How well your individual landscape is planned and used, regardless of what your particular preference or style may happen to be, depends mainly on your understanding of the four basic areas of your landscape, the proper uses of those four basic areas, and how well that understanding has been incorporated into your existing landscape or the landscape you plan and envision for your home. The four basic areas of planning and of use for your landscape are the Public Area, the outdoor Family Living Area, the Service Area, and the Private Living Area.
Consider every aspect of the landscaping of your home - the outside, just as you would the interior of your home. Unfortunately, this concept is one of the most overlooked by many homeowners. The Public Area of the interior of your home is the portion that is seen by everyone coming into the home. This includes the front porch, the entry foyer, and/or the reception room. In some homes this can also include the living room.
The Family Living Area includes those rooms of the house that are used for family activities and for entertaining friends. Rooms such as the living room, dining room, family room, and game room fall into this category.
The Service Area includes those rooms of your home that are designed and used to meet your family’s operating needs. These include the kitchen, the laundry room, sewing room or separate office and the utility room. The garage, while not considered a room, can sometimes fall into the category of the service area.
The Private Living Area of the home is used only by the members of the family for their personal use and activities. The bedrooms and private bathrooms comprise the major rooms of this area. Dressing rooms, if present, are also included.
By understanding that the outside of your home, in terms of proper planning and complete satisfaction of use, is no different than the interior of your home, the proper structure, enjoyment, and value of your landscape can begin to be utilized and your own personal satisfaction with your home can be realized.
The concept and implementation of proper landscape planning and use is one of the most vital in enjoying your landscape, and increasing your homes overall function and ultimately, its resale value. That's just one of the many reasons why hiring a professional landscape designer to review your property can be such a valuable asset and tool in developing the maximum potential of your landscape.
When things in the landscape (no matter what they may be) are out of place, disorganized, or seemingly done without a reason or purpose, the value of our property can be diminished and our overall satisfaction, enjoyment and use of our property suffers. With the cost of travel increasing day by day, many people are beginning to realize that an investment in the landscaping of their own property can create a vacation oasis right at home. By understanding the proper use of our individual property we can begin to understand the full potential our property offers.
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