Your garden is intended for relaxation where you can find peace and quiet. Just by looking at the plants and the landscape design, you will be able to find your zen balance. Gardening can also be therapeutic as a hobby, giving you a sense of purpose and achievement.
If you love home improvement, you probably will enjoy experimenting on functional and decorative finishes for your garden. You may do it either as a DIY project or hire a contractor.
If you are still not sure about the best finish that will complement your landscape design, you may search for examples from online sources or from landscape design magazines. You may also consult experts in the field.
You should consider integrating aesthetics with functionality for your garden. After all, your garden is not purely for your own pleasure but also a venue for entertaining your guests and for spending quality time with your family.
1. Accentuate the wall finish
The walls should have a finish that will either accentuate or contrast with the patio and fence. For instance, if you use smooth and light paint colors for the walls and fence, you should use a darker and more textured finish for the patio.
On the other hand, if you use smooth ceramic tiles for the patio, you can use a brick finish or rock finish for the walls. You should emphasize the contrasting colors.
In this manner, both the wall and the patio will stand out rather than blend with each other. Of course, you are not prohibited from choosing a uniform motif for your house. However, variety is better than monotony.
2. Install sliding doors
Using sliding doors for your patio will save you space. This will also prevent the interior floor and the door bottom from being easily damaged. Sliding doors have their own wheels and rails, allowing for smooth opening and closing. You will also be able to avoid the danger of accidental slamming of the doors due to strong winds.
You may apply a simple design with large glass panes for the doors if you want to maximize natural light. The interior of your house will be properly illuminated during daytime, thereby minimizing the need for artificial lights.
3. Put solar-powered garden lights
If you like to enjoy your garden at night, you should put solar-powered garden lights around your garden. You will improve the night-time aesthetics of your garden and the security of your home. You will also be able to save a bit on electricity if you use solar-powered garden lights.
You may use a variety of lights to emphasize certain plants or accentuate some of the key garden features like statues or decorative rocks. You may also install overhead lights around the patio. If you have a large garden, you will be able to use it for parties at night if it is well-illuminated.
4. Construct a roofed walkway
You may use concrete, wood or metal as materials for your roofed walkway. You may also have a stylized trellis constructed using flowering vines as roofing for the walkway.
Garden walkways not only improve the overall landscape design but will also provide cover from the elements such as during the rainy season or from harsh sunlight.
Paint the walkway
If you have a roofed wooden walkway for your garden, you should make sure that it is protected from the elements as well.
Use weather-resistant paint for the walkway, frames and roof. If you use high quality paint, you may only need to re-coat the walkway periodically. Paint will also protect the wooden walkway from termites and mold. As long as water is prevented from soaking the wood, early deterioration can be avoided.
5. Apply bright paints on rocks
You can change the mood of your garden and make it look more festive, especially during special occasions like birthday parties for your children or during Halloween and Christmas. One way of doing this is by applying bright paints for the random big rocks in your garden.
You can use all the colors of the rainbow for this purpose. If you want to be more artistic, you may even paint pictures on the garden rocks. If you want your designs to be temporary, you may use water-based paints that can easily be washed away after each event.
A functional finish for your garden can be as simple as applying paints or as elaborate as adding a few structures. You do not necessarily have to be an artist or a landscape designer to come up with good ideas. The aesthetics and functionality of the finish will largely depend on your imagination and requirements.
AUTHOR BIO
Ralph El Eid is the Business Development Manager at COLORTEK – Wall & Floor Fashion. EQUIPAINT is the franchise owner of COLORTEK in Dubai (U.A.E.) and Doha (Qatar); an international paints manufacturer specializing in the widest range of decorative paints and seamless concrete & resin flooring, with a unique showroom concept, and thus an ideal destination for homeowners, consultants, architects, interior designers and paint applicators.