About Geoff Godfrey

Make Your Garden Your Own Special Retreat

by Erik Evans

Most modern homes either have no yard, or it is very small. However, this doesn't mean that you can't make the most of what you have available to you. Instead, you simply need to make smart choices so that you can fully take advantage of what outdoor space you do have. Even a small corner, planted well and supplied with simple furniture, can create a place that you can truly enjoy.

Colorful Accessories Compliment Simple Furniture

Investing in simple, high quality outdoor furniture is something that you will appreciate for years to come. In order to bring a fresh look to these simple pieces, use colorful pillows and cushions to brighten things up. There are plenty of outdoor fabric options that won't remind you of your grandmother's couch. If you want to stick with the clean look, you can just remove the accessories, and you aren't stuck with overly loud furniture.

The reason for making this choice is simple, there may come a time when you want to change the style of your furniture, be it temporarily for a special event, or permanently because styles change. By relying on accessories to make this change happen, you can invest further in comfortable furniture since you won't have to buy new pieces every time you want to change things up.

Recycled Items Create a Unique Take on Common Decorations

The back yard is the perfect place to recycle old items. The internet is full of ways to take household junk and use it to create interesting and unique decorations. This is the perfect time to stretch your creative muscles and make something that is truly about you. The best part is, no one else has to like what you made, since you are stashing it away somewhere where only you get to enjoy it (unless you decide to show off of course).

If making your own decorations is simply not your thing, try local flea markets and craft fairs. Local artists will often use these events to display their work. If you find an artist you like, you can see if they will do some commissioned work for your yard. Adding some great local art to your back yard will only make it a greater place to hang out.

Use Plants That Will Look Beautiful Over Multiple Seasons

Your landscaper is an important resource when designing a back yard you can really enjoy. In particular, the plants you choose will have a big impact on how much time you spend enjoying your outdoor space and how much time you spend maintaining it. If you live in a colder climate, it doesn't matter how much you love tropical plants, trying to maintain them in your yard is going to be an absolute nightmare.

Instead, work with your landscaper to choose plants that are either native to your area or thrive in similar climates. These are the plants that are going to be happy living in your yard with minimal intervention from you, as they would naturally grow there anyway. If there is a particular type of plant you truly love, ask the landscaper to help you find a low-maintenance alternative, or only use these high-maintenance plants as accents to a simpler backdrop.

More and more people are staying inside instead of enjoying the outdoors. Even if you don't go to the park or spend weekends camping in the wilderness, your own back yard can be the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a bit of fresh air once in awhile. Once you have a spot like this you truly love, you might start to understand there is something to this whole outdoors thing after all.

For more information, contact a local landscaping company like The Arborist landscaping services

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