Home Interior Design

Good use of outdoor or landscape lighting is often one of the easier improvements you can make to the exterior portion of your home that can make a big difference. Not only can this upgrade improve the look of your home at night, but it is also very functional making your yard more user-friendly at night. The most common places to add accenting light is to a walkway or path, patio or deck or the garden.

Walkway Lighting

Walkway lights provide a clear and attractive distinction of the paths in your yard. They illuminate the paths so they are safer to use at night while also providing a warm glow in your yard.

It is important to determine the right spacing for this as you don’t want too many or too few lights. They should be about 8 to 10 feet apart. Instead of lining them equally on either side consider alternating them on either side to create a better look. Read the rest of this entry »

Careful planning is the key to a good garden design, so before you start have a clear idea what you want to achieve and write a plan. Do drawings of your garden layout, what already exists in the space and what you wish to have once completed, and include everything in your drawings. Draw in where the drains, the gas and water pipes, where the cables are, air conditioning and hot water units, clothesline and fencing. Don’t set tasks for yourself that you are unable to complete, know what your limitations are and stick to them. Also set yourself a budget and work to it. A trip to the nursery alone can be expensive. Think about what style of garden you like and what you will be using it for. Factor in whether you have children or pets and also how much time you have to maintain it.

Site plan

Draw everything in your plan including all the existing buildings, pipes and cables. Put a north point on your plan so you are aware of which way the shade will fall and plan which plants you will put in accordingly. Highlight any different levels and draw in any existing trees. Be mindful of any trees in the neighbour’s yard that will create shade in your garden. It is also a good idea to take note of which way the winds generally come from and mark in any rock or damp areas. Doing a soil test will help you choose the right plants for your area, and simple soil testing kits can be purchased from a nursery. Read the rest of this entry »