Most homeowners are aware of the standard options when it comes to backyard design. When considering reworking
their backyards, they often mull over the traditional options: whether to install a patio, whether a garden
or landscaping makes sense, whether some sort of water feature makes sense, where to put the grill, what type of furniture
arrangement would work, and whether a fire pit is in order. Now, however, with the advent of the green movement, developments
in outdoor textiles and lighting, and the emphasis on natural settings, the options are much more extensive. Before
you start planning your backyard transformation, start
by assessing which of these emerging backyard design trends are a good fit for your vision and then work with a professional
to incorporate them into your design.
The Native, Sustainable Yard.
Across the country homeowners are going “native” as they move toward a more relaxed style of gardening
and landscaping that requires less water. Low-water gardens, drought-tolerant plants and less turf grass have become the norm
in landscape design. Homeowners now assume sustainable design will be a major part of the plan — both for economic and
environmental reasons. This trend has taken hold due to the rise in eco-friendly awareness, promoted in large part by home
improvement centers that offer more diverse plant materials. According to HGTV, this movement is possibly
the most profound design trend we’ve encountered in outdoor design in some time. A decade ago when
designers talked about using native plant material in gardens, the image that appeared in everyone’s head was a mangy,
ugly garden. Now many natives have been tamed just enough to thrive in cultivated spaces, and using those plants in our garden
benefits the entire neighborhood by using fewer resources to remain beautiful. This means that water-intensive, grass lawns
are a thing of the past. Whether
it’s a recapturing of the front yard, in which a perennial bed takes over some space previously devoted to lawn, or
the introduction of a hardscape surface in the backyard for a dining room where grass used to struggle under a huge ash tree,
the thirsty, resource-dependent turf lawn is being replaced.
The Outdoor Kitchen. Just
as the kitchen inside the home provides the central gathering place for families and friends, the outdoor kitchen has become
the heart of the garden. Appliances and finishes that used to be available only for interior applications have been perfected
to stand up to the elements, so people are building significantly more elaborate and useful outdoor kitchen areas. Cooking
outside actually becomes part of the entertainment, with rotisserie grills, outdoor taps and pizza ovens taking center stage.
Edibles, Come Front and Center. Blended gardens that incorporate edibles and ornamentals do double duty, giving gardeners a bountiful harvest of fruit,
vegetables and herbs and an alternative to turf grass.
The Spa Retreat.
One of the fastest growing design trends is integrating a private bathing experience into the garden, whether it’s
a beautiful cedar Japanese soaking tub or a small outdoor shower. One easy way to create a more intimate feeling is to situate
a spa within a garden setting instead of placing it in the more traditional public space adjacent to the swimming pool. For
those on a modest budget, place a freestanding claw-foot bathtub in a private area near a bedroom and run hot/cold water to
the faucet for a unique and romantic bathing experience. Two technological advances have contributed to the wider acceptance of these private outdoor bathing areas. First, above-ground
spas have come a very long way, both aesthetically and functionally. Second, radiant floor heating—once used only indoors
or to thaw driveways in freeze zones—has contributed to the growth of this trend. In radiant floor heating, hot water
runs through tubes embedded in the concrete of the floor, making walking on the floor substantially more enjoyable, even on
a chilly evening.
Nature is In, Bling
is Out. As a result of
the economic downturn over the past few years, over-the-top, showy landscapes are out. Now, homeowners prefer to invest in
quality and natural materials.
Indoors Ventures Outside. The
concept of outdoor rooms has expanded far beyond the backyard picnic table under an oak tree thanks to two big technological
changes: the development of low-voltage lighting systems and weather-resistant textiles. Outdoor fabrics have changed dramatically beyond the stiff canvas available only a
few short years ago. Advances in solution-dyed acrylics have resulted in fabrics that are soft, durable and weather- and fade-resistant.
Thus, the plushness of interior living comes outside with the possibility of draperies, floor coverings, cushy furniture and
luxurious throw pillows. Low-voltage
lighting systems enable the use of the outdoor space during the times most people have available for the outdoors--weeknights
when they come home from work and during weekend evenings with friends and family. Low-voltage systems can light an entire
garden space with as little energy as that required to illuminate a kitchen with a few can lights. Now there are even table
lamps and chandeliers available for outdoor use. And, with the development of audio visual equipment resistant to the elements,
you don’t have to sacrifice technological amenities traditionally reserved for indoors. The next time you find yourself in the market for a new backyard
oasis, be sure to delve into these latest design trends in more depth to see which ones are a good fit for your lifestyle
and vision.
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