Satya
You’ve heard of landscaping. Now it’s time to viewscape. In other words, it’s time to ensure that the views from your property remain as pristine and eye-catching as every other element of your property. Viewscaping can be a great way to ensure that your landscaping looks stunning from every window. It can also be essential if your property overlooks a natural wonder, or if you’re located on a hill and have views that extend for miles.
Viewscaping is a way to elevate your property to the next level, and this guide is how you’ll nail it.
Identify the Primary Views You Want to Preserve
If your property has natural views that you want to preserve, it’s essential that you highlight them from the start. This could be a potential view if you cleared some trees or bushes, or it could be an established view (for example, the view from your upper window down into the valley). By identifying potential views, you can more effectively landscape, and by identifying existing views, you can ensure everyone on your design team knows what needs to stay.
Frame “Scenes” With Your Landscaping
The goal of viewscaping is to ensure that every window, patio, and other outdoor seating area has an established view. This view could be entirely designed, for example, a water fountain surrounded by florals, or it could be natural. For example, if you have a great view out onto the lake. Either way, it’s essential to plan your landscaping around these scenes. Start by looking through every window to ensure that the “scene” you want complements the space you have. A window looking out to the fence line, for example, could be improved by climbing plants, while the window from your kitchen into your backyard could be framed with your patio, and your patio could be framed with a natural border of plants.
Use Glass to Open Up Your View
Brick and metalwork can add visual interest if you’re building up viewscapes. If you have a natural view, however, then you’ll always want to opt for glass. Glass railings provide the essential safety features you need around balconies or pools without obstructing your view. They can be particularly stunning alongside other view-enhancing features, like an infinity pool. With such a pool, you have water that stretches out to your view and beyond. The last thing you want with that stunning visual is a bulky fence, no matter how important it is for safety. The answer? A strengthened, ½” thick tempered glass pool fence. The same applies to any patios, balconies, or safety barriers.
Think Vertically to Draw the Eye Up
If you don’t have a natural view, then the best approach is to draw the view up through interesting visual details that frame your space. With naturalism making a comeback in landscaping trends, this vertical approach is the perfect way to incorporate it. Pergolas and arches are great choices here, as you can grow climbing plants along them to add that stunning natural element even in a suburb. You may also want to consider staggered planters, or simply an approach where your tallest trees and bushes are planted along your fence line.
The final effect is added privacy and more interesting visual elements that carry on throughout your viewscape.
Draw in the Outdoors, Indoors
Another excellent way to enhance and improve your viewscape (whether man-made or natural) is to incorporate elements of that view into your home. There are a few ways that you can do this:
Source Your Interior Colors from Outside
One of the easiest ways to bring the view from outside inside is to use complementary colors. If you have stunning roses outside, for example, match the hues of the petals inside. You may want to color-match the leaf shades, the sky, or even the hue of the water, if you have a waterfront property.
All these options draw the eye in and out, and out to in, meaning you feel like the view you’re seeing is infinitely larger and grander.
Use Mirrors to Reflect the Views
If the room in question is small or cramped, a great option is to use a mirror on the adjacent wall of the window. This will let more light in and, most importantly, bring in the view from two separate angles, allowing you to bring more of your view indoors.
Match Materials
Another elegant way to draw the eye out while balancing your design is to match materials. If you’ve used a specific stone in your patio, use that stone somewhere inside your kitchen. If you have a stunning view of pine trees, use pine wood in your home. If you have a brilliant view of a mountain face, use local quarries to match the tone.
Hide Ugly Essentials Beautifully
There are numerous essentials required to maintain a beautiful yard, regardless of the view itself. These essentials may be necessary, but that doesn’t mean they add to your landscape. If anything, they tend to detract from it.
That’s why it’s so important to consider how you can hide those essentials beautifully. If you live in an area that’s famous for its mountains, for example, use local rocks to build a shed that blends in with the natural surroundings. If you are building up your own viewscape, consider planting around sheds or other essentials so that plants hide them more effectively, giving you a seamless approach towards nature.
Set Up Your Interior to Enjoy More of Your View
Finally, know that to enjoy a view all year round truly, you’ll need a comfortable spot to sit and appreciate it properly. While every room doesn’t need to be entirely focused on the view, it is a good idea to choose one or two to act as “hero” spaces. In these spaces, consider setting up a couple of very comfortable sofa seaters and a table, or installing a window seat. Imagine your mornings curled up, watching the sun rise over the crest of the hill, or a quiet moment looking at your garden while it rains. These are the experiences you are after, and a single small sitting area can be all you need to achieve them.
