Top backyard landscape design trends

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/01/2021 (1717 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Following on the heels of what turned out to be a very big year for anyone who worked in the landscape design industry, 2021 is shaping up to be a monumental year. The scope of emerging trends for 2021 tell a bigger story about what homeowners want from their backyard retreats.

Backyards are the new living rooms. Turn on the lights and plan to spend more time entertaining, relaxing, and playing. Working from home? It never felt so good. How are the kids? The kids are alright. They are playing outside, having fun, and enjoying the fresh air and playtime that is so important to their healthy growth. All-in-one design that is visually beautiful, family-friendly, great for entertaining and extends the use and enjoyment of the outdoors is one of the top trends in backyard landscape design, says Russ Penny, co-owner of Netley Creek Landscaping.

Last March, Penny, who specializes in providing custom landscape design and installation in Winnipeg and surrounding areas, had a full slate of landscape projects planned for the year ahead. As concerns grew about the pandemic, some of his clients cancelled or postponed their projects. Then just as suddenly the backyard projects were on again as homeowners realized they would be travelling less and spending more time at home – not just in 2020 but for the foreseeable future. Many clients decided to expand and invest even more in their landscapes.

There were cases, too, where neighbours and curious passersby came to a stop and watched, fascinated, as Penny and his crew transformed the bare bones of properties into contemporary and versatile landscapes with stunning views and asked if Penny could squeeze in their dream project, too. For Penny, whose leading-edge designs and use of innovative products and materials make him a sought-after landscape designer, 2020 turned out to be his biggest and busiest year ever. Many more projects have already been booked for this year and into next year.

Creative outdoor lighting is an essential element in landscape design today, says Penny. “We integrate landscape lighting into every one of our projects, now,” he says. Lighting that has the right intensity and balance brings your backyard to life and makes it more inviting and magical. With expert illumination, the different ways in which you want to experience and enjoy areas of your backyard don’t have to come to an end when the sun sets, says Penny. Netley Creek works exclusively with lighting products from in-lite Outdoor Lighting which specializes in easy-install low-voltage lighting with soft light that does not glare.

Last fall, I had the opportunity to tour the luxurious backyards of two of Penny’s clients, both of whom have busy lifestyles. The clients’ common goals were for a design that provided accessible, modern outdoor entertainment spaces as well as great play spaces for their children and friends.

Both homes have walkout basements and spacious backyards that overlook naturalized retention ponds. At the first property I visited, Penny was in the process of putting the finishing touches on a board form architectural concrete wall, a showstopping design element that features a gas fireplace, water feature, and a large screen TV. “We designed the board form wall for both function and beauty,” says Penny. The board form wall is 2.7 metres tall and 3.6 metres wide. “It provides privacy when the client is entertaining guests but is also a main feature of the client’s backyard design.”

Board form walls are a popular trend. For this client’s project, fir boards were first sandblasted and then used to line forms in which concrete was poured. Once cured, the result is a concrete wall with a unique, highly textured, dense wood grain. Wall sconces mounted on either side of the board form wall enhance the entertainment area’s ambience. The vertical rain wall incorporated into the board form wall includes a light that shines softly upward and illuminates the water as it trickles over a white natural stone surface.

A unique pergola structure with steel beams also serves to frame this entertainment area. A Techo-Bloc outdoor bar includes a mini fridge discreetly located on one side. Netley Creek installed the granite countertop, a unique piece with a dark black background and prominent veins of white hand selected by Penny. A built-in timber live edge footrest complements the warm, natural tones of the wood mantle on the board form wall.

The pavers in the entertainment area have a herringbone pattern. Rectangular charcoal pavers are incorporated into the design for rich contrast. Their placement at the base of the water wall feature creates a visual flow that leads the eye towards the bar and then towards the walkway that leads to the sunken fire pit. The steps to the sunken fire pit are Barkman Dimensional steps which have the rugged attractiveness of natural stone but combine the safety and comfort of uniform rise. “This product installs easily and looks great,” says Penny.

The sunken fire pit includes drainage. Guests can relax on comfortable wooden seating and enjoy the cozy warmth of a circular steel wood burning fire bowl with an attractive rust patina. The outer concrete wall has two fir floating shelves that complement the benches. “The design of the sunken fire pit area with its concrete and steel elements goes well with the industrial style of the entertainment area,” says Penny.

On the level above the sunken fire pit area is another showpiece: a spectacular basketball court with a tiled surface emblazoned with the Los Angeles Lakers logo. Penny says that when the sport court was being built, the next-door neighbours requested one as well for their backyard. The backyard also includes its own soccer field with artificial turf.

While sport courts are a top trend and a great addition to backyards, swimming pools have never been more popular, says Penny. In the second landscape I visited with Penny, a modern rectangle style inground pool takes centre stage. It includes an automatic pool cover with a digital keypad. Safety, especially for children, is one of the biggest benefits of an automatic pool cover, says Penny. It’s also easier to maintain and stays clean with a leaf blower to remove any leaves or debris.

At one end of the pool is a breathtaking Corten steel privacy wall with multiple cascading waterfalls. The sound of the water is soothing and relaxing. Penny, who pays close attention to every detail, used a reflective black dye in the trough at the base of the steel wall to create an amazing mirrored reflection.

Penny’s client also wanted a spacious putting green with artificial turf. Penny designed it to have a natural curve. Additional elements of the landscape design include a sunken fire pit, pergola, outdoor bar, and porcelain tile patio.

One of the key principles to keep in mind, says Penny, is to ensure that all the design elements in your project work together. “Optimize your outdoor space and make it multi-functional so that it enriches your outdoor experience and does more for you — but isn’t more work for you. That is the future of landscape design,” says Penny.

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