Iowa is in the heart of the Midwest, meaning it experiences all four seasons and has some of the most breathtaking views in the country. It also means Iowa homeowners love building outdoor living rooms with custom hardscaping. Outdoor living extends your home’s livable space by creating a functional canvas outside. Create one to seamlessly blend with the natural world using native features and unique elements. The Iowa landscape will thank you, and here’s why. Hardscaping in Iowa Iowa’s unique climate features rolling hills, lush farmlands, rivers, and robust wildlife. You don’t want to miss any of it being cramped inside the house. Hardscaping in Iowa lets residents enjoy nature’s bounty, entertain guests, pursue hobbies, and increase home values. But an outdoor living room changes the game. The point is to provide comfort and convenience to friends, family, and guests. It’s also about preventing heavy foot traffic on your interior floors. Enhance your exterior while protecting your other investments with hardscapes tailored to your lifestyle. Outdoor spaces like kitchens and living rooms offer a gorgeous backdrop for many activities, including relaxing, eating, and experimenting. Chase passions, get messy and live your best life under the sun and stars. Utilize hardscaping elements to build the outdoor living room you never knew you always wanted. How to Design Outdoor Living Rooms with Hardscaping Hardscaping involves using non-living elements such as rock, stone, concrete, and brick to create a medium between indoor and outdoor living spaces. Meanwhile, landscaping involves using living species like flowers, shrubs, and trees to develop a lush environment. Leverage both to design your outdoor living room. Here are some tips from the pros in Ankeny, Altoona, and Ames, Iowa:

• Schedule lawn maintenance services and yard cleanup to start with a clean canvas. Ask area experts to help you devise a comprehensive annual plan.
• Build a patio next. This helps provide a solid foundation for the rest of your outdoor living space, including fire pits, water features, and retaining walls for seating.
• Use retaining walls for safety, security, and aesthetics. Construct a border that helps keep your outdoor living spaces thriving.
• Choose a fire pit design that accentuates the rest of your landscape. Use it as secondary landscape lighting when the weather permits.
• Trim outdoor living spaces with high-quality organic mulch to prevent waterlogging, fungal growth, pest activity, and weeds.
• Create smooth walkways for loved ones and guests to traverse your property without damaging the landscaping or encountering hazards.