If you own a home in San Diego and aren’t utilizing your outdoor space, you’re seriously missing out. With our year-round sunshine, there is no excuse for not capitalizing on your front and back yard square footage. Investing in your landscape design undoubtedly increases the value of your home, not to mention will have all your friends and neighbors asking when your next BBQ is.
We get that you aren’t landscape designers by trade (that’s our job) and coming up with ideas and inspiration for your front or backyard can be tough. So, we’re sharing the top ten 2019 landscape and garden design trends to help inspire you to spruce up your outdoor living space!
Water Conservation
Water conservation in San Diego has never been more at the forefront of homeowners’ minds than it is now. Our first landscape design trend of 2019 is about transitioning from grass lawns and thirsty foliage to drought tolerant landscape designs. Also known as xeriscaping, this type of garden landscape focuses on the plant life that is specific to the region. With San Diego being a coastal desert, you can seriously reduce water usage by incorporating this trend. Check out our guide to xeriscape landscaping for more information!
Low Maintenance Landscape Design
Ditch the stress of constantly having to work on your outdoor living space and opt for a low maintenance yard design instead. Don’t forget, the more work it takes to keep up with your yard, the less likely you are to maintain it, thus resulting in an expensive mess that you rarely spend time in.
Keep these tips in mind to ensure your outdoor living space is low maintenance:
Stick to drought tolerant, perennial plants that will come back year after year with minimal work on your part.
Group your plants together based off their watering needs. This is called hydrozoning and is also very helpful for reducing water waste.
Ditch the messy trees or shrubs that don’t provide any ecological benefits for your space.
Opt for quality hardscape materials like stones or pavers that don’t need to be cleaned or repaired regularly.
Get rid of your high maintenance grass lawn and go for an eco-friendly synthetic turf. Not sold on this one? Read about the benefits of having synthetic turf here.
Staycation Worthy Spaces
If there ever was the perfect place to staycation, it would absolutely be right here in beautiful San Diego, California! Our average temperature is right around the low 70s year round and we have over 260 sunny days each year, why would you want to leave? By creating an outdoor living space with staycation worthy elements, you don’t have to.
Some of our favorite elements to add to your outdoors to create a space you never want to leave are:
Fire pits to help you keep the party going even after dark.
Outdoor showers so you can clean off after hitting up the beach.
Cabanas to relax in all day long.
Outdoor kitchens so you never have to go back inside.
Stunning water elements like fountains, ponds, and pools.
Shade structures like a gazebo or pavilion.
At least one hammock… because no place is staycation worthy without a hammock.
Small Space Landscapes
San Diego isn’t exactly known for its large lot sizes, so we like to get creative when designing outdoor living spaces. We’ve noticed that designers and homeowners alike are getting better at maximizing space in small or front backyards.
The best way to design a small space landscape is to incorporate features that have multiple purposes. You can also create more space by having “zones,” for example, a small vegetable garden, seating area complete with a fire pit, and an outdoor kitchen area with a countertop and barbecue.
Don’t forget your side yard when designing your outdoor living space either, today’s homeowners are smart to take advantage of the space they have. With a bit of creativity, you can transform the side of your home into a useful and inviting space!
Outdoor Dining
One big landscape design trend right now is taking alfresco dining to a whole new level. Homeowners are starting to invest in full-service outdoor dining rooms and kitchens to take the inside outdoors. We are loving this trend and it is an absolute must for all home entertaining enthusiasts.
Having an outdoor kitchen is key to making entertaining easy. Some of our favorite outdoor kitchens are complete with a barbecue, bar, music, televisions, outdoor food prep station and counter space. Don’t forget to provide plenty of seating options around your yard so your guests don’t all get stuck in one area.
Help make your guests feel like they’re dining in an oasis with these tips:
Cover your dining area with a pergola for shade.
Border the dining area with lush plant-life to make guests feel secluded.
Add after-dinner lounge areas like a fire pit or jacuzzi.
Add special outdoor lighting to enhance night time experiences.
Raised Garden Beds
Even the most chic homes are getting on the bandwagon and installing raised garden beds in their landscape. Not only are they easy to use since you don’t have to bend over every time you want to take care of your plants, but they are also amazing for minimizing the amount of weeds and pests that get into your garden.
Calling all green thumbs! Raised garden beds can be used for everyday herbs or vegetables, and growing them in San Diego is fairly simple given our climate.
Keep these tips in mind when installing your raised garden beds:
Install a barrier at the bottom of the garden bed to keep weeds out.
Consider a drip irrigation system to minimize your upkeep – we share the ins and outs of installing a DIY irrigation system here.
Add a layer of organic mulch after planting your garden to keep the soil rich and moist.
Raised garden beds tend to dry out quicker than the alternative, which is actually better for most plants, but you might have to water them a bit more than you’re used to.
Creating Privacy
Let’s face it, all of us want privacy at home, so it’s no surprise that creating privacy using plants is a big landscape design trend in 2019. San Diego lot sizes tend to be pretty close to one another, so it is natural for homeowners to crave their space. Thankfully, feeling secluded can be easier than you think while still feeling natural.
There are plenty of ways to achieve the seclusion you’re looking for without installing a standard fence or wall. Enclosing your property with landscaping is an idea that is on the rise, especially in the San Diego area. There are many shrubs and lush bushes that can grow to offer privacy, as well as overall density to your landscape. There are several styles to choose from in this regard, many of which offer a year-round solution.
Create barriers using trees like Dogwood, Bamboo, or Japanese Maple.
Border the street of your front yard with shrubs and plants that border the curb (don’t go too tall, here).
Consider horizontal fencing with natural materials such as premium redwood.
Handcrafted Elements
Take a trip into any big box store, and you will see hundreds of possible garden and yard additions. The problem with this is that the originality has taken a back seat to turning a profit. While some of these elements have a time and place for any landscape, 2019 is all about handcrafted and creative structures. This can include walkway arches, central structures, benches, and borders. Creativity is king with this trend. While your creation should look good and make sense with the rest of your design, the originality of your structure is the focal point of the trend. Your San Diego landscape will have a ‘wow’ factor that is sure to stand out from the rest.
Covering all of the Seasons
Even here in San Diego, winter will eventually arrive. It is important to remember that even slight variations in seasonal climates can affect your spring and summer blooms. This is why landscapes are starting to become more focused around providing year-round aesthetic appeal.
Add lush, colorful fillers to the floor of your gardens and flower beds that look great all year long. This creates a level of beauty even when the weather is working against you and will ensure your outdoor living space is gorgeous regardless of the season. This idea requires a bit of planning, but not much work when it comes time for the leaves to change.
Scandinavian Style
Scandinavian design has taken over many areas of the home in recent years. In 2019, this style is set to push to the outdoors as well. In nordic cultures, every home dweller puts effort into an outdoor dining area, which is the most important part of the space. Beyond this, adding very simple elements to the yard will give it the Scandinavian vibe you’re looking for. Consider a koi pond or a small raised garden.
Your design should be dominated by light tones and sharp angles. This can include background fencing, natural white colored rocks, soft lighting elements, and conflicting colors of flowers with a focus on neutral aesthetics. The Scandinavian style is one that brings a relaxing element to the viewer. Tranquility is the name of the game when putting together your Scandinavian themed garden at your San Diego home.
The top landscape design trends of 2019 are very similar to the trends in other areas of your home. The most important thing to consider when designing an outdoor living space is to go with a design that is most satisfying for you! After all, you are the one who will be living in your home for years to come, so design a space that is both inviting and relaxing. Make your outdoor area a space you want to spend time in and you are sure to reap great benefits from your beautifully designed San Diego landscape.
If you’re ready to upgrade your outdoor living space, don’t hesitate to reach out! We specialize in creating landscape designs that are both beautiful and functional.