The first thing that will come to your mind when planning any home renovation is probably cost. However, there are several inexpensive ways you can enhance your backyard, patio, or driveway without putting a dent in your budget. You can give your driveway a modern makeover while still retaining its traditional essence. You can also create your dream outdoor living space where you have a choice to relax or host parties.

But before worrying about your budget though, you need to think first of how you want to use your new space. It will be a lot easier and friendlier to your pockets if you have a clear vision and plan of what you want to get out from it.

Use our guide here on how you can rejuvenate and renovate your space on a budget without the need to jam-pack it with bells and whistles.

Backyard And Patio Budget Renovation Ideas

If you’re like the majority of homeowners, you’d probably want a patio with pillars and a sitting wall, a grill island or an outdoor kitchen, beautiful new landscaping, some cool outdoor lighting, a deck, and even a fireplace or fire pit table.

However, what most homeowners do not realize is that the cost of each of these components will vary greatly depending on how they want to utilize them. For example, you’ll need more space and budget for a traditional lounge set up compared to a sectional seating. So, it’s essential to consider these aspects early on as how you want to enjoy your space will have a drastic impact on your budget.

Once you have an understanding of the purpose of your new backyard or patio, you’re all set to start creating a budget for your outdoor living space project.

Here are some simple and useful ways to enhance the overall look of your backyard and patio if you’re on a budget and need to accomplish this without the need to spend too much:

1. Define your space
2. Create a Beautiful Garden Path
3. Consider a Trellis
4. Go Vertical
5. The Beauty of Mulch

1. Define Your Space

Deciding what you and your space need and clearly establishing them can make a huge visual impact. Doing so is also as less costly as rearranging the outdoor ornaments and furniture you already have. You can get some inspiration ideas on defining your space from our friends at Porch.

2. Create A Beautiful Garden Path

If you have an untamed space, you can give it a polished look and bring new life to it by adding a garden path. Instead of using pavers, go for quarter-inch sized crushed rocks instead, which are available in various colors – STONEarch Pebbles can be a perfect fit for this.

To determine the shape of the path, place stakes and then wrap them around with bender board. Lay down at least four or five inches of crushed stones in the color of your choice. Use a plate compactor to flatten your surface. You can rent this equipment from your local home and garden supply shop.

3. Consider A Trellis

Trellises are readily available in garden centers. You’ve probably never considered these architectural features before, but they can provide your yard with an easy and quick accent.

You can create a focal point by simply placing one near the back part of your garden. Or you can even use it as an entrance to your vegetable or flower beds or sitting area. Give it a whimsical look by planting a flowering vine on its sides for a whimsical look.

4. Go Vertical

If you have a flat, massive patio, positioning some boulders throughout your space will give it a bit of dimension. You can arrange them in clusters or arrange them separately. Do not hesitate to cut into your yard to accommodate them, and leave enough room around them where you can plant small shrubs or bright perennials.

5. The Beauty Of Mulch

Think of mulch as a carpet for your backyard. You can provide your outdoor area with a unified, elegant, and finished look by laying mulch of the same color on all exposed soil and flowerbeds in your garden. Another benefit you can get out from mulch is that it can block weeds that eat up the nutrients needed by your plants.

Budget Renovation Ideas For Your Driveway

Aside from functionality, a driveway that leads to your home also adds beauty to it. For this reason, it is a smart move on your part to consider creating the best design for your driveway that will glorify it visually without hurting your bank account.

You can uplift your space with the following driveway design ideas that are both interesting and cost-effective:

1. Nature’s Touch
2. Decorative Borders and Gateways
3. A Gravel Driveway
4. Use Brick Pavers
5. Risden-bound Surface

1. Nature’s Touch

Adding natural earth and landscaping plants in your driveway can help create a better impression. Not only will increase its appeal, but it’ll also provide your family with a connection to the natural environment.

One of the cheapest ways to give your driveway a new design when to retain its stability during renovation is combining compacted earth with aggregates. Also, placing some flower pots and plants from your driveway to your home can add a lovely charm to the whole surroundings. If you need a place to hold your plants and don’t have the budget to redo your entire driveway, you can consider designing a space with Copings and Sandstone Pier Caps to create a section where you can highlight your plants and flower pots.

2. Decorative Borders and Gateways

In terms of architecture, you can’t undermine you home and driveway’s aesthetic and traditional values. You can improve your modification without spending too much by including a traditional gateway and adding decorative borders beside it. The style of the will depend on your preference, but whatever you choose, make sure it can also protect your home from unwanted visitors aside from increasing its view.

3. A Gravel Driveway

If you want something modern that creates an interesting statement, one of the cheapest options you have is adding shiny gravel along your driveway’s entire path. Although this design idea is old, it carries out a lively and classy approach to driveway designing.

4. Use Brick Pavers

Using brick pavers in restoring your driveway is another old idea, but today’s brick pavers have been incorporated with a modern touch. Implementing your rounder, curved, or straight driveway with a brick paver design will give it an artistic and timeless look.

5. Resin-Bound Surface

Another cheap driveway design option is making the surface of your driveway resin-bound and including it with aggregates stones which come in various colors. Choose the color which you think will best complement your surface design, and then let it laid fully on your asphalt base used in fixing the resin on your driveway. It’s highly durable and can last you for up to three decades without incurring much damage no matter how frequently you use it.

Cobblestone driveway has that unique and authentic look. Cobblestones are one of the most durable landscaping materials you can use. Thanks to the distinct, old-world charm of cobblestone pavers, not only will your space stand out, but the value of your home will increase as well.

What Is A Cobblestone?

One of the earliest paving methods is cobblestone, and have been around since the Roman period. These landscaping stones originated from various areas on earth, including plain fields, rock quarries, and water bodies.

In the simplest of terms, cobblestone is any type of small stones of various shapes and sizes utilized for numerous purposes such as architecture, landscaping, and paving. Physically, they are usually round and small in shape.

These stone bricks are long-lasting, strong, and can add an ambiance and visual appeal that you can’t achieve with gravel, concrete, or asphalt driveway. They’re also an eco-friendly option for building your new driveway.

Dark Granite Ebony Cobblestone pavers are an excellent long-term investment. They are long-lasting and give a very strong impression for every-day use. If you’re on a budget and can’t afford a full cobblestone driveway, you can still make it beautiful and unique by considering a cobblestone inlay in the center of your driveway, or a cobblestone border or curb.

The Perfect Cobblestone For Your Driveway

Traditionally, granite is the material used for cobbles or cobblestones. These durable hard rocks are attractive and available in a wide array of natural colors, making it simple to find a match if there’s a need to replace one. Also, STONEarch granite cobblestones can easily withstand the weight of multiple cars and automobiles, which is a very important criteria when considering the material to use on your driveway.

Another option you have is reclaimed granite cobblestones. These are often narrower and longer in comparison to the ones made today. They are also available in many beautiful natural colors. Meanwhile, new granite cobblestones often come in shades of brown or gray.

Cobblestone or Belgian pavers are costly, but they will outlast almost all other paving options out there.

So, what makes cobbles or cobblestones the best landscaping natural stone for your driveway?

1. First and foremost, it’s beautiful.
2. It’s a highly dense material.
3. It will not easily acquire scratches.
4. It’s around 95% stain resistance, so you can easily remove any small stains easily.
5. One of the hardest paving materials available.
6. It can resist freeze-thaw condition, which means it can resist splitting or cracking, with the exception of concrete used in joints.
7. Granite material can blend easily with several landscape types.

Cobblestone Driveway Design Ideas

A cobblestone driveway is not for those with budget constraints. Fortunately, you do have an option for achieving a striking look by using granite cobblestone for your driveway curb. Or you can simply use them on your driveway entry. If you’re doing your entire driveway, you can also use Belgian blocks as driveway edgings.  

The great thing about it is that you have numerous patterns to choose from, whether you’ll use cobblestone for a driveway curb or an entire driveway. You can even consider adding a nice circle or rectangular design in the middle. These can be any size you fancy. Adding a flat border to the design will also give it a charming look.

Sizes And Shapes Of Granite Cobblestone Pavers

Granite cobblestones are usually bricks with a rectangular shape and rough-hewn edges. They are often installed vertically for durability, thus, showing only their square ends on your driveway’s surface.

If you want the granite to have various sizes and shapes, you can ask your landscape supplier to custom-cut them. It’s an expensive option though. However, if you want to achieve a customized look, you can position the cobblestones at a certain angle on the ends of your driveway. This way, they will look like diamond-shaped instead of simple squares.

Final Words

If you want to give your driveway an old-world and special appeal, granite cobblestones are the way to go. There are a lot of driveways built from granite decades ago that we can still see today. Granite cobblestones are not just striking and elegant, but will stand the test of time. The upfront cost may be steep for some, but it’s an investment on its own as it will add more value to your home.

People are becoming more and more aware of their impact on the environment. For this reason, we’re seeing massive growth in the interest of creating homes that are not just timeless and beautiful, but sustainable as well.

Nowadays, there are plenty of design and materials you can choose to achieve that goal. However, natural stones stand out from the rest as the best option. Not only does this landscaping material meet all your requirements, but it can also help improve your home’s sustainability.

Since natural stones are versatile, which means that both your home’s interior and exterior can achieve long term goals such as performance, aesthetic.

The main focus of designing a sustainable home is to increase the efficiency of your resources, while at the same time reducing your home’s impact on the environment and health throughout its life cycle. Careful planning is required when designing an eco-friendly home. But all the resources, time, and effort spent will be worth it.

What Makes Natural Stone The Perfect Choice For A Sustainable Home?

Knowing the reasons why stones are sustainable can help you make the right decisions in terms of their selection, installation, and maintenance. Opting to use these materials show that you’re taking responsibility for taking care of the environment. You’re also proactively trying to preserve and improve our natural environment.  

Here are the reasons that make natural sones sustainable:

1. Natural Material
2. Low Maintenance
3. Durable
4. Recyclable
5. Energy Efficient

1. Natural Material

As the name implies, these stones are Mother Nature’s natural products. Producing these green materials do not require chemicals or other resources. Their supply is abundant, varying from colors and textures to shapes, veining, and other characteristics which makes them perfect for a wide array of purposes. For more information and benefits on using natural materials for your project, read our blog from last week on Benefits of Natural Stone vs. Concrete.

Thanks to millions and millions of years of mineral composition and geologic shift, the appearance of natural stones are diverse. They also don’t have toxic chemicals, so you’ll have peace of mind that you’ll maintain the healthy atmosphere of your interior, which is an essential element of a sustainable system.

You can purchase these landscape materials both locally and regionally. The environmental impact of regional extraction and production is lesser since there will be a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions during transportation.

2. Low maintenance

One of the best features of natural stones is how they don’t show dirt and signs of wear and tear compared to wood, vinyl, and other materials. They don’t get scratches or stains easily, and they’re simple to clean as well.

The most popular options for bathrooms are marble and limestone due to their resistance to moisture. On the other hand, granites are the best option for your kitchen countertop since they are scratch proof and sturdy.

When it comes to your outdoor space, stones are perfect for your walkway, patio, landscape planter, retaining walls, and so much more. Investing in natural stones is a smart move since they are durable and can stand the test of time. Take care of them properly, and you won’t need to replace them. And more importantly, you’ll prevent synthetic, wasteful materials from getting dumped into the landfill.

3. Durable

As mentioned, stones can stand the test of time, so you don’t need to replace them, unlike other materials. Travertine, granite, limestone, and other natural stones also age beautifully, thus enhancing the value of your home.

One of the most vital factors you need to consider when deciding on sustainable materials for your home is durability. This is to prevent resources from being used in creating new materials frequently. The life cycle of stones can range from 50 to 100 years. You can use them in your patio, pathway, or foyer, and they will be able to handle high traffic with ease.

4. Recyclable

You can fully recycle stones. They also have the potential of serving a number of various purposes and uses throughout their lifetime. You have an option to reuse and recycle them. This is a sustainable approach to make sure that the material will be able to live their useful life cycle to their full potential.

In terms of the environment, recycling natural stones and using them can help eliminate resources, including water and energy, required in the process of producing new products. As a result, we can avoid or reduce the impacts on resource supplies and ecosystems.

5. Energy Efficient

Natural stones are not only attractive but long-lasting and resistant as well. They don’t need any type of treatment throughout their useful life in comparison to glass, metals, and other synthetic materials.

Using them on facades instead of all-glass can boost the energy efficiency of your home. The combination of glass and natural stone for your facade can lower down the heat transfer coefficient since the heat conductivity of stones is lower than glass. Moreover, the cost of maintaining natural facade is cheaper than the maintenance of those made in all-glass.

Sustainable Outdoor Space

Natural Stone is the perfect green material that can withstand various outdoor elements while gracefully aging. It has the ability to weather out severe changes in moisture conditions and temperature, making them the favorite choice of landscapers for designing planters, walkways, patios, and retaining walls.

These outdoor landscaping materials will deteriorate/ rot much slower over time. Termites, fungus, and beetles are also less likely to feast on them in comparison to other materials that are not natural stone. They’re less prone to erosion like soil, and less prone to cracks like concrete and bricks.

They have a timeless appeal that can provide your garden or yard with a beauty that you will not get with wooden or concrete decking. Also, they fit naturally in nature’s design, which is hard to achieve with manmade materials.

Natural stone pavers or concrete pavers? Choosing the right material for the hardscape of your outdoor space will play a vital role in the outcome of your landscape. It’s a significant commitment in comparison to deciding which type of furniture or plantings to get, since changing them will not be as simple after installation. So you need to choose and think about your decision carefully.

The questions our STONEarch clients usually ask us is which hardscape material will work best with their landscape. There’s no easy answer to this since it will all boil down on your vision, aesthetics, and of course, budget. It is essential on your part to consider and analyze these factors to determine the most suitable option for your landscaping needs.

1. Timeless Elegance
2. Low Maintenance
3. Ages Beautifully
4. You Have Plenty Of Style Choices
5. Easier To Install Than Concrete
6. Better Investment
7. Eco-Friendly And Sustainable

What Makes Natural Stone Pavers Unique?

Natural stone pavers include bluestone, travertine, granite, flagstone, and limestone. These natural materials come in different colors and have characteristics unique to them. They have that earthy look combined with an opulent and textured look.  

You can also find these pavers in various shapes, sizes, and textures. There are irregular flagstone pavers that can provide your patio with an interesting character and high level of visual interest, which you can’t achieve with concrete pavers. You can give your outdoor area a naturally crafted charm with the subtle symmetry and rugged lines that natural stone pavers can offer.

These landscape materials came from actual rocks and each piece possesses a distinct appearance, from weathering to formational methods and natural aging. This also means that Mother Nature will determine its color and texture.

What About Concrete Pavers?

Since they are manmade, concrete pavers are available in almost any size, shape, texture, and color. Their shape can range from large square forms and classic brick shapes to elongated ones similar to plank pavers. There are also concrete replicas of natural stones, bricks, and other materials. They are created with durability and strength in mind, but concrete pavers are prone to crack even with preventions. Concrete pavers may be an inexpensive option, but they are slippery when wet, and repairs can be quite expensive as well. You will need to consider these issues when making your decision.

Reasons To Choose Natural Stones Over Concrete

1. Timeless Elegance

Natural stone pavers come in varying types, from light beige standstone if you want to get that tropical vibe to dark ebony granite for achieving a majestic feel to your patio. Depending on where the stone is quarried, each piece has a distinct texture and color. Using natural stones on your landscape is a surefire way to captivate your guests and give your hardscape some personalization.

2. Low Maintenance

Stone pavers don’t usually develop cracks. If for some reason they do, they are easy to repair and replace. Simply remove the paver with cracks and replace it. That’s it! Plus, they also have smaller joints. That means their sand joints are less likely to encounter seed germination. And the best thing about natural stones? They’re effortless to clean!

3. Ages Beautifully

There is no doubt that stones look even better as they age and have a very long lifespan. Unlike concrete, the colors of natural stones are not pigmented, which only add to their beauty. They’re also not made from mixtures of composite aggregate like concrete pavers, so they can preserve their beauty as they age, mature, and fade. There are even certain stones that can attain their complete elegance and beauty with little age. And they will look as beautiful as the day of their installation even after hundreds of years.

4. You Have Plenty Of Style Choices

You will not fall short with style choices. You’re sure to find the right paving material for the landscaping project you have in mind, whether it be limestone, slate, flagstone, or travertine. Natural stones are also available in either irregular or flat surfaces, as well as varying shapes, from triangles and diamonds to rectangles, and so much more.

5. Easier To Install Than Concrete

You don’t need to acquire new skills to install natural stones. You can lay it on your patio floors like with concrete. On the other hand, installing concrete pavers is often more expensive than stones. They will require several aspects like labor, grading, and backfilling. They are also prone to breakage and shifting. To prevent this, you need someone with the right installation skills and can hinder the unfavorable effects of age and weather. Plus, you need to maintain concrete regularly, which you may not have time for if you’re a very busy person.

6. Better Investment

Utilizing natural stones on your landscape will add more value to your home. It’s an investment that will pay for itself in the long run. They are also regarded as materials with high value and quality. Traits like prominence, elegance, and sophistication are connected to them as well. Also, landscape projects created with natural stones are considered to be distinct, well-built, unique, and genuine, which helps add to the re-sale value of any property.

7. Eco-Friendly And Sustainable

These landscaping materials are probably one of the most sustainable available today. Our planet has vast stone resources, and although their regeneration may not be as visible as that of trees, the process is endless with a lasting life-cycle. And since they are natural, they are recyclable. You can also re-use them as crushed for aggregates or reclaimed paving.

Landscape stones elevate not only your backyard's style but also its functionality and comfort. They play a vital role in the design and planning of your landscape. With various types of stones available, each with distinct qualities, selecting the right one for your project is essential. Here's a breakdown of different landscaping stones and how to choose the best fit. 

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Small Landscape Rocks

There are four primary types of small landscape rocks: river rock, pea gravel, lava rocks, and crushed granite gravel. 

• River rocks: These stones, also known as pebbles, are usually smoother and bigger than pea gravel – almost the size of your palm. They are ideal as water accents, creating a structure like a fountain or retaining wall. You can also use them to develop direct drainage or dry creek beds within your property.

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• Pea gravel: They are slightly smaller with a smooth surface and come in a mix of colors, including brown, tan, and white. Their sizes range from half an inch to an eighth of an inch. You can use pea gravel for covering your driveways, in between the crevices of your pathway, and garden beds instead of mulch.

• Lava rocks: Lightweight and distinctive in appearance, lava rocks come in black or red. They absorb heat during the day and release it at night, making them a unique accent for any landscape design.‍

• ‍Crushed Granite Gravel: Featuring larger particles and a textured appearance, crushed granite gravel works as a transition between walkways and patio plants, offering a contemporary yet refined look.

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Big Landscape Stones

Bigger stones include cobblestone, flagstone, and boulders. 

• Cobblestones: While primarily used as cobble mat paving and for courtyards or pathways, they are also ideal for garden borders to breathe new life into the landscape. With a timeless aesthetic that complements various styles, cobblestones enhance visual appeal, offer slip resistance, and require minimal maintenance. 

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• Flagstones: Usually seen in gardens, this versatile stone type includes sandstone and limestone. They play a dual role, acting as decorative embellishments and functional elements. Flagstones can be flat or irregularly shaped, making them suitable for patios, stepping stones, and walkways.

• Limestone: A type of flagstone, limestone provides an earthy and subtle vibe for walkways and patios. Bluestone, a popular limestone variant, offers a rustic appearance. It can range from corals to shells and other sedimentary rocks. It may have a limited color selection, but when sanded and smoothened, it will give you a unique, rustic, and unique appearance.

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• Sandstone: With a coarse texture resembling compressed sand, sandstone comes in various colors of Brown and Tan, but they also come in a range of beautiful colors such as black, gray, white, and red. They add a natural vibe and texture to landscaped areas.

• Boulders: These large stones make a bold statement in your landscape. Its color and appearance will depend mainly on the rock you'll get. They are perfect for focal points, borders, water features, or accents–creating an impactful statement in your landscape.

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What to Consider in Choosing Your Landscape Stones?

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Design Harmony

Ensuring that your stone selections harmonize with your home's style is key. Opt for flagstone and crushed granite gravel for modern homes, while multicolored stones complement boho aesthetics. Cobblestones enhance Spanish-style homes, while boulders add a contemporary twist to Colonial designs.

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Design with Functionality

Purpose matters in landscaping. Outline your ideas to balance form and function. For instance, opt for smoother pebbles instead of rough gravel near fire pits, and explore durable patio pavers in various colors and styles to craft inviting outdoor spaces.

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Creating Shapes with Stones

Landscape stones are versatile tools for shaping space. Use them strategically to guide attention or create the illusion of expanded areas. Larger stones open up space, while cobblestones and smaller stones offer a cozier atmosphere

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Water Accents

Water features convey luxury and relaxation. From mini waterfalls to trickling rivers, these elements enhance your landscape. Koi ponds are charming but require proper care.

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Contact our support team for more info on your Landscape Stones. We are here to provide comprehensive answers based on our expertise as promptly as possible.

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The time has come to take back the backyard with new and improved landscape designs as summer waits on the horizon and barbequing season comes full swing. Now landscape design can be interpreted at many levels – macro, meso, and micro. While macro landscape design is for a more industrial-scale application, meso and micro express a contained articulation that can be applied in home and commercial gardens. It’s here that landscape design gets to test its boundaries in both creativity and innovation. From the use of landscaping stones to a tailored selection of plants, there is a lot to be considered. Some of the best landscape design ideas are derived from a combination of artistic liberty and well-defined spatial parameters. In this collected list we’ll be taking a look at some of the latest trends in this genre that you can easily apply on both meso and micro level to breathe new life into your backyard:

1. Poolside Hardscaping

Many suburban homes these days have a pool in the backyard. While it’s an enjoyable and useful design element, you could add further embellishments to unleash its true ornamental potential. This is why poolside hardscaping has become such a hot trend. It can be articulated in the form of natural stone-clad boundaries at one end of the pool with the potential to be re-purposed into sunny sitting areas or poolside planter beds. It can also be emulated in the form of feature-length stone-clad decking where lounging chairs can be placed for tanning in the summertime. These landscaping stones are perfect for enhancing the natural appeal of an outdoor space. Poolside hardscaping is definitely one of the best landscape design ideas you can go for to take your pool to the next level.

2. Small-Style Meandering Pavers

One of the most timeless and classic landscape design trends that is sure to remain popular in the foreseeable future is gently meandering pathways. These are quite often found in most carefully designed gardens. The pavers and landscaping stones used in them are stylishly pitted and arranged in a way that feels like a personal trail guiding you to areas of interest. Sometimes the hardscaping is interspersed with small amounts of grass, while other times the grass quantifies the pavers. It all depends on the kind of aesthetic you’re creating. A good landscape stone supplier can provide you with a cache of great choices in this genre to make the most out of this design.

3. Outdoor Barbecue Counters

Outdoor kitchen islands are one of the most popular trends in the world. It’s a design element that makes a statement in both large and small gardens. Creating an outdoor kitchen space could make your backyard events the highlight of the summer as they add an element of organization and inclusion for family and guests. The best part is that it can be scaled according to the size and style of your garden design. It’s one of the best landscape design ideas in the book, and can even add a rugged appeal to the overall outdoor space when you choose to clad it with natural stone alternatives such as walling stones and veneers. You can consult your local landscaping stone supplier on which finish better suits your desired outdoor atmosphere.

4. An Outdoor Fireplace

Outdoor fireplaces are an absolute necessity for both small and large garden patios. They not only provide a great center and focal point for outdoor seating areas, but are one of the trendiest landscape design ideas that you can choose. Additionally, there are a lot of ways to craft these fireplaces to fit your patio size and layout. Some people erect a round/square landscaping stone periphery around a pit that is later filled in with logs and cinder. Others prefer a more contemporary take on this venture by going for a conventional mantle-and-chimney fireplace on the feature wall of their landscaped gardens. These are usually built and finished in gorgeous stones, all the better to fit in with the natural environment while equally standing out in elegance. Your landscaping stone supplier can better guide you while making a choice between the two.

5. Stone Flower Bed Periphery

Flower beds are a landscape essential, and one of the best ways to keep them neatly organized in their zone is by erecting a boundary around them. It’s not only functional and highly pragmatic, but also incredibly trendy. Some of the best landscape design ideas include getting creative with the stones used in these flower bed peripheries. Cobblestones give off a quaint and charming aura, flagstones emulate a rugged appeal, and copings give off a stunning finish to the flowerbeds overall. You can easily match the colour scheme of your backyard landscape design to bring the whole space together in gorgeous unity.