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9 Xeriscape Ideas to Improve Your Outdoor Space
You dream of a beautiful backyard but are also passionate about eco-friendly landscaping. Depending on your climate, a traditional lawn might not cut it. Thankfully, an excellent solution exists: xeriscaping. This increasingly popular practice limits the need for irrigation. Its name derives from the Greek word for “dry.” The water department in Denver deserves credit for the term. Although the concept has existed for some time, it has only recently become prominent. Implemented strategically, xeriscaping allows for lower utility bills, eco-friendly living, and a lot less time spent on lawn maintenance. What’s more, xeriscaped yards are often more visually appealing than their conventional counterparts. By forcing homeowners to get creative, these spaces deliver a greater sense of personality, often resulting in downright artistic designs that provide a real visual feast. Xeriscape Design Ideas When you’re accustomed to Kentucky bluegrass or flower gardens with high water needs, the very idea of diverging from these traditions can seem a bit frightening. However, a world of opportunity opens up when you no longer feel limited by the backyard status quo. Short on ideas? The following are just a few of the many xeriscape approaches worth implementing throughout your outdoor space: Plants Limited watering doesn’t mean that you need to sacrifice greenery. In fact, many plants are uniquely suited to arid landscapes. For your backyard to qualify as xeriscaped, however, you’ll need to carefully select plants based on which are most likely to thrive based on local soil and climate conditions. When possible, stick with drought-tolerant plants that call for minimal watering. These will differ to an extent depending on how warm or cold your local climate is, although some shrubs or wildflowers thrive in several different environments. Top options include the following: Purple lovegrass Thyme Coneflower Candytuft Fernbush Catmint Yucca Apache plume As you determine which plants are right for your yard, keep potential zones in mind. Xeriscaping often involves hydrazones, with each area receiving a different amount of water. No-water zones are extremely low-maintenance, while low-water may require a drip irrigation system. Moderate-water zones should be limited to small flower beds or other focal points. Mulch If you’d like to keep things simple as you plan your xeriscaped backyard, be sure to take advantage of mulch. Used in many environments to prevent weeds, this form of ground cover is especially effective in dry regions, as it limits evaporation for soil moisture. As a result, less water is needed. Organic mulch is a great option. It can take many forms, such as pine needles, shredded hardwood, or chips of bark. Stone-based inorganic mulch can also be effective as ground cover but should be limited to shady areas. Rock Garden Few xeriscaped features are as visually impressive as detail-oriented rock gardens. These may include a variety of different types of stones or boulders. Many also incorporate plants, such as the xeriscape-friendly options referenced above. You can also add succulents or dainty decor to create a beautiful fairy garden. While rock garden setup takes extensive planning, this upfront work is more than worthwhile for anyone who hopes to minimize long-term maintenance. As with any garden, careful attention will be required for determining drainage and soil needs. This is particularly important for rock gardens that incorporate native plants. Pavers Paver selection and placement can have a huge impact on xeriscaping. Instead of automatically opting for standard concrete or asphalt, consider alternatives such as porous pavement or gravel. These allow runoff to reach your yard and soak into the ground. Permeable pavers can also fulfill this function, as they are set slightly apart to produce gaps. These, in turn, allow the water to reach the soil, providing much-needed moisture. Turf Grass If you love the look of a lush, well-manicured lawn, you might be disappointed by the high cost and ecological damage imparted when you chase this aesthetic in an arid or semi-arid region. Thankfully, several substitutes are available. If you want real grass, stick with drought-resistant options that will continue to grow well in dry weather or during unexpected heat waves. Native grass is generally preferable to exotic, ornamental options. Another potential solution? Synthetic turf. This allows you to skip watering altogether. Many synthetic solutions look surprisingly realistic, so you can enjoy the appearance of a lush lawn while keeping personal effort to a minimum. In general, the principles of xeriscaping call for as little use of turf as possible. When alternatives are available, take advantage of them. In limited supply, however, it’s possible to minimize water use while incorporating turf. Choose turf locations strategically and challenge yourself to shift towards mulch, rocks, or non-turf plant life. Light Up Your Xeriscape Landscaping No matter which xeriscape solutions you select, they deserve to be featured both during the day and after the sun goes down. Hence, the value of outdoor lighting, which draws attention to the most impressive aspects of your xeriscaped backyard. Landscape lighting can also serve a functional purpose, as it improves navigation along walkways and within gardens. This is one of the easiest backyard solutions to implement. Since environmental practices are a top priority among xeriscape enthusiasts, low-energy usage should be a priority with any xeriscape lighting solution. Thankfully, a variety of LED options are available. Efficient and effective, these extend the life of your favorite lights while minimizing energy usage. Top options for lighting up a xeriscaped environment include the following: Pathway Lighting Paths meandering through your xeriscaped space encourage both guests and residents to take in the full visual spectacle. These should be well-lit for the sake of safety, of course, but also so that nearby xeriscaped features can be enjoyed after dark. Mushroom fixtures are perfect for creating focused light, while paver lights can provide a lovely accent along both walkways and driveways. Empress lights are often referred to as the crown jewel of pathway lighting, as their facets resemble diamonds. Garden Lighting You’ve worked hard to create a stunning garden featuring ornamental rocks and native plants. Call attention to these unique features with landscaping lights. High output spotlights attract attention from afar, while radiance lights create instant depth and dimension. Memorable options such as colored puck lights or yard dots can be used creatively throughout your garden, creating a visual statement above and beyond what you could achieve with plants alone. These often include LEDs, which abide by the xeriscaping principles of eco-friendly design. Patio Lighting Xeriscaping often accompanies extended patios, which may be built, in part, with the intention of limiting lawn coverage. Equipped with the right features, such patios create excellent entertaining spaces. They must be properly lit, however, to promote both safety and socialization. From LED strips attached to pergolas to wall-mounted floodlights, a variety of solutions can illuminate your patio with a soft glow while also providing a view of your gorgeous landscaping. Paver lights can also work wonders and, when also integrated with pathways, create a cohesive effect throughout the entire xeriscaped area. Wall Lights Even if your backyard doesn’t include a deck or patio, you can use retaining walls and other sturdy surfaces to draw attention to intricate landscaping. This approach works especially well for smaller backyards, where most xeriscaped spaces may be bordered by walls. A variety of wall-mounted solutions are available. Corner lights, strip lights, and multi-function lights, for example, can all be called on to illuminate preferred spaces. These surprisingly versatile lights can easily blend into a variety of walls, where they improve safety, security, and general aesthetics when the sun goes down. Dekor: Creative Lighting Solutions to Support Your Xeriscaping Efforts From landscaping to pergolas and even your swimming pool, the vast range of lighting solutions from Dekor can up the ante for any outdoor feature you want to show off. Contact us today to learn more about our products or to find additional ideas for improving your outdoor living space.
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8 Pergola Lighting Ideas to Decorate Your Outdoor Space
Few outdoor features blend beauty and functionality quite like a pergola. These vertical pillars provide support for cross-beams, which, in turn, deliver shade during the day. A pergola brings a sense of purpose to an outdoor area, providing a focal point to show where, exactly, people should hang out. Lighting allows your pergola to better fulfill these functions whenever you need it — day or night. Why Light Up Your Pergola? During the day, your pergola provides a much-needed break from direct sunlight. This added shade allows you to make better use of outdoor space that you might otherwise neglect for fear of sunburn. If your pergola is not lit, however, you may not be able to use that outdoor space at night. At a minimum, pergola lights serve a functional purpose: making it possible to navigate your outdoor living area when the sun goes down. But safety must also be considered. Without proper lighting, the risk of injury can be considerable — even in spaces that appear to have few obstructions. Pergola lighting can also boost the appearance of your deck or patio. The best patio lighting draws attention to your preferred aesthetic, regardless of whether you like contemporary, rustic, or elegant design. Depending on where your pergola is situated, your lights can also show off your garden or landscaping features. Pergola Lighting Ideas & Design Options Pergola lights can be dim, colorful, or housed within bold fixtures. With so many excellent choices, however, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this guide, we’ll define today’s top options and help you choose the ideal pergola lights for your space. Whether you prefer a sleek, contemporary look or something a bit more laid-back, you’ll quickly fall in love with at least one of the outdoor lighting ideas highlighted below: Outdoor String Lights As one of the most popular options for today’s pergolas, string lights are easy to hang. They instantly create a warm, festive atmosphere. These lights are far more varied than many people realize. Favorite options include: Fairy.When you think of string lights, chances are, you imagine classic fairy lights. These serve more of a decorative function than a practical one, so they’re best used in areas that already have other sources of lighting available. These lovely lights add a cheerful twinkle to make any deck or patio feel cozy. IcicleOften used for holiday parties, icicle lights hang down in short, vertical strings. These, in turn, are attached to a longer, horizontally-oriented string. While many people prefer to use icicle lights as accents along rooflines, they can also work nicely with pergolas and elsewhere in a deck or patio environment. Light Fixtures If you prefer to spend time in a well-lit area, you’ll need more luminosity than most string lights can provide. Therein lies the value of mounted lighting fixtures, such as soffit LED floodlights. Delivering a cascading effect that forces guests to take notice, these lights provide a beautiful glow. They also serve a practical purpose: bringing visibility to corners that might otherwise be out of reach after the sun goes down. Empyrean. Situated in an L-shaped housing, these flush-mount pergola lights are sometimes referred to as the “lights from above.” They are among the most effective options for pergolas because they are specifically designed for overhead structures. Inconspicuous during the day, these are among the most effective solutions for avoiding tangles and other issues that sometimes accompany string lighting systems. Remote Control. You may want remote control options for your backyard lights, so you can turn them on from anywhere and don’t have to worry about finding a switch in the dark. DEKOR offers the DEKORKONNECT Wifi Light Controller, which allows you to program your lights the way you’d like and turn them on from your phone. Hanging Lights The terms ‘hanging’ and ‘string’ are often confused when applied to outdoor lighting. These approaches hold much in common, and, technically, string lights are hanging lights. That being said, not all hanging lights qualify as string lights. Essentially, hanging lights are any fixture suspended from your pergola. For an enhanced effect, try colorful hanging lights, which go beyond a conventional soft glow to bring your favorite hues to your deck or patio. Keep in mind that most hanging lights you select will be visible during the day, so you should love their appearance regardless of whether or not they’re lit at any given point in time. Decorative Lights: Mason Jars & Paper Lanterns On the hunt for a rustic chic look that will add instant visual interest to your pergola? Mason jars should give your favorite outdoor areas a memorable look, adding flair in a delightfully low-key manner. These lights used are typically LED lights, which provide long-lasting, bright light. Colorful Mason jar lights further defy expectations by bringing bold and bright hues to your outdoor patio. Paper lanterns add unique style to your outdoor living space – either strung up in a row like fairy lights or hung individually around your pergola. Just keep in mind that both of these lighting solutions prioritize style over safety: mason jar lights and paper lanterns alone are likely not enough to illuminate your full outdoor space. Strip Lights From a distance, strip lights resemble the effect of string lights. They offer many benefits above and beyond other lighting solutions, however, as they can be cut to preferred lengths and customized based on the specifics of the environment in which they’re used. They can take multiple forms, such as: NOSEEEM. These LED strip lights are ideal when you want a discreet, subtle option for illuminating the space beneath your pergola. Other perks include waterproof construction and robust strength, which allow these lights to stand up to the elements. Infinite Lights. Named for the infinite opportunities they provide, infinite LED strip lights are thin and flexible. While they are sold individually, they can be attached as needed to create custom strips of lights. Silicone casing means that a variety of surfaces can accommodate these lights. Rope. While these lights look spectacular when attached beneath deck rails, they’re also a perfect fit for pergolas. They can bring the perfect sense of ambiance to an outdoor dining room. Rope lights are flexible enough to deliver steady output near curves and angles. If you want a steady, unbroken string of light for a contemporary space, rope lights may be your preferred solution. Chandeliers Nothing classes up a room quite like a sophisticated chandelier. This is true regardless of whether gorgeous chandeliers are suspended from inside ceilings or outdoor pergolas. Depending on their design, they can bring elegance or quirky vibes to your pergola. They also offer varying levels of light. To make a statement, try these kinds of chandeliers: Drum Lights. This modern style does wonders when incorporated into minimalist designs. As pendant lights, they are hung from chains or stems. The term ‘drum’ derives from the shape of the shade. Glass. Play up the luxury outside with a glass chandelier. These are inherently elegant, but can also be risky outside — so be sure to stick with the most durable models available. Mini. Small pergolas can quickly be overwhelmed by excessively large chandeliers. If you want the effect of a chandelier without overdoing it, try a mini design instead. This provides all the aesthetic appeal of a conventional chandelier but also leaves room for other decor or lighting solutions. Lights in the Floor Your deck or patio area covered by the pergola doesn’t just have to be lit from above. Especially if you want soft, decorative lighting around the overhang of your pergola, but you don’t want to compromise the safety, recessed lighting in the ground can be an effective solution. DEKOR’s Dek Dots are the ideal outdoor recessed lighting for any deck, patio, or pergola area. They are designed to be walked on, waterproof, and easy to install. The light bulbs are also dimmable, so it’s still possible to set the mood and adjust the brightness of your lights. Stair Lights Some pergola areas are accessible by stairs, especially if the pergola structure covers a portion of your deck or patio. If this is true, you’ll need to make sure that those stairs are included in your pergola lighting design plans. In fact, stairs are potentially the most important part of your outdoor area to light up from a safety perspective. DEKOR offers a range of stair lights specifically designed for outdoor use, but for pergolas, we recommend an outdoor recessed stair light with faceplates. The faceplates add some design and personality to your stair lighting: you can choose your faceplate design from 8 options and the color of the faceplate from 3 different options. Make your stair lighting dramatic or subtle, according to your taste. Transform Your Pergola With DEKOR Why let a sophisticated pergola go to waste after sunset? When you apply the best lighting solutions from DEKOR, your outdoor room becomes far more functional and attractive after hours. This is one of the easiest home improvement options imaginable, so don’t hesitate to get in DIY mode as you add the lighting styles highlighted above to your deck or patio. Contact us today to learn more about our products — and to discover which lighting options are best capable of leveling up your pergola.
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