Adding a deck to your home can yield a return on investment of over 72%. Not all your landscaping efforts will have the same financial effect, but they will add immeasurably to your home’s curb appeal.

A lovely garden’s also good for your mental health and encourages healthy outdoor activities. So, if you want to make the most of your home’s exterior, you should get gardening right away.

There’s more to creating an outdoor haven than putting in a few plants though. Find out the finer details about hardscape design here. 

Hardscape Defined

Hardscape refers to all the non-living decorative elements suitable for gardens. Softscape means all the living things you plant to beautify your surroundings.

Too much hardscaping makes your home look like commercial property, while an abundance of plants creates an unkempt jungle feel. 

For best effect, it’s important to balance the hard and soft aspects of your garden in the initial stages of landscape design. Remember, it’s easy to relocate plants, but it takes time and money to alter a garden’s hardscape elements. 

Types of Hardscape

Apart from naturally-occurring rocks, most hardscaping features are manmade. That means you’ve got a lot of options when it comes to choosing the perfect design to complement your home and personal preferences.

The various types of hardscape landscaping include:

Paving

Paving’s used for paths as well as patios, steps, and outdoor kitchens. It can consist of stone slabs, pebbles, or manufactured pavers. When it comes to pavers you can choose from a variety of different textures, colors, and configurations.

Some of the most popular types of pavers include runners, Holland pavers, and drain stone. 

Fences

Fences can serve a decorative as well as practical function in any garden. You can use them to delineate areas, contain pets, or enhance your security. 

Common types of fence materials include wood, concrete, and plastic composite. 

Hardscaping Structures

Wooden decks are popular for patios and as recreational areas around swimming pools. Gazebos provide shade and create a pretty secluded area for reading or relaxing. You can achieve a luxury looking gazebo style fitting in your garden by fitting a pergola with a louvered roof system from Caribbean Blinds or another company similar in your area. By using professionals to fit this for you, in conjunction with other tasteful patio decorations, you’ll have a lovely area to relax and unwind.

Pergolas usually attach to your house providing shelter for entertainment areas. 

Water Features

Water features add life and beauty to any garden. They attract birds and often provide a pleasant background sound for outdoor activities. 

Ponds and fountains are the most common types of water features found in gardens. Swimming pools also fall into this category.

Retaining Walls

A retaining wall can save your home and garden from damage caused by mudslides and runoff during a heavy downpour. They’re also useful for creating raised flower beds and seating on a sloped area.

You can build retaining walls from concrete, brick, or wood. 

Find More Landscaping Inspiration

Now that you’ve got an answer to the question, ‘What is Hardscape?’, are you ready to start beautifying your home and garden?

Bookmark this page as a source of front- or backyard hardscape ideas and browse our blog for more awesome home improvement ideas.

We cover a wide range of topics to ensure your home always looks its best, inside and out.