Backyards and gardens can be a bit like a blank piece of paper (or a blank document on your laptop, these days): open, empty, and fairly daunting. If you don’t know where to start with your outdoor designs, there are a few simple things you can do to make your backyard more visually appealing. These are just five of our favorites — if you want to learn even more, be sure to check out our pro patio ideas to love.
Add Planters
Planters are a terrific in-between step for those who may not be ready for planting a full garden. They can be used for housing flowers and plants as well as defining walkways and seating areas. Concrete outdoor planters, in particular, have come a long way from their rather basic roots—they can be sleek and curved, modern and angular, or anything in between. There are also plenty of color options depending on the look and feel of your backyard, so you can find the concrete outdoor planters that work for you.
Create Conversation Areas
This indoor rule is just the same for outdoor living — create conversation areas so your guests can interact with each other. This is an area where some people fall down when it comes to outdoor design (and no, it’s not related to uneven pavers). Even if there’s a view of a sunset, the beach, or any other outdoor wonder, be sure to create distinct spaces so that your guests can sit and chat comfortably. Each seat should have a small side table, and they should be clustered in conversation groups (whether this means one or more). Not only will it encourage a party atmosphere, it will also help make your backyard more visually appealing.
Create Walkways
In addition to seating areas, you want to create paths for your guests to follow and for the eye to travel (and no, they don’t have to twist and turn like Lombard Street—simple paths will suffice). These can be delineated in a few different ways, whether by pavers in a garden or concrete outdoor planters on a patio. Create a few defined walkways between spaces, whether they’re seating areas or planted areas, so there’s a natural flow to the space and people know where to go, just as you would indoors.
Use Outdoor Rugs
Outdoor rugs can be a helpful way to make your backyard more visually appealing and also make your guests more comfortable, particularly in the spring and fall. Warm days can sometimes lead to cool nights, depending on where you live, so a soft surface underneath can be paired with some cozy outdoor blankets for a wonderful, welcoming effect. These days, outdoor rugs come in every shape, size, and color imaginable, and performance fabrics mean they’re usually washable and easy to care for.
Use Outdoor Lighting
The final tip might be the most crucial of all when it comes to how to make your backyard more visually appealing — make sure people can see it! The right outdoor lighting means your parties can go further into the evening, creating an extension of your indoor spaces as well. Outdoor lighting can vary from hanging lanterns on the exterior of your home to cordless outdoor floor lamps to small LED lights that can be placed in the ground or in concrete outdoor planters. They can help illuminate the space, extend your parties, and make sure everyone gets a chance to admire your backyard design skills.
Lead image: Design: Cari Giannoulias Design. Photo: Eric Hausman.
