire pit to gather around where your kids and grandkids will toast marshmallows?

Do you want to incorporate a TV, heat, lighting, or other amenities into your outdoor space? Have you always liked the tranquility a water feature brings? Or longed for a private shady spot where you can read a favorite book?

Think about what would add to your family’s enjoyment of the space and what works with your lifestyle.

A complete landscape design plan should include the location and materials for hardscapes, outdoor living features, and all plant materials. When properly planned, your new outdoor space will be like an addition to your home; it will be your favorite spot for three out of four of our New Jersey seasons.

Don’t forget about drainage and grading

Another item that may need attention is whether property drainage and grading will be affected. Drainage Systems are installed to control the amount of water flow into your landscapes, gardens, lawns, and basement or foundation. This is an area that is often overlooked in the planning but can have a serious impact on your final outdoor design.

Have you thought about privacy?

For some, backyard privacy isn’t a big issue. Especially if you’re not spending much time outdoors. But now that you’re thinking about a great outdoor space, your desire for privacy may grow by leaps and bounds.  There are lots of design elements that offer privacy from neighbors.

Some attractive solutions are. fast-growing trees and shrubs offer a natural-looking boundary, latticework fences or even a living fence of plush, green arborvitae.

Talk to a professional landscape design company

Yes, there is a lot of planning to do. But you don’t have to go it alone.  It’s never too early in your planning to seek the expertise of a professional landscape designer. A qualified professional can work with you from your initial planning phases through finalized design and completed hardscaping and landscaping.

Before you know it, you’ll be relaxing outdoors wondering why you didn’t plan your dream outdoor living space sooner!