5 Landscaping Tips For Modern Homes

Landscaping can be a gamechanger in the overall look of a home—especially ones with bigger open spaces as it helps the structure and the surrounding terrain blend together beautifully. If you have a house in a modern style, setting up a garden with a simple, sleek aesthetic would create a cohesive look. Whether you're looking to increase the curb appeal of your property or you just want to add a little more green to your garden, here are a few landscaping tips you can try out: 

1. Go for geometry. 

Straight pathways, circular shapes and forms, and rectangular plantings can all echo a modernist home's lines. Geometrical forms can also be echoed in plant shapes and arrangement of trees. 

2. Keep it clean. 

You can have massings of different plants and an expanse of a lawn, but it is best to keep these well-manicured so that the yard will be as streamlined as the house's facade. 

3. Hardscape is your friend.

Hardscape, or man-made features such as paths, ledges, walls, and even custom-built benches, can be key features in your modern garden—especially when done in the same style as your home.

4. Add modern elements.

Instead of just sticking to plants, consider working with  gravel and stone. Try experimenting by staggering the stepping stones, filling the remaining spaces with interesting rocks or adding pockets of sand for a desert-like feel. You can also try a sleek and simple trellis to add linear form and create an anchor for climbing vines and shrubs. 

5. Don't forget to add seating. 

Even the smallest of outdoor balconies can be transformed into beautifully landscaped spaces with the right furniture pieces. Make sure to pick out items with materials that can withstand the elements as it will be placed outside, such as powder-coated metal or aluminum, polypropylene, or plastic woven to mimic natural materials. 

A part of this material is based on the snippet that appeared in the May 2017 issue of Real Living Magazine. Main photo by Modern Garden.