5 Simple Landscape Design Tips that Can Greatly Improve a Backyard in Grosse Pointe and Brighton, MI

When you look out on your Grosse Pointe and Brighton, MI, backyard and don’t love what you see, it might be time for some landscape improvements. The following simple landscape design tips can greatly improve the beauty and functionality of your outdoor spaces.

Introduce Definition Between Spaces

Sometimes the first place to start in a backyard improvement can be to introduce some definition to an otherwise blank space. Your landscapers might suggest creating “outdoor rooms” in your backyard. There are multiple ways to make this happen:

A natural stone or paver patio: One place to start thinking about how to define boundaries can be with the patio, that space where you go to hang out on a nice evening. Many homes have patios, but some are just small spaces of poured concrete with no personality or interest. Your landscapers can recommend ideas for a paver or natural stone patio that would bring textures and colorful tones to your landscape design. They can use more than one type of stone or paver to create a creative laying pattern such as the popular herringbone or the soldier course that brings symmetry to your space. A finish banding of darker pavers can visually signal the edges of the patio while adding contrast.
Attractive privacy choices: A stone wall, a “living” wall, or a classic fence could provide a clearer dividing line between areas of your landscape or between your landscape and the neighbor’s. This can be done in an inviting way, if you like, without making anyone feel shut out. Remember that fences or fence-like features don’t have to encompass an entire space—instead, they can be placed on two sides for a backdrop to add pretty shrubs and flowers while still serving their main purpose as a boundary line.
Garden options: You don’t have to have a “green thumb” to have a beautiful yet low-maintenance garden area in your backyard. Discuss with your landscaper the types of gardens that interest you and choose the one that best fits the Grosse Pointe and Brighton climate. One type of garden to consider is a zen garden, with soothing sounds of water and reflections of natural elements that will bring you a sense of calm. Another idea is a rock garden, featuring hefty landscape boulders, fine gravel, and sustainable plants such as ferns, hosta, and butterfly bushes.
Paver walkways for visual interest: A walkway featuring similar materials can continue the aesthetic of your patio while also lending definition and symmetry to your overall landscape design. You could choose for your walkway to be constructed in one straight line that divides the grass, garden, and patio into sections, or you could opt for more of a meandering path, made of stepping stone. You might be surprised how lovely planned walkways can add so much beauty to a backyard.
A nice option for shade—the pergola: Shade can become an important component of any backyard, and the pergola can bring a shady spot to relax on a hot day. Your landscapers may recommend natural stone, rustic wood posts, and natural wood slats, or suggest the urban look of steel posts, steel wire closely spaced at the top, and climbing vines for a custom pergola effect. Beneath the pergola can be the ideal space for a hanging bed or outdoor couches where you can spend the majority of your outdoor time.

Residential, Landscape Design, BouldersHalstead Media GroupMay 11, 2021Landscape Design, Backyard, Landscaping, Pavers, Natural Stone, Outdoor Spaces, Grosse Pointe MI, Brighton MI