There’s no place more relaxing than a lush green garden; it’s the ideal spot to relax and unwind after a long day or enjoy a bit of greenery on clear, warm days.
What most people don’t know is that it isn’t just the greenery, fragrant flowers, and long-lasting perennials that make a garden a sight to behold but rather the little touches that may not seem evident at first glance. Getting the small details right will determine how expensive or welcoming your garden will look as a tranquil, cohesive space!
It’s essential to be indulgent as possible when it comes to landscaping. This is especially true if you’re a perfectionist (as I am!), where you just have to achieve a specific look. Each shrub trim, planter placement, or pavement pattern will add visual appeal to your space. Since plants have different lifespans, your selection of shrubs, trees, and flowers will be instrumental in how fresh your garden looks all year round.
One age-old trick I have found to be effective in almost every landscaping job combining plants. Forget the expensive décor or the lighting; a well-curated plant collection will make all the difference! Reason being adding plants to a natural environment will always make the space look better than trying to manually charge the space into your ideal look.
Still, man-made features shouldn’t be discounted from the design. Combining hand-picked plants and well-designed artificial structures will bring an instant wow factor to your garden. It’s essential to bear in mind that more isn’t always necessarily better; even a minimal garden can look lush and luxurious with the right touches.
Here are some clever ideas on how to make your landscape look more expensive.
Take a look!
1. Go for Evergreens
As I previously stated, the choice of plants makes all the difference when creating an expensive-looking garden. To this end, you should opt for plants with year-round color. These plants, such as the classic evergreen boxwood, will add visual appeal to your space and improve the texture.
For a little bit of pizzazz, try shrubs with flowers or plants with different foliage colors. I prefer choosing plants with matching or complementary colors to ensure a cohesive color pattern.
2. Go All Natural With Furnishings
As you may have noticed by now, natural materials work well in most luxurious landscapes. Most modern spaces are moving away from concrete and steel to natural materials such as woven fabrics, wood, and rattan.
When used in outdoor spaces such as gardens and patios, these nature-inspired materials create a rich ambiance with a soothing feel.
Before settling on materials, decide on the color palettes and textures you want for your space. It’s also essential to consider the mood and ambiance you want to evoke in the space. Complementary décor accents can add to the luxurious feel.
3. Attention to Detail
I cannot stress this enough! For a luxurious-looking landscape, the devil is always in the details. Even the tiniest of details that may seem unimportant will be crucial in contributing to the space’s aesthetic appeal.
Keep your walkways tidy and unroot any creeping weeds. Next, ensure that your driveway is in good repair and that grass isn’t creeping over it (here’s where edging comes in).
Other simple details that could elevate your garden include a well-designed and maintained mailbox and planters around the front door with seasonal plantings; this will come in handy during the festive season.
Don’t forget the lighting. A spotlight on a tree or two will do wonders for your visual interest. If you have a sitting area, you can also opt for string lights to ensure it’s usable day or night. The choice of lighting will also contribute to the space’s ambiance, so be careful about what you choose.
4. Create Some Symmetry
Let’s face it: we are orderly creatures; even a little bit of chaos can make us unsettled and uneasy. While the symmetry concept is widely employed in interior spaces, it can also be a good choice for outdoors.
A garden with a jumble of unrelated plants and garden elements will be too chaotic and hardly make sense in your landscape, but introducing a pattern will help create a unified space.
Start with a simple pattern, which you can then make more complex in the future. When landscaping, I like having a clear image of how I want my garden to look before introducing plants and other design elements.
This ensures the space is always well structured. Remember, landscaping isn’t just a one-time activity—you have to be patient for your garden to take shape.
5. Neat edges
As simple as it may sound, neat edging significantly impact how your garden bed looks. Even the most well-designed gardens will look shabby when neglected. Overgrown foliage and unmaintained lawns can make even a royal garden look out of place!
Go for edge designs that are simple, clean, and easy to maintain. You should also consider the future prospects of expansion. As the landscape takes shape, the size of the beds is likely to change.
Consider simple edges like metal, which are easy to maintain, or go for the more conventional spade edges, which are neat and simple to expand as you add to your garden. Don’t forget to prune and trim any overgrown plants.
6. Try a Discrete Color Palette
When designing my front yard, I decided to adopt a unique approach, and I have to say, it worked exceptionally well! Wanna know the secret? I adopted a discrete color palette that was instant eye candy for visitors. I figured since the yard is the first thing people see when approaching the house, having a good color scheme will go a long way in improving the curb appeal.
Try interesting color schemes, like a mixture of green shrubs with accent flowers, to inspire different moods. The choice of accent colors will depend on your tastes and preferences. In my case, I went with white and orange flowers to bring in the full fall spirit.
7. Well-Tended Trees
No garden is complete without a tree. Trees add an element of depth and dimension to a garden while also using their size to contribute to its dramatic appeal. Their unique, undefinable aesthetic allure makes your garden glimmer and impacts your property’s selling price.
The good thing about trees is that you don’t have to worry much about a sitting spot. I have a couple of maples and dogwoods that are my perfect retreat on hot summer days.
The most tricky part about trees, and probably the most discouraging one, is that they take a bit longer than other plants for you to see their true beauty. As such, you should grow them as soon as you start your garden. My maples took about 7 years to really come to form, but I have to say, they were worth the wait!
8. Go Big With Pavers and Stone Work
Large pavers and stonework can add immense flair to your landscape since they look more grand and have a better dramatic appeal than the standard small-scale pavers; the bigger your pavers, the grander the space will look!
Natural stone is one of the best choices for garden pavers, as these stones seamlessly fit into the natural environment. Clear lines and well-defined borders will also add to the feeling of luxury in your space.
9. Proper Maintenance
With a lush-looking landscape, it would be a shame to let it spiral into disorder due to a lack of maintenance. Sometimes, even the most luxurious garden may fall apart if not cared for well enough. This is especially true if you visit your garden every day, as it’s hard to see these gradual changes.
Take a step back and look at your property and surrounding landscape to note areas needing a touch-up.
I have devised a simple solution to ensure my garden is adequately maintained: taking a picture after every maintenance circle. Having a pic of my garden looking at its best ensures I can always compare its growth and surrounding conditions. This way, I always know when maintenance time is around the corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we’ve highlighted everything you need to do to make your garden a luxurious space, it is time to look at the frequently asked questions about luxurious landscaping.
What makes up a luxurious landscape?
A luxurious landscape doesn’t have to include many elements; besides, luxury is subjective! Add an element of personalization. This may be a fire pit, a small outdoor dining area, a conversation area, or even a fountain. The most crucial point to remember is balancing functionality and aesthetics.
What designs are popular in landscaping?
Again, the choice of landscaping design often boils down to personal preferences. Currently, the most popular designs are contemporary, but it’s always a good idea to match your landscape with your home’s architectural design.
Should I go for a landscaper, or can I just do it myself?
Personal landscaping allows you to really infuse the design with your preferences and add a little bit of character. But if you don’t have the know-how, it’s always advisable to go with a professional who will offer ideas to help realize your vision.
