How do I add luxury to my backyard? 7 expert recommendations
A variety of high-end touches can be made to a backyard; the ones that stand out do an excellent job of blurring the borders between interior and outside, making the space feel comfortable and welcoming all through the seasons.
It takes some planning to develop a backyard space that satisfies the needs of modern living while also being beautiful and plentiful. However, if you want a garden that can be used and enjoyed throughout the year, no matter the season, it’s essential to incorporate high-end features into the design.
There are countless ways in which a backyard can contribute to one’s quality of life and many ways in which intelligent, luxurious design decisions can accommodate one’s particular preferences and way of living. In her own words, award-winning garden designer Kate Gould says, “Creating a space to be in for 24 hours a day / seven days a week is hard work, but with the inclusion of specific components to make your design and plants shine, it may transform the way you live.”
HOW DO I ADD LUXURY TO MY BACKYARD?
The secret to a luxurious backyard includes well-thought-out design features that look good and make the space functional for various purposes, including relaxation, exercise, entertainment, and dining. This can be done throughout the year.
When it comes to outdoor living, “people are thinking beyond the box,” says Kate Gould, and they’re often unsure how to realize their vision using conventional design methods. People don’t have to pick between a beautiful garden and a place to put their groceries away. An “either/or” scenario is not necessary.
1. BRING INDOOR ELEMENTS OUTSIDE
Kate suggests you “think about all the fundamental features of a nice home and place outdoor equivalents” to create a luxurious outdoor space.
Kate suggests constructing an outdoor kitchen complete with a cooking island and a sink, and she also recommends including an outdoor fireplace to keep warm. Include a bioclimatic pergola if you have room for it and other weather-resistant furniture – there are many possibilities for gardens of various designs from the top outdoor furniture stores.
2. GO BOLD WITH STATEMENT ITEMS
If you’re looking to add a touch of luxury to your garden, don’t be afraid to take some risks. The use of statement planting will amplify the air of sophistication.
Fewer, more essential items in a smaller garden space are more efficient and less labour-intensive than the alternative. Planter box ideas or containers filled with striking evergreen plants produce stunning living sculptures when illuminated at night and add drama to any space. If you can arrange them near a wall, you will also create shadows to add a sense of enchantment and mystery to your idea,’ explains Kate.
3. SET THE LUXURY TONE WITH LANDSCAPING MATERIALS
The opulent vibe of your backyard will be established by the materials you choose.
Kate adds, “There are numerous ways to look at luxury in a backyard: flagstone terraces surrounded by roses, lavender, and aromatic plants have charm and elegance for a traditional English garden theme.”
On the other hand, a pair of sculptural loungers may be all needed to finish a modern backyard landscape design, including ‘crisp cut sandstone or limestone slabs set with an emphasis on clean lines and minimalism, surrounded by topiary and feature evergreens. How you plan to live is fundamental to any design. Kate continues, “That will be the inspiration for the whole room.”
4. COMBINE CLEVER DESIGN AND FUNCTIONALITY
Incorporate both aesthetic appeal and practicality into your designs. You don’t have to give up a lovely garden to get a swim spa for exercise and pampering, a place to practice yoga or meditation, or an outdoor shower. Kate recommends installing a swim spa, but with a modern twist.
Kate’s show garden design (above) includes a swim spa as an exercise pool idea that is cleverly recessed within the gardens’ natural wood decking, as well as climbing bars, spaces for seating and relaxation, a yoga/meditation space, and a shower, all of which are artfully placed among dramatic and exotic, tropical garden ideas. The aesthetic is architectural, modern in its spareness, and luxurious.
‘I think we all need to experience that now,’ adds Kate, referring to the current state of the world.
5. ADD A FOCAL FEATURE
Make your backyard design stand out by including eye-catching accents.
Kate believes that an area with more hard landscaping than soft might benefit significantly from adding a bold, streamlined water feature idea. Walking on water can be achieved with the help of specially designed stepping stones that float just above the surface. Bold marginal plantings or simply trimmed hedging around your pond will produce a magnificent effect all year long by reflecting the sky.
The pinnacle of elegance and yard art concepts also boost a design. Depending on the design philosophy, this evokes serenity or creates a dramatic atmosphere. Kate suggests putting the pieces in a prominent location and lighting them, so they come to life at night.
6. CHOOSE LUSH AND LUXURIOUS PLANTING
Carefully selected plantings may do wonders for the look and feel of a backyard trying to exude luxury.
In terms of flower beds, long, cascading herbaceous borders stuffed with summer perennials and accented with topiary are the epitome of sophistication. They require a lot of care and attention and are not a good choice for people who are always pressed for time.
Kate says a garden’s exotic, the luxurious aesthetic can be achieved by planting large swaths of lush, sculptural palms and tropicals. “For smaller places, such as a courtyard garden, larger statement plants work best aesthetically,” she says.
Kate’s above design features swaths of tropical plants, each with a broad canopy that helps create a private haven.
The mood in a formal garden is much more still and serene. The emphasis here is on the shape and feel of evergreens. Gardens of this type have the most visual impact when they are allowed to reach full maturity. Choose plants with varying structures and sizes to create texture, and go for a mostly green gardening palette that will cheer throughout the year, as Kate advises.
Palm trees and other architectural planting are great options for a hot, dry, sheltered environment. ‘Here, you’ll have room to separate your big, beautiful shapes. Many of these plants have somewhat subdued colour palettes due to their leaves’ greyish or blueish tints.
7. INCLUDE LIGHTING
It is essential to consider outdoor lighting solutions to create a luxurious outdoor space that can be enjoyed at all hours of the day and night.
“It’s not enough for lighting to be bright. There is a wide variety of sculptural lighting fixtures to select, including everything from dainty pendants and strong ground-mounted lights to whimsical takes on lighting based on airy planting schemes. Kate recommends using warm white to create a cosy atmosphere.
HOW DO YOU BUILD A LUXURY PATIO?
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on materials to create a high-end patio, but using an attractive stone will make it stand out. The key to making it feel luxurious, however, is to make sure the landscaping around it is tasteful and well-maintained, the seating or dining furniture you put on it is sleek and inviting, and that it is well-lit at night, with soft lighting around seating or dining areas and up lighters to highlight architectural planting.
HOW DO YOU CREATE A LUXURY BACKYARD ON A BUDGET?
All of these factors may have you considering hiring a landscaper. To determine if hiring a garden designer is worth the money, compare the cost to the value you’ll receive from having a professionally designed and functional outdoor space. There are, however, some features of high-end backyard design that are affordable to replicate. Rather than tearing up your yard and starting over, you can save time and money by doing things like purchasing smaller plants that quickly mature into their full size, sticking with the existing landscape and layout, and focusing your design efforts on creating a single focal point, like a comfortable seating area.
