Backyard Hardscape Ideas to Enhance Outdoor Living

 In Hardscaping, Outdoor Living Area, Patio

Usually, when you think of landscape design for your backyard, the first thing that comes to mind is the lawn, flower beds, and trees. While all of these are important for a beautiful backyard, adding hardscape elements can take your landscape design to the next level. Here at the Jersey Shore, outdoor living is a big part of seashore lifestyle. With so many backyard hardscape ideas that enhance outdoor living, choosing might be a little difficult.

Deck or Patio?

If you’ve been enjoying your backyard with your outdoor furniture just scattered beside the flower beds, you might want to consider a deck or patio. It may seem a bit basic when it comes to backyard hardscape ideas but either of these can easily become the foundation of your outdoor living space. Which you choose really depends on your yard and how you use it.

Decks are usually constructed of wood or composite wood like products and elevated above the ground. A deck attached to the house is a popular choice and can serve multiple purposes. You may want to use it as an outdoor family room or as space for entertaining.

When connected to the house near the kitchen, a deck becomes the perfect outdoor dining room for sharing a meal with family and friends. If connected near the den, it extends your family’s living space.

If you’d prefer a patio that is the centerpiece of your backyard, you will probably want to use hardscape elements such as pavers, slate, tile, brick or stone. A hardscape patio can be a great spot for outdoor lounge furniture or a dining table.

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Creating a walkway out of the same or complimentary hardscape materials from the house to the patio will provide an attractive walkway. This will also prevent a path from being worn in your lawn.

How Big is Your Backyard?

The size and shape of your backyard can impact the placement and design of your new deck or patio. Whichever you choose, the size of the structure should be in direct proportion to your yard.

If you have a smaller backyard, you don’t want the deck or patio to overpower it.by taking up too much yard space. A deck or patio that is too large can look awkward and out of place. It will also minimize the space in your yard for flower beds, foliage and family activities.

While a larger backyard will allow greater flexibility when it comes to the size of your deck or patio, it should still be kept in proportion with your yard. There really is no hard and fast rule as to what percentage of your yard should be covered with a deck or a patio.

To get a better idea, you can use graph paper to draw your backyard to scale and then draw the size of deck or patio you have in mind. This will help give you a general idea if the structure you’d like is the right size for your yard.

Exposure and Privacy

Another thing you want to consider when adding a deck or patio is if you want it to be completely exposed to the sun or if you’d like it partially shaded. This can be accomplished with a simple patio umbrella or having your deck or patio placed in a spot where it receives natural shade from trees in your yard.

Both of these options will provide the shade you seek, but umbrellas can be bulky and the trees will be a constant source of debris on your deck or patio. A pergola is a great option that can be architecturally attractive as well as functional. The roof of a pergola can be simple slats, lattice or solid, depending on how much you want to filter out the direct sunlight.

Hardscape Design Can Enhance Your Outdoor Space

If you don’t already have one, a fence can add a bit of privacy to your outdoor living space. After all, it is an extension of your home. You probably don’t want your neighbor watching your every move outside any more than you would want them peering in your window.  

Backyard Hardscape Ideas Brought to Life

A deck, patio or any kind of outdoor structure can be a big investment and you want to make sure it is exactly what you want. An experienced landscape designer can help make that happen.

Using progressive 3D design software, David Ash, Jr. Landscaping Contractors can provide a detailed, lifelike rendering of your home’s landscape, hardscape, lighting and outdoor living features.

Adding, shifting and altering design elements with just a few mouse clicks, we produce a full-color, 3D image of your virtual property from varying perspectives. It’s as if you’re already there, enjoying the peace, solitude, and beauty.

Don’t wait any longer! Let’s begin planning your backyard hardscape ideas together.

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