A well-designed landscape enhances the ambiance of your home. It also increases your property value and makes a positive first impression with potential homebuyers.
There are many different types of landscape design. However, a few basic principles can help you create a beautiful yard that will increase your property value and improve your quality of life. Contact Oasis Landscaping of Harrisburg now!
Landscaping offers a variety of benefits, from increasing home value to decreasing energy costs. In addition, it can help create a relaxing environment for you and your family.
Studies have shown that homes with well-maintained landscaping sell at a higher rate than those without. This is because prospective buyers are attracted to homes with appealing curb appeal, and a beautifully landscaped yard is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve your property’s visual appeal.
The form and color of your landscape design are important aspects that add to its aesthetic appeal. For example, straight lines and fixtures give your landscape a formal appearance, while curves and round features create a more comfortable and casual feel. In addition, using contrasting colors helps create depth and dimension. Color also plays a role in establishing moods, with warm colors like red and yellow adding excitement while cool colors such as blue and green provide a more tranquil and peaceful feeling.
When creating your landscape, you should always consider the purpose of each area. For example, if you want to use your backyard as an outdoor living space, you should include seating and entertainment features in your plan. If you prefer to relax in solitude, a privacy fence and lush plant life can make the perfect setting.
Landscapes can also protect your property from environmental hazards such as soil erosion and flooding. In addition, they can provide a natural cooling effect in the summer and act as a wind barrier during the winter. Landscaping can even enhance the ambiance of your home by introducing a pleasant sound of water flowing from a fountain or music coming from a speaker.
With the volatility of the real estate market, homeowners are often cautious about investing too much in home upgrades that may not generate a return at resale. However, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects, your property’s landscaping can add as much as 20% to its resale value. So, if you are considering selling your home in the near future, it is worth prioritizing your landscaping for maximum return on investment.
Creating a Relaxing Outdoor Space
There’s nothing like relaxing in the outdoors to relieve stress, reduce anxiety and boost your mood. In fact, studies have shown that nature’s calming influence helps lower blood pressure and stress levels, reduce headaches, increase immune system function, boost self esteem and promote sleepiness. But if you don’t have easy access to a natural area, you can still create a serene outdoor space to rest and relax right in your own backyard.
Your landscaping is a big part of creating the perfect space to unwind, whether it’s an inviting patio, cozy garden or lush backyard oasis. With the right mix of plant species, colors and textures, you can cultivate a landscape that’s soothing, serene and welcoming.
Start by clearly defining the space you want to transform into your relaxation retreat. Then choose comfortable seating options to encourage socialization and relaxation. Look for weather-resistant outdoor furniture in styles and materials that complement your space, such as wicker, teak and aluminum. Plush cushions, throw pillows and decorative outdoor accessories can add comfort, visual appeal and a personal touch.
Then fill the space with calming plants. Carefully planned and selected plants that look natural in their setting can really set a theme or mood – and can even transport you to your favorite vacation spot. Consider incorporating flowering trees and shrubs with colorful foliage, like serviceberry, crabapple and redbud, or spring-blooming perennials, such as anemone, columbine, liatris, bleeding heart, and phlox, into your landscape design.
Finally, enhance your ambiance with soothing water features, such as fountains, ponds, and small waterfalls. The sound of trickling water has been shown to calm the brain at a neurological level. And soft, ambient lighting can enhance the tranquility and beauty of your landscape at night.
Adding a fire pit, stargazing spots and other outdoor entertainment areas are great ways to make your outdoor space a relaxing getaway for the whole family. When planning your landscape, remember to prioritize unity – a sense of consistency and harmony among the plants and other elements of your yard. This can be achieved by repeating plant species throughout your landscape or using the same color palette for building materials, hardscapes, and furnishings.
Enhancing Your Curb Appeal
A beautifully landscaped property catches the eye and demonstrates to potential buyers that it has been lovingly maintained. As the Royal Examiner reports, a well-designed curb appeal is a major selling point that can increase your home’s market value by $25,000 or more. It can also enhance your quality of life by making it easier to move in and feel at home in your neighborhood.
Curb appeal landscaping involves more than just the front yard, but includes a well-planned approach to the entire outdoor environment. Incorporating pathways, water features, and a thoughtful mix of plants is key to creating the perfect ambiance for your home.
Incorporating a water feature like a fountain or a bubbling rock garden helps set your property apart from others and can create a soothing backdrop for any backyard retreat. If you do choose to add a water feature, be sure it is proportional to your yard and not too large as it can overwhelm the space.
Walkways are another way to improve your home’s curb appeal, especially when they incorporate a curve that leads guests to the front door. A walkway is a great opportunity to add curb appeal with hardscape materials such as pavers, which complement the colors of the flowers and shrubs in your landscape. If your walkway is worn and cracked, repaving it can make an impressive impact on the overall look of your home.
Planting perennials and using annuals to fill flower beds and window boxes is a low-cost way to boost your home’s curb appeal. Perennials grow back year after year and require less maintenance, while annuals add bright bursts of color throughout the growing season.
Taking the time to regularly tidy up your property and pressure wash siding, walkways, driveways, entryways, and sidewalks can also enhance your home’s curb appeal by removing dirt, dust, mold, and discoloration. Adding a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of your house is also an inexpensive way to upgrade the appearance of your home and attract attention from prospective buyers.
Adding Value to Your Business
Businesses can benefit from well-managed landscaping in several ways. For one, curb appeal is the first thing customers and clients notice. A landscape that’s lush, green and professionally maintained sends a message of professionalism and care. That, in turn, can help boost a business’s image and increase sales.
Landscaping is also beneficial to the environment. Plants, trees and shrubs can help filter air pollutants and reduce soil erosion and water contamination. Plus, spending time outdoors increases the body’s production of endorphins, which contributes to overall mental and physical health.
Another way a commercial landscape adds value is by improving a property’s security. Well-placed plants and trees can act as natural barriers to noise pollution, which can be a big problem for many establishments. This reduction in noise can improve productivity and decrease stress levels for employees and visitors.
If a company’s outdoor areas look unkempt, it can send a negative message about the inside. This can affect how much a company or building is worth, especially when it comes to renting or selling. Keeping the outside of a property well-maintained with recurring landscaping services will give a positive first impression to potential customers and tenants, ensuring it’s worth their while to stop in.
In addition, a commercial landscape can add value by creating a space that’s enjoyable for employees and visitors to spend time in. Whether it’s a comfortable outdoor seating area, a fire pit or fountain, these types of features can help people relax and focus. This can be particularly beneficial for busy office buildings that need to keep their employees happy and productive.
Lastly, a commercial landscape can help a business save money by increasing the amount of time it takes for employees to walk from one part of the property to another. Paved or stone paths and sidewalks make it easy for employees and visitors to move around without stepping on the grass, which saves the company money on lawn maintenance costs.
While a beautiful commercial landscape can improve a company’s bottom line, there are other things that can help a business grow even more before it’s ready for sale. Having strong relationships with loyal clients, offering a variety of landscaping services and expanding your service area can all add up to a higher valuation.
