Whether you’re starting from scratch for your home’s landscape or considering how to add more design elements to your existing yard, learning more about hardscape can be the easy way to make a big difference. Here are some pointers to help you along the way.

If your property has a natural incline, the addition of retaining walls serves an important function by keeping the force of uphill soil from spilling out onto the flatter terrain. But you can go one step further by incorporating a sitting area into the wall, such as a bench ledge to add more seating area to your backyard entertaining area.

To truly give a finished and defined look to your outdoor living spaces, take the time and effort to pave the paths in stone or brick, preferably in an attractive pattern. This elevates the entire project up a notch and adds to your enjoyment of your yard.

This is a very simple element, but one that is often not considered for the outdoor areas. Imagine the difference between stepping up a sloped area versus being able to easily step up stairs that are incorporated into the backyard design. This added feature brings a great amount of visual appeal.