Although you and your family might be currently inside to stay cozy during winter, it’s not too soon to think about how you will enjoy time outdoors once the temperatures rise. Revamping the backyard can make your open-air living space more comfortable for lounging and increase your home’s value. If you’re stumped for ideas, consider installing one of the below hardscapes in the yard. 

3 Hardscape Ideas for Backyards

1. Create a Hidden Reading Nook

If you like to read to unwind, create a quiet, secluded area in the yard to become engrossed in a story. Merge the hardscape with the surrounding landscape by using teak or red maple to create sleek, wooden benches and tables. Enclose the area with trellises and cover them with Clematis and Morning Glory, or other flowering vines. You can also create a privacy fence out of tall shrubs. To keep puddles out of the reading nook on damp days, place bricks or stone pavers on the ground. 

2. Install a Fire Pit

Create an open-air living room around a fire pit. Similar to the fireplace inside, family members can gather around it to drink hot cocoa and listen to the crackling blaze. For uniformity, you can use the same material for the fire pit as your patio. Don’t be afraid to mix and match materials, either. Smooth steel or wooden chairs and benches with vibrant cushions would look great against the rough texture of a large concrete or brick fire basin. 

3. Build a Patio

So you can still spend time in the yard when the ground is soggy, install a large patio next to the house. You can use brick pavers for a uniform, traditional aesthetic. Stone pavers in various shapes and sizes placed close together will resemble the look of fractured glass. You could also secure narrow wood slats to the ground, with a few inches of space between each. The green grass poking out in open areas will create an interesting contrast.

For professional help to make your backyard remodeling dreams come true, contact the professionals at DRS Lawn & Landscape in Long Valley, NJ. Serving clients since 1991, the staff will install hardscapes and provide ground maintenance and landscape construction to improve the overall value and functionality of your property. To schedule a consultation in the Morris County area, call (908) 879-0600. Visit the landscape design company’s website and Facebook page to view project photos and learn more information.