Most homeowners and designers mainly concentrate on interiors, while putting exterior and landscaping at the bottom of their home improvement list. However, your outdoor space has a role that is just as important as your interior’s when it comes to the aesthetics, comfort and your own well-being. So, devote some attention to your exterior and your garden and improve your curb appeal and home style.
Red brick is back
Once upon a time, red brick was used EVERYWHERE! Then it sort of got replaced by more modern and contemporary materials, but old styles always tend to return. Today, red brick is popular once again, but it’s used more sparingly. It’s not exactly used for whole houses, but more as an accent detail alongside new materials. This combination of tradition and contemporary design can look truly beautiful and interesting.
Neutral colors for big effect
Natural and neutral colors are still going strong, both in interior and exterior design. However, today they are getting more sleek and elegant. The interest is added by using different textures, finishes, and materials within one color palette. For instance, the combination of polished gray concrete, dark grey roofing and rough gray brick can look both dynamic and elegant. Add some diversity with dark green plants like spiny redberry, fish mint, hosta lilies or perennials.
Add a water feature
Garden water features will never go out of fashion! They have everything a garden needs: strong aesthetic effect, relaxing sound, fresh vibe and cooling tactile feeling. Today they are especially sought after in Zen gardens that promote mindfulness, meditation and relaxation. If you don’t have space for a full-blown pond or fountain in your garden, small reflection pool will go great.
An outdoor room
Open air rooms are where it’s at right now. As people have a stronger urge to connect with nature and spend time outdoors, they are slowly starting to move their living spaces to their gardens. A covered outdoor room will not only allow you to feel closer to nature but also provide you with extra living space! Another big garden trend is outdoor kitchens. They are perfect for entertaining and enjoying al fresco meals during a sunny day. There are even outdoor kitchen models that can completely disappear when not in use. It consists of a cooking area, sink, storage space and counters and it can all quickly disappear under a cover that folds down. It’s super practical and useful! If you don’t have enough space for an outdoor kitchen, elegant fire pits will serve as a stylish replacement. They will provide you with extra warmth and they are perfect for roasting marshmallows!
Plant local and preserve wildlife
As the number of bees and butterflies is slowly but surely declining, it will soon start to affect all spheres of human life. Big cities, a lot of concrete, pollution, and pesticides are also causing habitat loss for birds, squirrels, frogs and even tortoises. Luckily, green living and eco-friendliness is a huge trend right now, and you can do a lot right in your garden to help wildlife. The first thing you can do is plant greenery that is local to your area. It will not only look right at home in your yard but also provide a home to many animal species. So, make sure to grow plants that attract pollinators or produce seeds and berries animals can eat. You can also replace huge, empty lawns with plenty of greenery. Additionally, try to restrict the use of insecticides and weed killers.
Cute succulents
Succulents are a huge hit right now. They are cute, easy to maintain and require practically no knowledge of gardening whatsoever! However, not so long ago, they were considered ugly and unwelcoming. Luckily, today people changed their minds about this beautiful plant category and they are planting them both in their exteriors and interiors.
A trendy exterior and garden will certainly make you love your beautiful home even more. Plus, they will inspire you to spend more time outdoors which is always a good thing!
Contributed courtesy of Catherine Collins.
Catherine is a passionate home design consultant from Melbourne. She loves making homes beautiful and buildings sustainable, but she also likes sharing her advice and knowledge with people. That is why she is also a regular contributor to the Smoothdecorator blog. Besides all this, she loves reading and enjoys a superhero movie from time to time. Follow her on Facebook & Twitter!
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