Magnify the Beauty of a New Columbia, MD Deck with Expert Plantings and Outdoor Lighting
A well-crafted deck in your Columbia, MD backyard is akin to a blank canvas. While the deck itself offers functional space and aesthetic appeal, what truly magnifies its beauty are the intricacies and nuances that surround it. From expertly chosen plantings to strategically placed outdoor lighting, every detail contributes to the transformation of a simple deck into a serene outdoor haven.
Related: When You Want a Columbia or Ellicott City, MD Multi-Functional Space, Consider a New Deck
Breathing Life through Plantings
Imagine stepping out onto your deck and being greeted by a fragrant waft of blooming jasmine or the soothing view of lush ferns that delicately arch over the deck's edge. The right plantings can set the tone for your outdoor experience.
Texture and Tone: When considering planting choices, think about texture. Soft grasses, feathery ferns, and glossy-leafed plantings each offer distinct tactile experiences. Play with combinations to achieve the desired effect.
Seasonal Shifts: Aim for variety to ensure that your deck remains vibrant throughout the year. Spring bulbs, summer perennials, fall shrubs, and even winter-hardy plantings can ensure that your outdoor space remains lively and ever-changing.
Elevate the Night: Outdoor Lighting's Role
Once the sun sets, it's the play of lights that can turn your deck into an enchanting escape. Thoughtfully chosen and placed outdoor lighting can highlight the best features of your deck and the surrounding plantings.
Accentuate the Green: Position outdoor lights to shine upwards through larger plantings or trees. This technique not only emphasizes the planting's structure but also casts dramatic shadows, adding depth and mystery to the space.
Define the Space: Use softer, ambient outdoor lighting to mark out the deck's boundaries, walkways, or specific seating areas.
Highlighting Details: Have a water feature or a particularly striking planting? Use spotlights to ensure they command the attention they deserve, even at night.
Creating a Cohesive Outdoor Experience
When you consider the elements of plantings and outdoor lighting in tandem, you're looking at a harmonious blend of nature and nurture. The plantings bring in the raw beauty of nature, while the outdoor lighting allows for the nuanced appreciation of these details.
For instance, the luminescence of soft lighting through the petals of a blooming flower or the gentle rustle of illuminated grasses as they sway in the wind offers a multisensory experience that's both calming and invigorating.
But it's not just about what you see and feel. The choice of plantings can also influence the sounds and scents in your outdoor space. The soft hum of bees around flowering plantings, the rustling of leaves, and the fragrances that waft through can all be orchestrated by making informed planting choices.
Downlighting
Often used to simulate natural moonlight, downlighting involves placing fixtures high up, such as in trees or on the home's eaves. The light is then directed downwards, creating soft puddles of light. This method is ideal for illuminating larger areas and walkways, offering a gentle, natural glow over your deck and plantings.
Uplighting
Uplighting, as the name suggests, places the light source below or at ground level, directing the light upwards. This is a fantastic way to accentuate specific elements like trees, sculptures, or textured walls. When used with plantings, uplighting can cast dramatic shadows and highlight the intricacies of the flora.
Related: Want a Big Change in Your Sykesville and Columbia, MD Landscape? Carefully Chosen Plantings Are Key
About the Author
With nearly two decades of experience, Valley Deck & Patio has grown into a full-service landscape design and construction company known for our custom work. Our talented team takes on the challenge of complex projects, and we are always ready to roll up our sleeves and exceed customer expectations.