Create an Outdoor Living Space That You Can't Wait to Return Home to in the Harrisburg, PA Area
When you return home after a long day at work or even a prolonged trip, you’ll be aching for a chance to kick back and relax with your loved ones. While the home can have all sorts of creature comforts, there is so much potential in your outdoor living space too. Think bigger than just the accessories you can add to your backyard. In choosing the right landscape design, you can create an outdoor living space that you can’t wait to return home to in the Harrisburg, PA area.
Related: Enjoy More Time Outside with the Protection of a Pavilion in the Lemoyne, PA Area
The Perfect Shelter
Spending time outdoors always carries the risk of the weather turning against you. Running back inside can really put a damper on the mood. To prolong outdoor activities and make your outdoor space much more comfortable, a permanent shelter such as a pavilion should be a part of any outdoor living space. With a closed roof and semi-open walls, you and your loved ones will be protected from sudden rain or the baking sun. Soon, a pavilion will become the center of outdoor living.
If you find that you’re spending most of your patio time under and umbrella or awning, consider a larger shelter structure that covers the entire patio to create an outdoor room: for days when you want some sunshine, consider making use of your side yards as petite getaways for soaking up the sun.
The Permanence of Masonry
Look to masonry for a more beautiful outdoor living space that looks as though it’s been well-loved for decades or centuries. Retaining walls, pedestrian surfaces, pillars, garden steps, walkways, driveway, and even a pool deck will have a sense of permanence when built from masonry. Choose natural stone paving stones or concrete pavers for your patio or walkways. Use natural stone or decorative concrete blocks to construct vertical structures. For even more design versatility, choose concrete blocks clad with stone veneer.
The Atmospheric Qualities of Water
A water feature such as a fountain or a waterfall can make a wonderful impact on the atmosphere of your outdoor living space. The constant, yet gentle sounds of a trickling fountain can wash away worries and create a soothing environment. When it comes to adding drama to a space, you can rely on a larger waterfall to build an exciting rush of water - especially when illuminated at night. Water features can be any size so if you’re looking for that one special touch to create a soothing atmosphere - but your backyard is tiny - then choose a water feature.
The Community Around Fire
One of the most important aspects of our social lives for millennia has been the fire. From the most basic fire pits to the most extravagant outdoor fireplaces, the addition of a fire feature will be a great improvement to an outdoor living space. A fire feature will always draw people in and create a sense of community. Like water features, fire features come in a huge range of sizes and styles. Be sure to make room for either a fire pit, a fire table, or an outdoor fireplace as the element that makes outdoor living cozy and communal.
The Beauty of Greenery
Beyond all the creature comforts of an outdoor living space, people will always be enamored by a landscape bursting with plant life. There are dozens of gorgeous native plants which can create a soothing atmosphere, provide shade and privacy, delight you with wonderful aromas, provide food and shelter for wildlife, and build on a visually stunning space.