More frequently we are seeing home owners realising the worth of creating an outdoor area that looks fresh and modern but is also easy to maintain.

Outdoor retreat

Instead of jetting off to Bali for a tranquil escape, why not recreate the Balinese feel in your own back yard?

  • Bring the indoors out with comfortable and stylish seating
  • Incorporate a ‘conversation pit’ where family and friends can relax together
  • Invest in an environmentally friendly water feature that reuses water around your home, such as reticulation
  • Use accessories such as drapes, bright cushions, feature plants and pots
  • If you haven’t got much space, then add a rush of green with an easy-to-maintain vertical garden

Marrakech display home - Butler

Grow your own

The environment along with rising food prices means growing your own fruit and veg is increasingly popular.

  • Tomatoes, silver beet, garlic and root vegetables such as carrots all do well in WA conditions
  • Grow a herb garden – you can get some really neat planters at Bunnings.
  • Plant olive and fruit trees instead of decorate trees like the Frangipani

Stoneleigh vegie patch - Landsdale

Be water aware

With climate change on everyone’s mind, saving water is more important than ever. Be realistic with your landscaping and think about how much will need watering in order to maintain.

  • Try out low maintenance artificial turf
  • Use hardy plants that do well in dry, hot conditions
  • If you have a small space – experiment with paving, decking or pebbles instead of grass

Goulburn display home

Ergonomic gardening

For those who aren’t so agile, or who are thinking about scaling down on gardening duties – there are some alternatives for you to save both your time and your back!

  • Raised flowerbeds
  • Smaller plants and trees/bush that is easier to maintain
  • Reduce your greenery and instead create a vertical garden

Oslo display home in Harrisdale - conversation pit and vertical garden