Landscaping Ideas By NJ Custom Pool & Backyard Design Expert

Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

Driveway ideas are extremely important to the outdoor living space. While the driveway plays a crucial role in front yard landscaping, it is also the most important factor in impervious coverage limitations according to your local ordinances. A circular driveway can put homes right up to their impervious coverage limits and ruin the chance at a pool or patio. Try not to overbuild and hinder the backyard landscape design NJ. Aesthetically, driveways should be inviting and feature smooth straight or curved lines. The slope must be pitched properly to avoid ice buildup in cold climate regions. Material choices include pavers, asphalt, Belgian block, gravel, or granite cobblestone. The whole driveway does not have to be done decoratively either. Many choose to simply use cobblestone or pavers for entry courts or aprons rather than the whole driveway.

Properly design front walkways should not only be utilitarian, they should entice visitor from the driveway or street to the front entry of the home. Materials should complement the setting and/or the architecture of the house. Pavers or natural stone can be used, but again, properly installed natural stone will always provide the best return on investment. For formal entryways, elegant staircases and fountains can be used to enhance the scene. Also, do not overlook the pattern of the walkway. The stone pattern is a subtle way to set the tone for the front yard landscaping NJ.

Front yard planting ideas should address the appeal of the home from the street, also known as curb appeal. First, the landscape should be to scale with the home to avoid looking awkward, inadequate, or overbearing. Cluttered front yard landscaping and holes in the landscape can both be avoided with the right front yard landscaping design. Perennials, trees, and shrubs can blend together in a way that fits the home, invites visitors, and attracts passing neighbors. Mature tree plantings can also reduce energy costs for the home. Windbreaks and shade can reduce heating and air conditioning costs if they are strategically placed in the front yard.

Piers are masonry structures that frame front entry gates, line fences, or simply stand alone as pillars of curb appeal, they are also used to support lights or enclose mailboxes. Piers in the front yard landscape can be brick or natural stone. Thin- stone veneer is cost effective alternatives to a full depth natural stone veneer. For style purposes, materials or ideas are usually borrowed from architectural details on the house itself. To integrate piers into the surrounding front yard landscaping, plantings and flower gardens typically surround the piers with color and softer textures. Well-designed and beautifully constructed masonry piers create the ultimate entryway.

Outdoor living is all about creating a destination. Backyard landscaping ideas transform pools, landscapes, outdoor kitchens, and patios into aesthetically pleasing tools for functional outdoor living. Take a look at some backyard landscaping ideas that will make your yard the ultimate destination.

Backyard landscaping with fire creates warmth, light, and dynamic focal points. Depending upon style, fire can be used in a couple of different ways. Formal fire tables, bowls and custom outdoor fireplaces can highlight the outdoor living experiences. More natural landscaping ideas would include tiki torches, Volcanic fire pits, and camp-style fire pits.

Swimming pool landscaping can accommodate a wide range of styles. Formal pools feature ornate, classical shapes, materials, and styles. One idea for a formal pool design NJ would be a Roman End pool with Tuscan style gardens. Natural pools look towards waterfalls and other natural landscaping ideas for inspiration. Natural landscaping and boulder waterfalls can recreate favorite pieces of nature. Modern or contemporary swimming pools incorporate straight lines and chic materials such as glass tile. Natural pools dictate more aged, weathered materials and landscaping that appears timeless. Faux stone can be colored and transformed for a more rugged, antiquated feel.

Retaining wall ideas span from precast to natural stone to thin stone to massive boulder placements. These walls depend heavily upon the style of the landscaping. Depending on placement in the backyard, you can focus more on budget than appearance in less visible areas. If the retaining wall is used on a downhill slope towards the back of the yard, more cost-effective materials can be used. For significant, high impact areas, visually appealing, natural veneer stone can provide a great look and tremendous value through long-term return on investment. For natural backyard landscaping, boulder rock outcroppings blend into the landscape, and they are an affordable alternative to walls.

When considering materials for your patio or walkway there are many options to choose from. Pavers, stamped concrete, and natural stone offer a variety of strengths and weaknesses. Natural stone is more expensive, but when it is properly installed and maintained it looks the best and lasts longest. Pavers tend to become outdated and offer a somewhat poor return on investment when comparing it to natural stone. Materials should match the style and function of the backyard area. Pool patios should be cool for bare feet. Limestone, Tennessee Crab Orchard, and Quartzite are good ideas for inground pool patios. Bluestone and brick absorb more heat and should be used for more formal areas that are not in full sun. Patio and walkway patterns are determined, in large part, by the style of the outdoor living space. Random, irregular patterns have a natural feel. Running bond patterns can be more formal. Natural stones and formal patterns achieve a nice balance for patios and walkways. Other interesting options include permeable pavers and stone slabs separated by ground cover or grass. These are environmentally friendly and have a nice, natural appeal.

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Landscaping Ideas By NJ Custom Pool & Backyard Design Expert