Home is where the heart is, and there’s no better way of showing your appreciation for the roof above your head than investing the time and effort to make it look good and be as comfortable as it can be. In fact, considering that home prices are surging everywhere, it’s becoming increasingly important that we use this opportune moment to drive some real value and implement forced appreciation on the property while everything’s still going good.
However, one common predicament that far too many home improvement enthusiasts find themselves stuck in is the conundrum of trying to balance the aesthetics of their backyard versus its overall functionality. And while it may seem like an easy challenge to overcome, the entire debacle can get quite confusing if you’re not too sure of what to prioritize, which brings us to today’s plan of just how you can find that golden mean of form and function.
#1 Eliminate Unnecessary Garden Features
Firstly, while you might feel a bit disheartened to hear this, some backyards are guilty of overdesign and feature way too much unnecessary garden decor that has nothing to in both the name of aesthetics or function. For example, the over-glamorous water fountain cramped into a small backyard might not be the best of design choices, especially if you already had raised beds and potted plants scattered all around.
- Make More Room For Multi-Use: One way of resolving this issue is by simply taking things out, and while you could keep them stored in your shed for when you might need them, in some instances, it’s a lot better to just have them out of sight and out of mind. Plus, you get the net benefit of making room for multi-use activities such as a backyard BBQ with your friends or a little excursion for your toddlers to run about when they’re bored of their phones.
- Limit Your Design Centerpieces: If you can’t help yourself to have at least some essence of extravagance, then we suggest that, at the very least, you must limit your design centerpieces so that they don’t overlap with each other’s purpose. You see, trying to cram in as much as you can create the exact opposite effect of a good design, so decorate with the intention of a centralized piece of decor in mind.
#2 Don’t Let Dead Space Go To Waste
Secondly, on the opposite end of the spectrum for backyard management and maintenance, another designing crime that a lot of households are guilty of is the extreme lack of any creativity and just sticking with a bare-bones look. Sure, some would argue that they need all the space they can get, or maybe they prefer the more traditional look, but we firmly believe that every backyard deserves a bit of uniqueness and beauty too.
- Vertical Garden Features Work Wonders: Some people are hell-bent on having as much coverage in their backyard, and so to help keep up with this pacing, an excellent solution would be to use vertical garden features instead. For example, outdoor hanging wall plants can add a lush and vibrant texture to your backyard that not too many homes use, which definitely adds more wow factor and flavor to the overall design.
- Recycle And Reuse Items When You Can: With major movements in holding companies accountable for recycling and a change in attitude toward green practices, we think it’s only right that we also introduce a bit of recycling to backyard design. Of course, more intricate work such as creating steel ornamentals and delicate woodwork will presuppose equipment and skills, but there’s a lot you can DIY if you consider yourself pretty handy.
#3 Design With Purpose To Get The Best Of Both Worlds
Lastly, while the two previously mentioned pieces of advice were all about offsetting too much of the other, you could also try designing with the functional purpose already identified to get the best of both worlds. Yes, projects like these tend to cost a lot more, but they certainly offer the most returns in both making your backyard look nearly unrecognizable and adding more value to the property.
- Scale Up Your Home Improvement Projects: Although smaller projects could work like integrating new designs into the backyard shed, scaling up your home improvement projects is the best way to go because of a larger budget and bigger impact. For example, building an outdoor kitchen right into your backyard is a surefire way of making it look modern and also gives you an extra place to hang out and eat food with the family.
No Backyard Is Perfect, But We Should Strive For It To Be!
While no backyard can ever be considered perfect, we think that everyone should at least try their best at realizing the backyard of their dreams. So, feel free to configure the plans above to your like, and don’t forget to share your progress to inspire others to do the same!
