If you’re preparing for spring landscaping in the Amherst, NH and Newton, MA areas, there are a few features that can make your outdoor space more comfortable and fun. From foundational additions to features that make your space feel luxurious, inspiration can come from a variety of places.
Paver Patio
Often the crux of your outdoor space, a paver patio can be customized to complement your landscape style and the design of other features. Patio pavers come in different sizes and are available in many earth-tone colors, letting you mix and match to create a unique design. Consider adding darker pavers around the border of your paper patio to create a clean and minimalist design. Patio pavers can also come in different textures. Rougher patio pavers can work well around areas more likely to get wet, like pools or other water features. A smoother paver is nice for areas where guests will frequent with bare feet. Don’t forget the variety of ways that pavers can be laid to create different designs, too! Whether you lay your pavers in a herringbone pattern, a basket weave pattern, or a random-style pattern, let your paver patio speak volumes about your design style.
Outdoor Kitchen
To really increase the wow factor, you can include an outdoor kitchen to your landscape design. An outdoor kitchen can take all the creature comforts of cooking indoors and make them surrounded by nature. By creating an extension of your indoor kitchen, you can create a fully functional experience that doesn’t require running inside for any ingredients or utensils. A variety of cooking appliances, like a classic grill or a unique pizza oven, can be used to create different and exciting meals. Be sure to consider how much counter space and cabinet space you’ll need for prepping food, storing dinnerware, and shelving non-perishable items. To take entertaining to the next level, you can add an outdoor dining area near the kitchen space. With a large table and comfortable seating, you and your loved ones can enjoy a delicious meal served up from your outdoor kitchen.
Fire Features
Whether you want a more casual feel around a fire pit or a more formal ambiance with an outdoor fireplace, a fire feature can help you extend the usage of your outdoor space later in the day and later in the season. As your neighbors begin winterizing their outdoor spaces, you can continue to enjoy yours with the gentle warmth from the crackling fire. A fire pit may have you and your loved ones reminiscing about making s’mores while camping, allowing this fire feature to have a more relaxed air about it. Include the Adirondack chairs, spacious bench seating, or a comfortable outdoor sectional to help guests settle in for an evening of sharing stories and making memories. If you’re looking for a more stately feature, an outdoor fireplace can be an eye-catching central piece to gather the rest of your outdoor features around. An outdoor fireplace brings many of the indoor comforts into nature, letting you enjoy the sound of crickets or the stars in the sky while keeping warm. Whether you choose a fire pit or an outdoor fireplace, you should consider whether you want a wood-burning or a gas-powered fire feature. Wood burning often creates an all-encompassing ambiance, allowing for the crack of burning wood and the gentle aroma of smoke. While you may enjoy the sensory experience, a woodburning fire feature does require regular cleaning of the ash, as well as a supply of dry wood for burning. With a gas-fueled fire feature, starting and stopping a fire can be as easy as flipping a switch. What you lose in ambiance you can likely make up for in convenience and less maintenance.
