Backyard Design 101: How to Create the Ideal Outdoor Space

December 17

Think of your backyard, or any outdoor living area on your property, as an extension of your house. An outdoor room, if you like. As with most other rooms in your home, you can transform this outdoor area in a way that perfectly meets your needs and preferences. Of course, this is easier said than done. Maybe your backyard has become wild and overgrown, or perhaps it was designed for one purpose and you’d rather use it for another. Or you may have a small backyard that doesn’t have enough space for the type of deck you want. The good news is, no matter what state your garden may be in right now, it can be transformed into the perfect outdoor space with a little inspiration, planning, and a good backyard landscaping design in San Diego. Keep reading to learn more.

How to design a backyard with a garden?

First, ask yourself: what kind of outdoor living area do I want? Is it for your children and pets to run around in? Should it be a place where you can host outdoor parties with your family and friends? Or perhaps you’re into gardening and you want to grow vegetables or flowers? Once you know what the focus of your backyard is going to be, you can allocate space in a way that fits it. For example, if you want it to be a place for kids to play in, you shouldn’t build a huge patio that takes up most of the available space, and vice versa. From then on, you can start planning your garden:

Step #1: Understand the environment

Your backyard doesn’t exist in a vacuum: it’s a part of the local geography and climate. By understanding the soil and which kinds of flora naturally thrive on it, you’ll be able to choose the perfect plants right away and avoid wasting time, money, and effort on gardening projects that are unlikely to succeed. There’s also the yard’s position to consider. Is it facing west, south, east, or north? Knowing where the shadows will fall at particular times of day will help you determine where you want to place certain features. For instance, the areas the kids will play in should get a good amount of shade.

Step #2: Get inspired

Even if you already know exactly how you want your backyard to look, it’s worth spending a little extra time checking out other sources of inspiration. Who knows, you may find something that catches your eye even more than what you previously envisioned. Here are some sources of inspiration:
  • Visiting other people’s gardens and asking them to elaborate on their choices and what they’d do differently if they decided to redo their outdoor areas can give you valuable insights.
  • Gardening magazines and websites are full of great ideas for backyards of all types and sizes.
  • Going to local parks such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade can really give you an idea of what different features are like in practice.

Step #3: Contact the professionals

Once you have an idea of what you want your garden to look like, you should get in touch with a reputable landscaping contractor and schedule a consultation. They will provide you with further recommendations and offer additional ways to get the most out of your outdoor living area.

Who provides top-quality backyard landscaping design in San Diego?

The best way to create a truly gorgeous backyard that meets your needs and takes full advantage of the available space is by hiring a first-rate landscaping contractor like Pacific Dreamscapes. With over two decades of industry presence, our ability to provide the good people of San Diego with state-of-the-art softscapes, hardscapes, patios, water features, and other landscaping features is truly second-to-none. Contact us today.