If You’re Paying Taxes On It
Growing up on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, quite a lot of time was spent outdoors. During the day, my generation was not allowed to be inside (unless we were performing chores).
Spending all day outside was mandated, and it was up to us to create our own fun. I have always appreciated how nature sparked our creativity to play in outdoor spaces, even as a kid. Now as a designer, I look to nature as inspiration for everything.
More people are waking up to the fact that green spaces, parks, yards, balconies, trails, forests, fields, and courses are a luxury in life just like beaches, lakes, rivers, and ponds.
“I’m happy to see our culture trend towards leveraging our outdoor spaces, even though it took a global pandemic to make the shift. ”
Up to recently, a good deal of my clients cared very little, if at all, about designing their outdoor spaces to become luxurious, inviting, and accommodating. The mindset was “that’s what we’re looking to do inside our home”. My response was always “if you are paying taxes on it, you should be leveraging and enjoying it”.
“Outdoor spaces allow us to feel the breadth of our humanness and feel free. So be it a tiny bit of space or a heck of a lot, it’s valuable. Invest in creating a beautiful, usable, and enjoyable space.”
How to design your space:
To start, consider the canvas on which you’re about to create. Whether it’s a rooftop, balcony, patio, or backyard, give it a good cleaning and create order.
Next, decide how you wish to use the space. List the elements needed to provide these functions (a raised garden, dining for four, lounge and furniture seating, a koi pond, a water feature, sculptured art, a fireplace). Keep adding specific details as you’re inspired.
Then, map out your space, either on paper by taking a field measure and creating a floor plan or in the actual space by using tape and objects to indicate zones and the space each item will occupy. This process will help you make the most of your space without overcrowding it.
If you have a balcony, add beautifully potted and/or hanging plants and colorful cushions to draw your eyes outside. With backyards, you can add fire elements, a table for dining, and seating for relaxing and gathering. For patios, where there can be quite a bit of hardscape, I recommend large pots of shrubs, such as a boxwood or evergreen, in addition to potted flowers. You can shape the shrubs as they grow to provide a green backdrop, which is also perfect for rooftop spaces.
My own patio is not a big space, but it hosts a grill, a fireplace, an outdoor sofa and two club chairs, dining for six, and two lounge chairs. Large colorful pots of evergreens, lots of potted herbs, and decorative pillows bring a modern, curated element to the space. Our family enjoys it nearly every day. Days when time or the weather doesn’t permit, we can admire it through the backdoor window. Our patio is an extension of our home, so we use it often and in every possible way: dining, reading, meditating while burning incense, or just lounging with our dog Ed.
For those of us without our own outdoor spaces, we must remember that our tax dollars fund city, state, and national parks and trails! Let’s bike, walk, drive, or take mass transit to discover these spaces that are ours to enjoy. We can travel light or enhance the experience with a beautiful brightly colored mat, incense, and a backpack full of our favorite snacks and drinks.
“Can’t start an outdoor project right now? Start planning.
With no immediate deadline, the process will be much more enjoyable. Because enjoying time in nature adds so much life to life.”
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
