6 Retreat-Like Landscape Design Ideas for Fredon and Green, NJ, Area Homes
Sometimes, the busy world gets to be a bit much. Having your own private backyard retreat could be just the thing to help you unplug and recharge. To inspire your own at-home getaway, here are six retreat-like landscape design ideas for homes in the Fredon and Green, NJ, areas.
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1. Privacy and Shelter
Imagine a swaying hammock, cheerful lights, the soothing sounds of water, and beautiful views of nature that make you feel as relaxed as you do on vacation. What you also need are privacy and shelter.
A retreat is, by definition, a private spot. That’s not to say it can’t be a spot for entertaining, but you want it to be secluded enough to facilitate pulling the plug on your daily worries. This can be a challenge in an open landscape, but there are a few ways to make a spot more welcoming.
For instance, a wooden privacy fence covered in climbing vines could be a compelling choice. Other ways to add shelter while maintaining a naturalistic look include a pergola. If your landscape doesn’t have mature trees, which naturally offer a sense of shelter, a pergola could cover your outdoor cooking, dining, or sitting area. Rustic wood posts and beams will fit in with the landscape and give the illusion of sitting among majestic trees.
2. Food
One of life’s great delights is cooking and sharing meals with friends and family. Whatever your design style, incorporating your preferred cooking style into your outdoor living space will make you want to be outside even more. For example, if you prefer grilling, a simple peninsula-style grill station clad in natural stone would offer plenty of space for guests to sit while you cook.
3. Water
Moving water is exceptionally good at soothing the soul. It masks the sounds of traffic and adds visual interest to your outdoor space. Whether it’s a small water fountain, a majestic waterfall cascading into a pond, a chic water wall, or a creek, a water feature is one of the best additions you can make to your landscape to create a retreat-like atmosphere.
4. Fire
What’s better than relaxing around a fire, sharing stories and laughter well into the evening? A natural stone fire pit tucked into a quiet corner of your backyard and accessed by a stepping stone path could be the solution to hectic weeks and busy schedules. A high-backed seat wall surrounding the fire pit helps hold in the heat on chilly evenings and provides more seating than individual chairs.
Take advantage of a sloped lot by building a series of terraced retaining walls made with locally sourced stone, and incorporating a fireplace into the wall with seating around it for a cozy living room feel under the stars.
5. Soft Lighting
Transform your backyard into a relaxing retreat with soft outdoor lighting. Today’s landscape lighting options offer so many incredible choices for unobtrusive fixtures that are virtually invisible by day but create a magical ambiance at night.
6. Natural Elements
Bringing as many natural elements into your backyard will make you feel like you’re far from home. Add boulders, stone steps, and walkways, and lush native vegetation for a back-to-nature look that soothes the mind.
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