Landscaping and Outdoor Living Ideas for Smith Mountain Lake Luxury Homes
Living in a luxury home in Smith Mountain Lake means living in an area of unrivaled natural beauty. The region has an abundance of trees and natural foliage and the lake itself completes the view. With such views is it then necessary to pay any attention or improve your immediate outdoors?
We believe that the simple answer is yes. It would be a shame to be surrounded by such scenery and then have your garden or patio not enhance or even lower the impact of the scenery. Make the most of your luxury home in Smith Mountain Lake and take a little time and care to make it the perfect home, in the perfect setting.
Here, we’ll look at what you can do to give your Smith Mountain Lake luxury home the outdoor facelift that will bring out its full potential.
Benefits of improving your outdoors
Upgrading your outdoor space doesn’t need to be a costly endeavor, though, of course, some projects are more costly than others. Improvements can be functional or aesthetic, but either or both will enhance your living experience and likely add more value to your property. Here are some of the reasons why you would want to invest a little time and money in the outdoor areas of your home.
A change of style
It’s refreshing to update older styles and maybe what your outdoor living area needs is a facelift, especially if it hasn’t been updated in a while. Or you may have made amendments to your home and would like the exterior to match and complement those changes.
Add functionality
Maybe your patio needs a breakfast nook for your early morning coffee or just extra seating for when guests come over. This is a relatively easy and affordable improvement, that transforms your outdoor space. More extensive improvements could be adding a kitchen or a bar, making it possible to hold lavish outdoor parties.
Increase the property’s value
A well-designed outdoor living space that adds functionality will almost certainly add value to a luxury home in Smith Mountain Lake. At the very least, it will be eye-catching and help distinguish itself from other homes on the market.
Outdoor ideas for your luxury home
A number of people hire landscape architects to work on their Smith Mountain Lake luxury homes. Their combination of creativity, technical expertise, and environmental knowledge is invaluable. They bring a lot to the table and they do all the work for you. However, even if you hire a professional, that doesn’t mean that you can’t be heavily involved in the designing process, your input is important, unless you completely trust the professional and let them have free reign over the designs.
For simpler amendments, you can just go ahead and implement them yourself. Here are some tips and ideas.
FOR THE DECK OR PATIO
Whether you want the perfect outdoor entertainment area or a quiet retreat, you can turn your deck or patio into an oasis that’s uniquely yours with a few simple steps.
Pick a theme
Before anything else, pick a theme that matches your personal taste and your home, and stick to it. This will be the foundation of the area’s overall look. Sticking to a theme is important as mix-matching can often lead to an unbalanced aesthetic that can be more jarring than pleasant and pleasurable. If you’re not sure of what you want, suggestions from professionals or even looking through examples online will help.
Explore different colors and textures
Picking the right color combination can help establish the mood you’re aiming for. Remember, colors like red and orange evoke energy and excitement, while cool colors like blue and green are associated with calmness and tranquility. White, gray, beige, and other neutral colors evoke balance and simplicity.
Texture adds depth and contrast. This will help prevent the area from looking one-dimensional. Add fluffy throw pillows to the couch or pick furniture with a textured material like wood which enhances and blends with the surrounding natural beauty.
Get the right furniture
Your patio should be conducive to relaxation, so buy comfortable furniture. Pay attention to their materials since they can affect comfort. Those made with teak and wicker are a good choice as they’re flexible, light, and have weather-resistant qualities. They’re also available in different shades giving you some flexibility in matching them with your theme and overall tone.
Add more storage
To keep the space organized, add more storage solutions. There is plenty of outdoor furniture that feature built-in storage compartments. They typically come in the form of ottomans, benches, and tables. You can also use planters with compartments if you want to add potted greenery near the seating area.
If you’re going big with an outdoor bar or kitchen, there’ll be many good options for increased storage with countertops having cabinets and drawers.
Enhance with lighting and sound
Outdoor lighting can completely transform a home. It can turn a rather drab and inviting spot that no one wants to spend too much time in, to an outdoor space where it’s a joy to have meals or take in the view while sipping on a favorite drink. String globe lights, hanging lanterns, and electric candles are great design additions.
If you’d like to hold more events and parties in your outdoor living space, it might be worth installing an outdoor sound system. This will almost certainly provide superior sound compared to portable speakers (unless they are of the prohibitively expansive kind) and give the space an identity as an outdoor living area.
FOR THE GARDEN
You don’t need to completely overhaul your garden just to improve it. Here are some simple solutions that can make a huge difference to the entire area:
Prune the foliage
Apart from improving how your garden looks, pruning keeps the plants healthy. By removing dead or damaged parts, you’ll make greenery more pest and disease-resistant. Pruning also encourages growth and flower production.
When pruning, use sharp shears or saws, so you can always make clean cuts. You should also prune when the plants are dormant. This is usually during winter and early spring, though this will depend on the plant. For Roses, spring works best, while evergreens and perennial plants should be pruned during fall.
If you don’t have a green thumb or have no desire to prune, hiring a gardener or an arborist for more challenging jobs is an option.
Assess your planting spots
Check your garden beds and reassess your plant placements regularly because conditions can change fast. You may find out that what once seemed like a perfect spot for a small shrub may become overcrowded as the plants grow. If this happens, adjust your placements and give each plant sufficient space to thrive.
Plant native species
When you’re shopping for new seedlings and plants, try to stick with native species. They’re better adapted to the weather and soil conditions, so they’re more likely to survive and thrive. This also means you can reduce the time you’ll spend on upkeep.
Virginia bluebells, Fire pinks, Spiderworts, and Turtleheads are ideal flowering plants for luxury homes in Smith Mountain Lake. If you’re looking for shrubs, Summersweets, and Virginia sweet spices are great options.
Integrate shrubs and vines
Diversify your garden to give it more character. By using different plant types, you can achieve an engaging and visually appealing landscape. Shrubs can create structure and if they grow taller, you can use them as natural barriers that can block unsightly views and reduce noise.
On the other hand, vines are excellent for creating vertical interest. They can be trained to grow up trellises, walls, or pergolas, adding dimension to your outdoor space and making the garden feel more dynamic.
Start garden edging
Edging is often overlooked, but it can make a significant difference in a garden’s look and health. It’s the practice of creating physical boundaries that separate the garden bed edges from the lawn and other landscape elements. This helps protect the plants from invasive weeds, accidental trampling, and lawnmowers.
FOR THE LAWN
Turn your lawn from ordinary to a property asset that’s both stunning and sustainable. Here’s how:
Use the right grass variety
Choosing the right grass is crucial, so your lawn can stay green for most of the year. Some are more durable, while others require varying levels of maintenance and are susceptible to varying or stronger weather conditions. For luxury homes in Smith Mountain Lake, look for grass varieties that can handle the humid subtropical climate. Perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, and zoysia are popular choices in the area.
Grade the lawn
It sounds fancy, but grading the lawn is a relatively straightforward process. It’s a simple process of leveling and adding slight inclines on your lawn. While not extravagant, it’s necessary. A well-graded lawn encourages proper water drainage. This means you won’t have to deal with soil erosion, water pooling, and other issues that detract from the enjoyment of your outdoor space.
Add built-in pathways
If you don’t already have one, consider adding built-in pathways. They’ll add character and also encourage visitors off other parts of your lawn. Instead of typical concrete slabs, install large, unhoned stones to create a forest-like setting or pavers and bricks for a classic look. Make the path more elegant by installing guiding lights.
Create rock gardens
Rock gardens can add depth and visual interest to a mundane space like a yard. You can use it as a focal point or a creative way to hide imperfections. Rock gardens can range from a large-scale project that features several elements to a humble corner in the lawn that’s decorated with gravel and pebbles. Rock gardens are easy to install, make an interesting feature, and require little to no maintenance.
Invest in water features
A water feature can greatly enhance an outdoor space and can provide either a sense of movement or a touch of serenity, often they add both. Like rock gardens, they can range from large to small-scale additions. They also come in different styles. Some have a minimalist look, while others, like those in grand estates, can be ornate and the focal piece of an outdoor design.
FOR SECURITY AND PRIVACY
Don’t leave your security up to chance and your home vulnerable. Take a look at how most homeowners in the Smith Mountain Lake area enhance their security and privacy:
Consider fencing
Simple fencing can add a significant layer of security and protection to your outdoor living space. This isn’t just to deter unwanted visitors, it also helps keep children and pets from wandering outside the property. You can choose from a variety of fencing options such as wood, metal, and vinyl. As mentioned earlier, you can utilize tall hedges as well.
Add trellises
If you want to create a more intimate portion of the outdoor area, trellises provide partial privacy. They obscure views from certain angles, but they still maintain an open and inviting ambiance. They’re highly versatile. Their sizes, shapes, patterns, and finishes can be customized to suit the theme you want. You can also incorporate climbing plants to add more to their design.
Integrate smart home security systems
Today’s smart technology is ever-improving and is already at the point where it’s simple to keep your home safe with relative ease. Smart home security systems often come with a combination of features like video surveillance, motion detectors, and alarms. All of which can be remotely monitored and controlled in one app. This is particularly useful if you’re buying a vacation home that will at times be vacant. Wherever you are in the world, you’ll be able to monitor for intrusions, watch what is happening via streamed video, and summon assistance immediately if there is cause for alarm.
Your outdoor space on your luxury property home in Smith Mountain Lake shouldn’t be an afterthought. Just a little investment of time and energy can do wonders in elevating your home, living experience, and property value.
WORK WITH THE LEADING REALTOR IN SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE
If you’re looking for a permanent way to enjoy life in Smith Mountain Lake work with Jane Sullivan Horne, one of the most trusted real estate professionals in the area.
Jane is a Virginia Realtor specializing in the most coveted luxury homes in Smith Mountain Lake and its surrounding communities. Being in the luxury sector for 37 years, Jane has developed a keen eye for design and is well-versed and up-to-date on the market trends in the area.
Call Jane today at 540.493.1690 or send a message here to begin your buying or selling journey with a top professional.
