If you’ve decided it’s time to transform your yard into the landscape of your dreams, you’re likely eager to get started. But what if your vision comes with a higher price tag than you expected? We spoke with eight landscape design and building pros to learn how to create an outdoor space you will love to look at — and spend time in — while still keeping the budget in check.
Determine Your Priorities
There isn’t one right approach to prioritizing features in the landscape. “It all depends on the scale of your yard and what makes sense for you,” says landscape architect Ari Tenenbaum of Revolution Landscape in Encinitas, California.
The following four tips can help get you started.
1. Create a wish list. Adding a specific amenity to your yard may be the impetus for change, and if so, it’s what you should prioritize in your renovation. “For some, that’s an outdoor kitchen, while for others, it’s a simple play structure for the kids,” says Tim Zarra of Alderwood Landscape Architecture and Construction in Bellevue, Washington. He adds that covered structures with heaters are popular requests in his Pacific Northwest locale, as they encourage homeowners to enjoy their yard year-round.