Your backyard should be the place where you and your family can retreat to tune out the problems and stresses of the outside world. It should be a place that is specially curated to the needs and lifestyle of your family. Here are five landscape architecture ideas to create a relaxing outdoor space in Manhasset and Port Washington, NY.
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Mini Interconnected Patios
The most interesting outdoor living spaces tend to be those that have separated spaces of use where specific activities are centered. For instance, you’ll want to have a space dedicated entirely to outdoor dining. Another space is dedicated to a relaxing fireside lounge area. Some landscaping contractors have implemented a series of mini interconnected patios spread throughout the backyard, making use of every part. Effectively, this creates a series of outdoor “rooms.” This approach does minimize the size of the lawn so it’s not for everyone—but if you’re not into lawn maintenance and want to be surrounded by a more zen-like landscape, it could be an idea worth exploring.
Masonry Seat Walls
Many different situations in your outdoor lifestyle will call for seating where friends and family can gather. You may have some incredibly comfortable chairs in your outdoor living space, but if you need to add seating for guests, the space can feel cluttered, which can cause anxiety. Masonry seat walls are an excellent option to provide permanent, built-in seating that can handle a crowd. Seat walls can encircle a fire feature or be an integral part of a retaining wall. You can always add waterproof cushions and pillows to make things even more comfortable.
Raised Masonry Planters
Keeping a natural connection in your landscape enhances your family’s enjoyment of the outdoor living space. While shrubs and trees are definitely the largest aspects of a natural landscape, much of the sensory delights of summer come from the more colorful and fragrant flowers. Raised masonry planters positioned along the perimeter of a patio are fantastic features that bring these smaller plants much closer to eye level for a more personal experience that’s more attuned to nature, and they also put gardening at a more convenient level. You can even include light fixtures and automatic drip irrigation systems in the design.
Local Design Cues
Nothing feels more out of place than landscape architecture that seems to be in an entirely different climate—for example a Southwestern style patio in the lushness of a wooded New York State backyard. Aside from making native plants the mainstays of your landscape, take design cues from good examples of local architecture. The natural color schemes of local wood and stone will give the space a sense of belonging. This approach also simplifies landscape maintenance since you’re not trying to grow plants that aren’t suited for the climate.
Shelter and Shade
Adding a shelter structure to your landscape such as a pavilion—where your outdoor dining and lounging can take place in comfort—creates a wonderful transitional space between the home and landscape. The closed roof of the pavilion will shelter you and your loved ones from the worst precipitation and burning sunlight. It can also be a great place to dry off after spending all day in the pool or to simply take a relaxing nap after a summer weekend brunch.
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