Three Hardscaping Elements That Give Any Yard A Finished Look

If you're like many modern homeowners, your ideal outdoor living space serves as a serene haven for household members and their guests. Perhaps you enjoy hosting outdoor cookouts in your backyard, and maybe you like starting the day with a peaceful cup of coffee on your deck. If you've got active children, your yard also serves as a play area for them and their friends. You might even grow a bit of food for the family table in your yard. However, if your landscape design strategy doesn't incorporate hardscaping elements, it probably has an unfinished look and feel. Hardscaping adds texture, interest, height, and often serves a functional purpose. Following are just three of the many hardscaping elements that can give any yard a finished look. 

A Pergola

Pergolas offer a wonderful way to add an element of height to your yard, especially if you lack mature landscaping in your yard. They also provide a focal point, shade, and definition. Pergolas also complement all styles of gardens. For instance, if you tend to prefer more formal landscapes, evergreen clematis vine would go well with that type of design, while cottage garden enthusiasts can dress up their pergola with climbing roses or other flowering vines such as nasturtiums, morning glories, and sweet peas. 

A Water Feature

Well-designed water features not only offer optimal visual aesthetics, but they also bring a soothing sound effect to the picture. Waterfalls can be everything from birdbaths to small fountains to fully-fledged waterfalls — just make sure it's in proportion to the overall space. Water features make ideal focal points, but they run the risk of being overwhelming if they're too large or looking like an afterthought if they're too small. The size of your water feature should be determined by the size of your outdoor space. 

A Decorative Fence

Think of decorative fencing as the icing on the cake — it completes your landscape design by adding a final layer of polish. For best effect, your decorative fence should be in the same style as your home major architectural components. For instance, consider a traditional picket fence for farmhouse or cottage-style structures or wrought iron for homes with formal elements such as stone or brick construction. It's also important to take the safety and privacy needs of your household into consideration when choosing a fence for your property. For instance, if you've got active children and/or pets in your home, you'll naturally want a fence that will keep them in and keep intruders out. 

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