Quite a few homeowners are in the process of upgrading their outdoor spaces. While some homeowners may be heightening their curb appeal with a professional landscape design, most are focusing on their backyard spaces. This includes landscaping as well as a variety of outdoor structures for relaxing, entertaining, and other activities.

Popular Outdoor Design Elements and Structures

There are several outdoor design elements and structures being requested. The 2016 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey, for example, states that these were the most popular projects for their participants:

• Fire pits and fireplaces: 74.9%
• Lighting: 66.6%
• Wireless Internet connectivity: 65.8%

The same survey found that these were the most popular outdoor structures:

• Pergolas: 50.9%
• Decks: 47.4%
• Arbors: 44.3%

When someone buys a home without a patio, they tend to request having this project done, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association. This is usually one of the top features requested by homebuyers, which isn’t surprising. A unique patio design and seating area can provide an enjoyable place to relax, entertain, and work. Patios can also be enhanced with potted plants, shrubs, and other landscaping elements.

Invest in Landscaping Prior to Selling Your Home

When homeowners are planning to put their house on the market, it’s a good idea to invest in landscaping as well. This has been known to increase a home’s selling price by about 14%. Furthermore, almost 90% of real estate agents recommend landscaping to clients prior to putting their house up for sale. It’s also a good idea to hire professional landscape designers to handle this project.

The Benefits of Hiring a Landscape Architect

Given their experience and expertise, a professional landscape designer can create a unique outdoor space. You may be interested to know the results of a recent survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the National Association of Landscape Professionals. The survey revealed that 67% of the participants agreed a professional landscaper could create a nicer yard.

If you’d like to have a nicer front yard to enhance your house’s curb appeal, professional landscape designers will have a variety of ideas to accomplish this and other goals. Do you have a patio in your front or back yard? When you’re planning to sell your house, it would be a good idea to have this created by landscape designers as well.

Whether you’re planning to remain in your home or sell it, there are other landscaping ideas which may be of interest to you. When you consult with a landscaping architect, they will be able to tell you about all of their available services.