7 Landscape Design Tips for Utilizing a Retaining Wall in the West Bloomfield Township, MI, Area
Retaining walls are useful landscape features that can provide a defining boundary between your property and the sidewalk, designate an outdoor entertaining space, or prevent soil erosion. But these useful masonry features can also be eye-catching, depending on the materials used and what features are added in their vicinity. Here are seven design tips to consider for your new retaining wall in West Bloomfield Township, MI:
Set Up a Fire Pit Area
A retaining wall could serve as a seating wall around your fire pit or it could offer some protection to the fire from wind, if it is built around the perimeter of your fire feature/patio combination. Often, a retaining wall may be built specifically to delineate between various outdoor living spaces—separating your outdoor dining area, for example, from where you want people to retire after eating with a good drink.
Create Extra Patio Seating
By providing built-in seating, a retaining wall makes it so your outdoor spaces always have a place for everyone. It can minimize the need to move outdoor furniture around, and it also makes an overall landscape seem very warm and welcoming.
Add Plantings
Another way to add something extra special to your retaining wall is to make it part of your fine garden area. The retaining wall could serve as the foundation of a flower bed, or its simple facade could be decorated by low low shrubs or colorful flowers. Another idea is to add creeping vines over the top of the retaining wall to help this structure blend in more with the natural elements surrounding it.
Include Outdoor Lighting
You may want to add outdoor lighting to your retaining wall. By adding outdoor lights to this masonry structure, you can illuminate its lovely textures as well as brighten up the space surrounding it. Extra lighting may come in handy if your retaining wall is by your property line, and you want the boundary to be clear to visitors. Lighting embedded under the coping can create a warm, inviting atmosphere on its own.
Build a Water Feature
For character and a soothing effect, your retaining wall could include a water feature. The visual aesthetics a water feature provides along with the calming sounds of the water flowing could compel you to spend time by this wall and spend more time outside. Include outdoor lights to show off the moving water, so you can enjoy this space any time of day.
Include an Outdoor Kitchen
A retaining wall can form the basis for an outdoor kitchen with all the amenities for convenient outdoor cooking and dining. The wall blocks could be specifically chosen to complement the stainless steel of your appliances along with the surrounding paver patio.
Add a Pergola
For a balanced look to masonry and even more vertical interest, a pergola is a nice accompaniment to a retaining wall, particularly if it will primarily be used for seating. Most pergolas offer dappled shade and a fitting place to hang string lights, to create a warm ambiance on a hot summer night.
Related: 5 Reasons Unilock Products Are Best for a Retaining Wall in the West Bloomfield Township, MI Area
About the Author
When Russell Sheridan founded Legacy Landscape in 2013, he committed to completing every project to perfection and exceeding customer expectations. We continue that mission today, taking pride in designing and building luxurious landscapes where our customers can create special moments with loved ones.
