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When it comes to home improvement, landscape lighting is often overlooked. However, landscape lighting is one of the least-obstructive design projects you can undertake.

 

You can update your lighting and not have to move out or sacrifice any living space, and you won’t have to be constantly cleaning up construction debris. Updating your landscape lighting conveniently takes place outdoors.

 

So where do you start? Here are a few tips to help you on your path to landscape illumination.

 

 

 

Define the Purpose for Landscape Lighting

 

Before you invest in any landscape lighting, you need to determine the purpose of your landscape lighting. Are you looking to create a soft, romantic mood for outdoor entertainment and dining?

 

Perhaps you have a bench or a shadowy garden corner you wish to light for security reasons? Are you looking to create landscape boundaries by adding lighting around the path leading through your garden?

 

Perhaps you want to highlight some features of your backyard, such as a pond or waterfall? Regardless of the reason, determining what you want from your landscape lighting is the first step to illuminating your backyard.

 

Create a sketch of your yard

 

Once you’ve defined your reasons for adding landscape lighting you need to create a design plan. We suggest making a sketch of your yard.

 

Be sure to include existing lights, buildings, benches, shrubs, trees, pathways, as well as the vegetation and decorations you wish to highlight in your garden.

 

It’s important to create a detailed sketch, as every aspect of your landscape will reflect or absorb light.

 

 

 

Determining where to place your landscape lighting

 

This is the fun part! Once you’ve created a sketch of your space, match the lighting to specific areas in your backyard. You can illuminate a bench with a pole-type lamp placed behind it or concealed led strip light below the bench .

 

You can create a soft mood by hiding landscape lighting under shrubs or small bushes. A path can be illuminated by adding a series of pathway lights along its border.

 

A water fountain can be intensified with a spotlight, and a pond can have soft lighting around its perimeter. The possibilities are endless!

 

Safety, security, and ambiance

 

When it comes to landscape lighting, think in terms of safety, security and aesthetic appeal.

 

Safety: Grab a flashlight and walk your backyard at night. Where are you likely to trip and fall? Where are you most likely to walk off the path into the darkness? Also look to see if paths and walkways are clearly defined.

 

Think in terms of getting from point A to point B without falling down. After you determine where you require lighting for the sole purpose of safety, tweak your lighting scheme to assure that visitors can safely and easily navigate in the darkness of night.

 

Highlight pathways and steps. Consider street lighting that is present too.

 

Security: Take a look at your yard and consider where you’d like to eliminate dark corners. Look for places where someone could hide or the spot where the animals could hop the fence.

 

The amount of lighting you need for security depends on your level of comfort and your situation. When properly placed, security lighting can be minimal and does not create a distraction in your backyard.

 

Ambiance: Your landscape lighting will create the mood and feel of your backyard. Assess the intriguing areas in your landscape that you want to target, such as a beautiful tree, a rough stone wall, a water feature, or a statue.

 

Now think about the impact you want to create. Do you want to draw out the architectural structure of a tree? Project plant shadows on the ground or a wall? Highlight the luxurious texture of a stone wall?

 

The right lighting will create the mood and create focal points in your backyard.

 

 

 

Landscape lighting is a great way to update your yard. Not only is it affordable, but lighting can be installed quickly compared to other projects. You can illuminate your path or light up your tree in less than a day.

 

Full-scale professional installations range from a few days to a few weeks (depending on the scope and scale of your project). So if you’re looking to create an instant impact in your backyard, landscape lighting is a great place to start.

 

Are you looking to upgrade your landscape lighting? The experts at Milestone would love to help you design your landscape lighting scheme!

 

 

 

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Your villa is your sanctuary, yet adding greenery to the interior of your home has become an afterthought for most homeowners.

 

The more negative experiences homeowners have with plants, the more likely they will avoid incorporating live plants into their décor all together. However, plants are the perfect design element to take your space to the next level!

 

 

 

Plants add life

 

This may seem obvious, but plants add life to any space. Studies have shown that plants make us happier, help us to recharge and even make us more productive.

 

Biophilia is the scientific theory that there is an instinctive bond between humans and other living things, including plants and animals. The right plant will depend on your availability to provide care, specific light conditions, and available space.

 

However, even a tiny villa has room for a small plant life.

 

Plants can balance out your design

 

The right plant in the wrong place can throw off the look and feel of an entire room. When using plants to enhance your design, it’s important to use the right plant in the right place. Certain plants may be too small in a larger space.

 

Others may be too large with too much volume and overwhelm nearby design elements. When choosing a larger houseplant, acknowledge volume, overall height, and width. For example, a full tree placed in front of a window may block the natural light.

 

When you consider height, width, and volume you’ll select a plant that fills your space perfectly. Proportion isn’t always about items the same size; it’s more about balancing weight.

 

 

 

 

Plants help soften architectural elements

 

Natural materials provide textures and forms that are challenging to recreate. When it comes to quality, there is no substitute for the real thing.

 

For example, incorporating a structured planting of reeds will play an essential role in softening a stone wall or wood columns.

 

Wherever the location, the soft and soothing qualities of plants keeps hard surfaces from overwhelming your space and making it feel cold.

 

Plants can also be used to soften angular lines. You can use plants to soften the hard edges of flat surfaced pieces of furniture such as the end of side boards, bench seats, and entertainment centers.

 

Plants provide a natural softness which adds warmth by finishing off angular edges. Consider adding plants to bathrooms, which can be otherwise cold, hard-surfaced spaces.

 

Plants add color

 

When we think of decorating with plants, our mind automatically shifts to greenery. And while green is one of the “it” colors of 2017 interior design, you can use plants to inject a subtle pop of color to your space.

 

This can range from incorporating blossoming plant with bright buds of red, yellow and orange to creating eye-catching vertical living walls with subtle hints of purple blended into the greenery.

 

Color influences your mood. The colors you select for your furniture, walls, and decorative art all influence your frame of mind. The same can be said for plants.

 

Warm blues and greens are relaxing and tranquil, while vibrant colors, like red, orange and yellow are stimulating and lifting.

 

Incorporate plants with soothing colors in your bedroom and bathroom, and add touches of bright colors to the living room and areas where you spend the majority of your waking hours.

 

When it comes to decorating with plants, the possibilities are only as limited as the mind of the designer! Live plants are great decorative home accents, and when used properly, they can even become key design elements on their own.

 

So the next time you see an unused corner, empty wall, or lonely shelf in your villa, consider bringing it to life with a decorative plant.

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Installing a pergola this year is one of the best ways to beat the heat that comes with the season! In fact, building a pergola is one of the most rewarding decisions you can make for you backyard sanctuary.

 

Pergola installation on your property can create shade, increase the quality of time you spend relaxing and entertaining outdoors, as well as add value to your property. Here are the top five benefits to adding a pergola to your backyard.

 

 

 

 

Beat the heat with a pergola

 

Building a pergola on your property produces one of the most exciting options to enjoy outdoor living, creating a nice elevation that matches your property architecture.

 

Pergolas provide a shaded area where you can enjoy a warm day without having to worry about becoming overexposed to damaging UV rays. You can add a natural roof made of climbing flowers, instantly creating a natural space where you can relax.

 

A professional designer can even create a pergola with an optional canopy that you can open and close as needed based on the weather conditions. When it comes to the design, the options are limitless!

 

Waterproof, sun shade roof pergolas, pergolas with aluminum with waterproof and sunshade roof options, retractable fabric canopy combined with wood or Aluminum, metal design pergolas etc

 

Pergolas create a distinct space in your backyard

 

If you want a definite purpose in your outdoor area, a pergola is the perfect solution! A pergola adds definition to your backyard, creating a space within your backyard with a distinct purpose.

 

With comfortable seating, tables, and a fireplace, your pergola can be used as an outdoor entertainment area. You can also add a dining room table to create the perfect place to dine under the stars.

 

A properly planned pergola will help create space where you can gather with loved ones to wine and dine in the great outdoors.

 

 

 

Pergolas are versatile aesthetic design elements

 

A pergola adds beauty to your property taking your backyard to the next level! Apart from providing shade, a pergola can be formed in a way that it provides esthetic value to the entire property.

 

One of the best aspects about a pergola lies in it’s versatility.

 

It can be applied as a lead into other structures, such as a verandah or gazebo, you could use your pergola to lead to a solitary gazebo from your back door, creating an inspiring outdoor living area, or they work on their own.

 

No matter how you decide to incorporate your pergola into your backyard, remember that this versatile structure does not have to be on its own. In fact, it often works best when combined with other backyard designs!

 

Create outdoor privacy

 

If you are looking to add an element of privacy to your backyard, a pergola provides the perfect opportunity. A pergola allows for privacy.

 

Although it may be an open space, you can create privacy by adding drapes, latticework, screens, or even climbing plants to any side of the pergola. Pergolas provide the perfect place for a quick meeting or an urgent discussion with clients and friends.

 

 

 

Pergolas add beauty

 

Pergola’s add an attractive addition to any backyard. You can make them even more appealing by adding decorative accessories like hanging pots, lights, curtains, accent pillow and much more.

 

Pergolas allow you to create an outdoor living space that you love by adding elements that suit your personal tastes and style.

 

This gorgeous outdoor structure will transform your outdoor area and create a living space where you can entertain friends and family for years to come. No matter what you use it for, you can be sure that you will love owning a pergola!

 

Aside from looking fantastic, providing shade, and creating a distinct space pergolas add value to your home. Adding a pergola to your villa can increase its value by up to 20%! As an affordable design option, the benefits are enormous.

 

Pergolas add beauty and intrigue to your outdoor area, which improves the value of your home. At Milestone, we design and build stunning pergolas that are guaranteed to transform your backyards and we’d love to do the same for you!

 

Take a look at some of our recent pergola designs.

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Are you tired of having your backyard lack that “wow” factor? Is your backyard not so useful and it is hard for you to entertain unless you get a catering company and hired furniture?

 

Whether you are looking to upgrade your current backyard design, want to improve a few areas, or want a complete backyard overhaul, landscape design can seem overwhelming at first. Experts at Milestone make these empty spaces useful.

 

Follow these simple tips and we will have you on your way to creating your dream backyard in no time!

 

 

 

So where should you start?

 

Even if you have existing landscaping to work with, it really helps to divide your space into functional zones. In order to break the project down for space planning, divide your yard into four distinct areas.

 

1. Softscape – vertical greenery and plants that you enjoy along the boundary lines and create privacy , edible herb and vegetable garden and Artificial grass or fresh grass to join useful entertainment areas and fill empty spaces.
2. Relaxing areas – an area to relax and unwind
3. Outdoor dining – a space to eat and cook
4. Entertainment area– a place where your family and friends can gather to relax and play.

 

 

Softscape

 

Every backyard needs plants and greenery to add life to your space.

 

Whether you want to use your garden for planting colorful flowering plants, hide mundane boundary walls with planting, add plants and trees to create privacy from neighbors, grow edible herbs to heighten your culinary exploits or simply want to enjoy the beauty of lush greenery, every backyard would benefit for an area dedicated to growing plants.

 

Not only does it create an environment of harmony, serenity and calmness but gardens add a classic touch of beauty to any backyard. It is so meditative to walk through your garden, enjoying the lovely sight of nature as it grows and flourishes.

 

You can even enhance your softscape with a pond, water feature or fish ponds to add the soothing and intriguing element of water to the area. Softscape creates a very kinesthetic feel to the garden adding natural fragrance and a visual treat.

 

Relaxing areas – an area to relax and unwind

 

We all need a place to relax and unwind after a long day, and sometimes we want to do that outdoors.

 

Adding a backyard zone completely dedicated to relaxing will not only help you unwind, but it also creates a comfortable space to gather with your family and friends.

 

Start by choosing an area in your yard that is easy to access, nice to relax in and large enough. We suggest adding a pergola or a gazebo to create a distinct space, nice architectural elevation that can add lights, music and fan.

 

Add comfortable seating, with plush decorative pillows and tables for beverages and other items you may need. You can even take it up a notch by adding a fireline, fire pit or outdoor entertainment center!

 

Perhaps you want to create a zen garden, to reflect and meditate. Regardless of how you want to use this space, the idea is to create a place you want to visit in the backyard that provides all of the comforts of indoor living.

 

 

 

 

Outdoor dining – a space to eat and cook

 

There are few things more enjoyable in life than enjoying a great meal outdoors with our loved ones. Depending on the amount of space you are working with, this zone can range from a simple dining area to an impressive outdoor kitchen!

 

We suggest incorporating this area close to your home kitchen as it will eliminate the time and distance associated with carrying various items to your outdoor dining area.

 

Pergolas and gazebos provide a great option to create a dedicated and secluded space for outdoor dining. You can even create privacy by adding shade curtains or plants, such as climbing greenery or large hanging plants.

 

For those who love to cook outdoor, you can make an elaborate outdoor kitchen with sink, Pizza Oven, grill, cooking gas, bar etc.

 

Entertainment area

 

Above all else, you want to create a backyard that your family will enjoy! This will vary from home to home but may include adding a firepit for gazing at the stars, a pool and jacuzzi for beating the summer heat, or a custom play area for young children.

 

When creating this area in your backyard be sure to consider what your family will be using it for.

 

Regardless of the size of your backyard, the experts at Milestone can design and build your dream backyard. Stick to these zones and you’re sure to become the envy of the neighborhood for outdoor entertaining!