Large backyards are like a blank canvas with endless opportunities for fun, relaxation, and entertainment areas that can tick off every item on your wishlist. The trick is getting the design right, though, so you end up with the perfect mix of beauty and functionality. Here are 5 landscaping ideas for large properties in Croton and Riverdale, NY, areas. Now is the perfect time to plan, so you can transform your property in spring and enjoy it all summer.
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Size Appropriately
First, resist the urge to make everything bigger just because you have the space. It’s important to create spaces where people feel comfortable. So while the kitchen/dining area can be spacious (because everyone ends up clustered around the kitchen no matter its size), keep in mind that cozy seating spaces are more inviting, and plan some spaces to be more intimate.
Create a Hub
The outdoor kitchen is the hub of outdoor living. Your cooking space could be as simple as a grill station or as complex as a full kitchen with gourmet appliances. Pay special attention to the amenities you want and will actually use; their placement to create optimal workflow; traffic flow in and around the kitchen; and most of all, spaces for people to comfortably gather and share a meal. Once you’ve got the hub situated and designed, think about the activities you plan on enjoying in the backyard. Swimming, games, sports, and gardening can all take up a good portion of the available land. Consider how often you or your family will enjoy these activities and plan accordingly in terms of location and size. Less-frequented activities could be positioned along the outer perimeter, so that the most popular activities (such as hot-tubbing or swimming) could be placed more conveniently.
Outdoor Rooms
Think of each activity zone as its own outdoor room, just like you have different rooms in the house for different functions. These outdoor spaces can flow into each other, or you could create separation to make them feel less exposed. It really depends on your preferences. Some people love the expansive look of a large property with a grand lawn, while others feel too much like they’re in a fishbowl, and prefer to use landscaping, retaining walls, and outdoor structures such as pergolas to break up the space. This doesn’t mean chopping up the landscape; it simply means adding vertical elements such as trees, boulders, and multi-level living spaces to add dimensional interest and help define activity zones.
Shelter and Privacy
Sheltering outdoor living spaces with permanent structures (pergolas or pavilions) will give them a cozier feel. It will also extend their usability, both in the hottest days of summer and well into the cooler seasons. If your patio feels too exposed, consider adding a living wall (such as densely planted cedars) along one or two sides of the patio. This will maintain the views while offering a sense of shelter.
Multi-Level Living
Multi-level living can enhance a flat property and make it more interesting. For example, position your outdoor kitchen and dining area on a paver patio immediately adjacent to the home. Then, place a chic seating area on a deck one or two steps above the paver patio to add interest and give the space its own personality. A few steps down to a secluded fire pit area gives people another place to gather, with a completely different feel than the elevated lounge area. These subtle elevation changes won’t block views or visually chop up the living spaces, yet you can enjoy distinctly different experiences within each space.
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