What Can a Courtyard or Exterior Hardscape Add to Your Home?
It’s a new year, and if your resolution for 2018 is to renovate your home, adding a courtyard or exterior hardscape could be your next exciting project. While it’s always nice to change something inside the house, it’s also worth considering what you can do to make the most out of your outdoor space.
A courtyard or hardscape can be an attractive addition to your property, creating a space where you can relax and spend time with the people you love when the warm weather rolls round again. Here are just a few more reasons to consider making this addition.
Low maintenance
If you have a big garden with large grassy areas, then you’re already familiar with the struggle to keep it neat. You might even have to hire someone to maintain your garden for you, or else risk it turning into a jungle before your eyes. And if you live in an area with poor soil quality, it becomes even harder to keep things looking good.
By contrast, hardscapes and courtyards require very little maintenance to keep clean and beautiful. Unless damaged, the materials very rarely need to be replaced, and they’re easy to hose down if dirty. In fact, a little rain will do most of the work for you. You can still have grassy areas of course, but with fewer of them, you’ll find it takes less time to keep them neat.
Adds interest to your garden
A winding stone pathway weaving through your garden. A fire pit to sit around and share stories beneath the stars. A spacious courtyard complete with relaxation areas for when you want to entertain or simply unwind. Whatever your vision, adding hard materials to your garden’s landscape can make the space more interesting and unique, and create focal points that instantly draw the eye.
Whether you want your courtyard or hardscape to replace any existing greenery or work alongside it, you can still incorporate organic elements in lots of interesting ways. Trees surrounding a stone area create shade on a hot day, for example, while potted shrubberies and flowers add a pop of color and help soften any hard edges.
Increases the value of your home
One of the best reasons to consider adding a courtyard or exterior hardscape to your property is the increased value it can bring. If you plan to sell your home or think you might in the future, this is an investment that can really pay off.
While a large garden is nice in theory, many people don’t have the time or patience to maintain it, and it might put buyers off. An attractive and practical hardscape, on the other hand, will increase the visual appeal of the space and help buyers to visualize how they’d spend time there. It’s just one way to differentiate your property from similar ones they might be looking at.
At H Design Build, we’ve helped many property owners transform their outdoor spaces with detailed and beautiful courtyards and hardscape elements. Tell us your vision for your garden, or let us help you plan it. To get started, contact us today for a free estimate.