Landscape Design Ideas Using Hardscaping

Were you lucky enough to get a tax refund this year? Perhaps you’ve considered spending it on home improvements, especially those outside your house. I mean, it’s always a good idea to work on your home’s curb appeal, just in case you have to sell your house.

As you consider different landscape design ideas, keep in mind hardscaping—that is landscaping using brick pavers, stones, and other outdoor patio designs. Hardscaping can really change the look of your home, for the better.

My husband and I discovered how great hardscaping can be last year when we invested in a major overhaul of our pool surround, backyard, and side yard. The latter required landscape walls that acted as a retaining wall as the side of our house is built into a hill. The real eye opener for us was how great our inground pool looked, just by replacing the concrete that once surrounded it and instead having a paver patio installed. (That’s our pool and patio pictured with this story.)

If you’ve looked into pavers, then you’re probably familiar with the company EP Henry. It is one of the leading manufacturers of concrete products. EP Henry recently identify trends for outdoor living spaces this year. Here are four landscape design ideas that seem to be topping the list for 2013.

1. Outdoor living rooms. A recent survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects indicated outdoor living spaces earned almost a 95 percent rating in popularity from respondents.
2. Multifunctional “kits.” Using a kit can help you transform an existing outdoor space into something else entirely. For example, you can using something called a “Solitaire Kit” to temporarily convert a fire pit into a fish pond or an aquatic garden. That way you can use the fire pit as a heating source in the cool early spring and fall months, and then it becomes a refreshing water feature in the summer months.
3. Outdoor kitchens. Adding to outdoor living spaces, certain amenities such as built-in grills, refrigerators, countertops, and concrete seating walls make for a versatile outdoor space that can be enjoyed day or night. While my home is not big enough to justify or allow for an outdoor kitchen, have that paver patio installed by the pool allowed us to create a new and easy-to-use grilling space that never existed before.
4. Sustainable products. Environmental concerns continue to be a strong driver with outdoor projects. Products such as permeable pavers help the environment by allowing rainwater to recharge the ground, reducing stormwater runoff. They can also be used to harvest rainwater for multiple purposes, such as watering gardens or replenishing ponds and fountains. I know that when we eventually have our driveway redone, I want to seriously consider having permeable pavers installed. Not only will they increase our home’s curb appeal, but also they will be good for the environment.