Gorgeous Gardens: Creating An Elegant Outdoor Space

If you’re fortunate enough to have a home with outdoor living space, whether a pocket-sized porch or an expansive garden, ensuring you get as much use out of it as possible is key. For advice on how to maximize your greenspace, we tapped five Scouted landscape experts for their favorite ways to ensure that your home’s exterior is just as regal as what’s inside. Prepare to get inspired as patio season begins in earnest. Need help making your al fresco dreams come true? Find a landscape professional near you by browsing our Scouted Directory.

Landscaping by Roots Landscape, Inc. Photography by Nathan Tuno.

Keep it contained. Container gardening is the perfect way to add some height and interest to your landscape with less commitment than ground planting. “Filling multi-sized planters or containers with seasonal color are great ways of personalizing the space,” says Nathan Tuno, landscape designer and marketing director of Roots Landscape Inc. in Wayne, Pennsylvania. “I love the use of found objects or weathered containers that look unique and act as a talking point with guests.” Tuno goes on to explain that bountiful containers act as icing on the cake for patios and yards, or another way to take your landscaping to the next level.

Landscaping by Scenic Landscaping. Photography by Heather Knapp.

Bring the inside out. When creating an outdoor space that acts as an extension of your indoor living, Mitchell Knapp, president and owner of Scenic Landscaping in Haskell, New Jersey, urges homeowners to consider what interior materials and design schemes can easily be translated outside. “Even small details, like matching metal tones, wood colors, or rock material, can create a seamless transition from inside to outside,” Knapp explains. For example, if your interior design aesthetic leans uber modern, he recommends continuing those clean lines and geometric features in your outdoor space in order to ensure a cohesive look.

Landscaping by Roots Landscape, Inc. Photography by Nathan Tuno.

Make a plan. The way you approach designing your outdoor spaces should be similar to your interior design planning. “When designing a patio or outdoor room, I always ask my clients how they plan to use the space, what amenities they’re looking for, and how this space will evolve over time,” Tuno says. A big key to creating an outdoor living space is to note where people will be gathering, access points, and views that need to be enhanced or buffered. Once those elements are decided upon, Tuno turns his attention to landscaping, which includes layering in everblooming perennials, trees with seasonal interest, low-voltage lighting, and planters into your plan, as they will welcome guests and your family every time they step into the space.

Landscaping by Scenic Landscaping. Photography by Heather Knapp.

Heat it up. Our experts agree that adding a heat source to outdoor space not only extends the life of your outdoor living spaces into the cooler months, but it adds an instant boost of luxury. “Fire pits and fireplaces are all customizable to suit your style and budget,” Knapp explains, running the gamut from easily moveable fire pits to permanent gas-line installed fire tables. Rather than only spending summers and springs on the patio, by simply adding a heating element you can now enjoy a cozy fall evening relaxing under the stars.

Landscaping by Rendezvous Design. Photography by Jess Lucé Photo & Video.

Channel your chi. Patricia Kennedy, principal creative of Rendezvous Design in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, recommends creating an outdoor space that includes the five elements of Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese practice of harmony. “You can actually feel how the five elements—earth, fire, water, metal, and wood—balance the ‘chi’ or flow of energy, and holistically harmonize the space for an outdoor calm continuum,” Kennedy explains. To achieve that feeling of harmony in your outdoor space she recommends framing the area toward a natural focal point or landscape feature, adding elements that involve fire and water, such as lanterns and bird baths, a metal outdoor grill or sculptural object and wood decking or furniture to impart natural textures that ground you.

Landscaping by Elevate Lawn Co. Photography by Kismet Visuals & Co.

Focus on your base. When looking to elevate your outdoor space, Albert Miller, founder and president of Elevate Lawn Co in New Albany, Ohio, always begins with what’s beneath your feet. “Investing the time to ensure the base of your outdoor space is plush, healthy, and appropriate for your climate is just as important as finding the right flooring for any indoor space,” he says. Miller urges his clients to prioritize getting the grass right, not only for visual aesthetics but also for practical purposes. Getting this element right from the start will save time, money, and frustration down the road.

Landscaping by Aristotle Design Group. Photography by Nick Hoeller.

Make it glow. Want to add instant sophistication to your backyard? Paul Neundorfer, founder, president, and principal designer of Aristotle Design Group in Cleveland, Ohio, encourages delicately layered landscape lighting. “Landscape lighting can highlight architectural features of your home, add depth and dimension to your outdoor space, as well as provide a degree of safety and security,” he explains. “Proper lighting should never overwhelm the sky but rather cast a soft glow on the ground, onto plant material, and both up into and down from the canopy trees.” Neundorfer advocates incorporating a few different types of fixtures in your space, such as path, in-ground, bullet, and string lights, to create an elegant and inviting ambiance.

Landscaping by Aristotle Design Group. Photography by Paul Neundorfer.

Sit and stay awhile. Beyond beautiful landscaping, the addition of furniture is a guaranteed way to bring comfort and elegance to an outdoor space. Neundorfer points out that the furniture should be proportionate to the size of the space you’re outfitting, comfortable, and most of all, durable. Additionally, he advises his clients to carefully consider the materials, how they will age and patina, and the seasonal maintenance associated with what you choose.

Feature photo: Landscaping by Aristotle Design Group; photography by Paul Neundorfer. TSG Tip 456 from Nathan Tuno, landscape designer and marketing director of Roots Landscape Inc. in Wayne, Pennsylvania; Mitchell Knapp, president and owner of Scenic Landscaping in Haskell, New Jersey; Patricia Kennedy, principal creative of Rendezvous Design in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Albert Miller, founder and president of Elevate Lawn Co in New Albany, Ohio; Paul Neundorfer, founder, president, and principal designer of Aristotle Design Group in Cleveland, Ohio. Roots Landscape Inc. appears in The Scout Guide Main Line & Philadelphia. Scenic Landscaping appears in The Scout Guide Bergen County. Rendezvous Design appears in The Scout Guide Jackson Hole. Elevate Lawn Co appears in The Scout Guide Columbus. Aristotle Design Group appears in The Scout Guide Cleveland & Akron.