​Gorgeous Walkways

​One of the great things about landscaping is that you can customize just about anything. Including the way you walk through your yard. Sure, you could keep your overgrown grass so your Aunt Margaret gets her kitten heels stuck every year at the Fourth of July barbeque, but she, and the rest of your loved ones, might appreciate a little path or two.
 
Spruce up your yard with these elegant and trusted styles:
 
Stepping Stones
 
Stepping stones are the perfect mix, they are cheap, but they look classy.
Adding different colors, textures, and variations in shape can create an attractive addition to your yard. This type of walkway is perfect for the beginning landscaper. You can’t go wrong with a scattered, casual, comfortable trail for your loved ones. One of the many great things about stepping stones is that the longer they are in the ground, the better and more natural they look.
 
Bricks

The thing about bricks is that you can make nearly any type of design. You can do herringbone, which gives a classy effect, or even just the traditional layered brick look. These walkways will last for years and are easy to clean as well. Adding different colors and textures to your brick walkway can be a conversation starter.
 
Rocks and Gravel
 
Rocks and gravel might not be the comfiest on your feet, but they do look great as a walkway. When they are perfectly portioned, rocks can make beautiful borders and gravel comes in a variety of colors that can turn any yard into an expensive looking retreat.
 
Pro Tip:
Add large pavers or stepping stones to your rocks or gravel to create a low cost but super welcoming informal look.
 
Pavers

If you are looking for something on the more expensive side, pavers may be just the addition you are after.
Pavers provide can provide a gorgeous pattern to your outdoor haven, but they require a lot of upkeep compared to the other options for walkways.
 
Wood Pallets

Reduce, reuse, recycle, that’s what the majority of us are about these days. Why not go to your local grocery store, lumber yard, or factory and take those old wooden pallets off their hands.
Staining them can create a stunning rustic ambiance while being virtually free.
 
Concrete

When you think of concrete, you might think of a boring old sidewalk in the middle of your small town. In fact, concrete can be dressed up in many ways. It can be colored, textured, patterned and basically look like something otherworldly if you want.
 
 
 
Please don’t just slap some construction material on the ground and call it a day. The purpose of a walkway is to lead the path, however, the walkway should have it’s own characteristics.
 
You must dress up your walkway in order to keep that calm and ethereal vibe. Some of the ways your walkway can look even better include:

• Edging it with easy to care for plants
• Creating a gentle curve in the path

Indeed walkways will lead you to your beautiful home or out into your yard, but once you get there, you’ll want something else to look at.

Flowers

That’s where the flowers come in. A beautiful blooming morning glory or a tall, strong sunflower might be exactly what you are looking for. Whatever style of flower you choose, try to keep the colors vibrant and varied throughout the yard.
 
Flowers look perfect almost anywhere. Create a gorgeous flower bed near the foundation of your home or trail them along your walkway. A flower bed around a patio or sitting area can create a delightful border with more than one use.
 
Dot some rose bushes in the front of your home to elevate the curb appeal, no one wants to see your foundation anyway!
To increase the gorgeousness of your flowerbed, add rocks or bricks as a border. Spread mulch around the flowers to pretty up the dirt.
 
Punch up your fencing or trellis with vines and flowers that climb. This can create a beautiful fairytale feel in your backyard. Pretty soon, you’ll get to see butterflies in your garden. What a way to celebrate all that hard work.
 
If you are going for the romantic look, add a rose arch leading to your backyard.
 
Pro Tip:
Remember the rule of 3. Planting 3 of something can make the landscape look more uniform, don’t just settle for one type of plant or flower here and there.

​Fire Pits

Are you the type of person that loves to sit around a fire with your friends, having drink and roasting marshmallows?
Then why not bring the campsite to your backyard with a fire pit. There are some really cool ways to incorporate a fire pit into your backyard. You can use round or square, stone or concrete blocks, are even bricks. Then you can make the pit in any design that you want, we suggest a round firepit, though.
 
Concrete Tree Ring

A simple way to create a unique fire pit is to use concrete tree rings. Place the rings in a circle, then stack another layer on top, upside down. The effect is really beautiful, and if you add an inner and outer ring, fill it with rocks or gravel, your backyard can look like a fancy getaway.
 
Old Washer Drum

If your budget is low, or you have an old washer lying around, using the drum can create a fun little fire pit. This way, you’ll always have something to talk about while you roast your marshmallows.
 
Stacked Stone

Probably one of the most popular ways to create a fire pit, stacking stones gives off a more natural vibe and there’s no limit to how high you can stack. Try stacking them in a circle to make a sophisticated yet rustic look or build them up like a hearth. Whichever way you stack them, the stones will look superb.
 
BBQ Grill
​
Yes, you heard that right. You can easily create a BBQ grill pit by simply adding brick or stone around a small grill. There is also the option of installing one that is made out of concrete, that keeps your grill very sturdy, especially when it is in a windier or unstable area.  We suggest using charcoal, or else you’re going to have a mess on your hands.

Raised Garden Beds

​There’s nothing like growing your own food, except sometimes we don’t like how it looks in our backyard. Building or buying raised garden beds can make an eyesore vegetable garden look sophisticated.
 
If you have any leftover pallets from when you were building your walkway, now’s the time to pull them back out. If you’ve already used them all, some simple wooden boards will work fine.
You can build your raised bed however you want, but here are some really incredible suggestions:
 
Built in Beds

Using some brick, maybe the brick you used for your walkway, you can create some incredible built in beds for flowers, vegetables, and herbs. When doing this, think about things like how much sunlight the plants will receive, and whether you are going to need to move the gardens in the future.
 
Sheet Metal Beds

Metal will aid your flowers in retaining heat in their roots, which can help them to grow quicker. The ground can be very cold for some plants, especially during certain seasons. Sheet metal is easy to form into any shape you want, rectangle, square, round. Create an everlasting garden that can begin sprouting before your neighbors.
 
Trough Beds

Everyone is into the rustic look, and what says farmhouse more than a trough? You don’t even have to assemble them, just make sure you drill some holes in the bottom for drainage. Not only does this type of garden bed look cool, it will retain heat for your plants just like the sheet metal beds.
 
Milk Crate Beds

Do you have any of those ugly looking milk crates laying around? If so, you can paint them and shape them into almost any shape you want. They have the perfect amount of drainage holes, just make sure you add some lining around the bottom to keep the soil in place.
 
Pro Tip:
Looking to grow climbing plants? Add a trellis to your raised bed for easy climbing.

DIY Waterfalls

​There is probably nothing in the world more relaxing than listening to a waterfall, imagine having one in your backyard that you can hear any time of day.
Not only will you get that tranquil feeling of being in the spa, but you can even add some friends. Koi fish are a great addition to any backyard waterfall or pond.
However, there are some tips and tricks that go along with building a waterfall for your new fish.
Sun is a Fish’s Friend
You don’t want to make your koi fish swim in a cold, shaded pond all day. Make sure that your waterfall and pond are right where they can catch some Vitamin D for most of the afternoon. Plus, you’ll be able to decorate your pond with more plants, flowers, and other natural accents.  Plus if you make it out of concrete it will be stronger, sturdier, and will last a lifetime.
Keep Some Space
One of the important parts of having a waterfall or pond is keeping the water and ecosystem running smoothly. You’ll need to have enough space around all parts of your pond so you can prune, trim, or pull weeds and plants that you may need to uproot. Having space to work, water, and take care of plants around your pond will make for better gardening.
Beware of Trees
There are a couple of reasons that you won’t want a tree near your waterfall. First of all, the falling leaves will become a nuisance once they keep landing in your beautiful water. Secondly, your pond may get uprooted while the tree is growing.
Add Lining and Padding
It’s easy to believe that creating a pond means digging a hole in the ground and filling it up with water, but it actually takes a lot more work than that. Adding lining and padding can help retain the water, and also help with tearing the lining. The more lining and padding, the longer lasting your waterfall and pond will be.
Rocks and other gorgeous landscapes can be placed in and around the pond to give it a more natural look. Adding stacked rocks to a waterfall can create a gorgeous showcase as well.
To learn more about how to create a waterfall in your backyard, locate a local home improvement store. It’s also important to read up on how to care for koi fish if you intend to own some.
There are also options for pondless waterfalls, if you don’t want the upkeep of a pond. These can be just as gorgeous, but how do they work? Well, the waterfalls have pumps that continually recycle the water, so it looks like there’s a lot, the pumping water makes the perfect babbling brook effect.
 
Pro tip:
​Try not to use more than three elements in one area or else the landscaping may not look natural anymore.

​Sitting Area

​You can’t have a fancy backyard without a sitting area. Everyone is going to want to come over and enjoy the view of your garden, pond, or foliage, so you must provide them with something comfortable to sit and relax on.
It’s also possible to do the cute table and chair set with an umbrella, but there are other, more unique sitting areas that might catch your eye.
 
Long Benches

You can create a really cute, cozy, look in your backyard by making wooden benches and adding colorful cushions and pillows. Make sure you use outdoor fabric, so your seating doesn’t get all squishy. This type of seating is perfect for large families, or families with small children. Add a table and you have an outside dining area as well.

Picnic Tables

They’re coming back. We are loving the way that picnic tables can bring family and friends together over a nice barbeque. You can dress them up in fun ways, with paint, plants, and other decorations. One of the cutest ideas around is adding 2 thin carriage wheels on each end of the table for a farmhouse look that your guests will adore.
 
Gazebo

Some of us dream of having a gazebo filled with twinkling white lights, and it’s absolutely a possibility that will make your backyard look straight out of a romantic comedy. Add some cute chairs or an outdoor loveseat and you can sip wine all night.
Arbor Seating
Adding beautiful flowers to an arbor and placing a bench underneath can add a charming touch to your backyard paradise. Not only will you have a gorgeous focal point, but when you sit in your chair, you’ll have the beautiful scent of flowers to make you smile.
 
Pro Tip:
​Add lighting to your seating area with flameless candles, string lights, or even tiki torches. 

Fencing

​You could be the owner of one of the most beautiful lawns in America, but if your fence doesn’t look up to par, you still won’t win the Beautification Award at the town meeting. Fences come in all shapes and sizes, colors, materials, the list goes on. You don’t just have to put up an old chain link fence anymore, now a days there are some really stunning styles.
 
Aluminum

If you are in need of a fence that doesn’t require much maintenance, aluminum is the way to go. Aluminum fences are durable, and they can be made to look like any other type of fence out there. Also, aluminum fences are lighter than many other kinds of fencing-which means you won’t be breaking a sweat putting it in. Aluminum doesn’t rust either, your fence will shine for years to come.
 
Wood

Wood is a classic fence style. You can use longer pieces of wood to create a privacy fence, or you can use shorter pieces of wood to install a cute picket fence around your yard. Just remember, the taller the fence, the more expensive it’ll be. One of the most promising attributes of a wood fence is that they can last a lifetime, as long as you treat it. From pine to cedar, the choice of fencing is almost as endless as the trees in the forest.
 
PVC

The cheapest style of fence you could ask for, PVC can be an interesting alterative to wood. Although PVC isn’t as sturdy as wood, it makes for some cute décor. Although some people would choose vinyl over PVC, others think that the lighter material works better and the resistance to chemical breakdown helps the fence to last a long time.
 
Vinyl

A vinyl fence is considered to be five times stronger than wood, so it will definitely last a long time. Vinyl is also a cheaper alternative to wood or aluminum fencing. Plus, you are doing something good for the environment when you purchase a vinyl fence because vinyl comes from natural sources and doesn’t use any fossil fuels to be made. Even though it’s man made, vinyl is impervious to bugs and water damage. If you are looking for a low maintenance fence that will last quite some time, vinyl is the way to go.
 
Wrought Iron

Have you ever been driving down the street and spy those fences with the intricate designs on top? Those would be wrought iron fences, and they are the strongest of fences. However, they require constant upkeep. You’ll need to re-sand and repaint the fence every couple of years. If you’re looking for privacy, this style fence isn’t the way to go. Wrought iron fences look great around gardens and pools, giving off a classy vibe that makes friends and family ooh and ahh.
 
Pro Tip:
Always start with a control post and then add all corner posts, that way you know you’ll have the right dimensions for the entire project. 

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With all of these helpful tips, you are on your way to creating the outdoor oasis of your dreams. Whether you are into waterfalls, brick walkways, wrought iron fences, or all of the above, your lawn can be everything you ever wanted. With determination and imagination, there are no limits to how beautiful and serene your landscaping can become.
 
If you are interested in trying some of these landscaping tricks but are afraid to take the plunge, look for cheap or alternative ways to spruce up your yard. Instead of beginning with the biggest DIY project, start small. Try starting off with painting your favorite bench or flowerpot and work around that. It can be stressful thinking about all the things you must do to make your home and yard look beautiful from every angle, so remember to take it slow and enjoy the little things about your backyard oasis as well. Afterall, that’s the whole point!