One of the most exciting transformations to take on as a homeowner is tackling your outdoor spaces. Your landscape can be an exciting component of your property to design. It will further enhance your property’s aesthetics and create a welcoming environment for you and your loved ones. No matter what ideas you have in store for the exterior of your home, from a cozy backyard to or simple hangout space, there are so many ways to spruce up its personality. We’ve created a guide of five key elements that can elevate your landscape design to a new level. This blog will provide insights on achieving a great-looking landscape that is perfect for you. 1. Hardscape and Outdoor Living Spaces While plants are one of the most beautiful features in any landscape, hardscapes within an outdoor living space provide a functional and properly designed area framework. Patios, pathways, decks, and seating areas are great for extending your indoor living space into the outdoors by providing your family and guests with more relaxing areas. Outdoor living spaces create relaxation, entertaining, and activity zones for all moments and occasions, helping to give your landscape a multifunctional area. Completing an outdoor space is an investment for homeowners who appreciate the outdoor atmosphere and add substantial value to the home. Incorporating high-quality hardscaping materials to complement your home's architecture and style will blend with your indoor and outdoor aesthetics, resulting in a cohesive environment. With these outdoor spaces and hardscaping features, homeowners can properly situate the area's greenery to complement the space. Whichever comes first, the landscaping or the hardscapes, both elements create an outstanding, personalized outdoor living space. 2. Adding Balance Every well-balanced design begins with a strong foundation as well as structural balance. To create this, a landscape designer will strike a balance between the plants, hardscapes, and open spaces within the area. Balance also provides visual appeal by ensuring all elements within the landscape do not overpower each other intentionally to ensure your outdoor space is composed. Highlighting focal points such as a small seating area, water feature, or a tree will immediately draw the eye and serve as a center of attention. In addition to hardscapes, certain plants that fill the area make for a beautiful accompaniment — adding bright flowers within retaining walls or even bushes to line a stone walkway. 3. Plant Selection and Arrangement Carefully choosing plants and how you arrange them play a key role in defining the personality of your landscape. Most homeowners go for a simple look, highlighting the natural greenery of their lawns and bushes as enough for them. For those who wish to add more creative elements and are open to more varieties of plants, consider the climate, soil conditions, and maintenance requirements. Consider different types of trees or shrubs for specific landscape areas, such as the edges for bushes and the center for trees. Group together plants with similar water and sunlight needs for efficient care and growth. 4. Consider Sustainable Methods Implementing sustainable practices into your landscape design will benefit the environment and preserve the longevity of your outdoor space. These practices include proper landscape maintenance through watering and other lawn care. Install an effective irrigation system to conserve water to ensure you are not overwatering the lawn. Use organic compost such as mulch to slow the evaporation process when watering and prevent weed growth. When it comes to landscape design, consider elements such as:

• Adding box or recycled planters to the garden
• Add permeable pavers for pathways and driveways to minimize runoff into nearby small bodies of water
• Consider adding more hardscaping features