Designing Your Dream Backyard Space: A Planning Guide
Adding an outdoor living space or renovating an existing patio? Make a potentially challenging process a lot easier with the help of our suite of planning tools.
Why Invest in Hardscapes?
Investing in hardscapes for your home isn’t just a lifestyle upgrade, it’s also a smart financial move. Real estate experts estimate that 95% of the cost of a new patio is recovered when the home is sold.¹ Not only will you get years of enjoyment from your outdoor space, but you’ll also increase your home’s street appeal and resale value if you ever choose to sell.
No matter your motivation, it’s reassuring to know that your investment in the backyard of your dreams offers more than just a great place for your family to enjoy. If you need more convincing that maximizing your basic backyard makes dollars and sense, we’ve got you covered.
¹ National Association of REALTORS® Research Group's 2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features
What Can I Create with Rosetta?
You likely already have a rough idea of your hardscape project. Is it a new walkway to your front door? How about a retaining wall to maximize the size of your yard? Or is your project a patio to serve as the centerpiece for your gatherings of family and friends?
Your next step should be exploring similar projects so you don’t overlook an essential feature or design element that would’ve taken your concept from neat to knockout. Could that new front walkway include pillars to host helpful lighting and your street address? Or could your retaining wall be tiered to include vibrant plantings? Or would you appreciate the later evenings the warmth of a fire pit can offer on your new patio?
So dream big, explore what others have done, and craft your own Rosetta project that we can feature on this very website!
How Do I Find My Design Style?
Your outdoor space should be much more than simply an extension of your home. It should be your oasis. This doesn’t mean it needs to be a tropical paradise – it just needs to include the features you love and will use.
Whether you’re in the idea phase or ready to start looking for a contractor, our style guide breaks down the process of designing an outdoor living space and making it truly yours. And because lead times for contractors can be long, the sooner you get started the closer you are to getting the most out of your backyard.
How Do I Find the Right Contractor?
Searching for the right hardscape contractor near you can be frustrating and time-consuming. From availability to unreliability, you may need to connect with multiple contractors before you land on someone you trust for your outdoor living space project.
That’s why we’ve put together Eight Tips to Find Your Next Outdoor Living Contractor – including how to vet installers, how (and why) to check references, and how to build out a reasonable timeline that works for both of you.
How Do I Create a Budget?
Building a budget can feel intimidating – but it doesn’t have to be.
Early on, it’s important to determine the maximum dollar amount you’re comfortable spending. But without more information, it can be challenging to identify if what you want to spend works with what you want to get. For example, you might be wondering – what do typical backyard remodels cost? How much do other homeowners allocate for their patio budgets? Where can you save money on your project?
We’ve set out to make your backyard project budgeting as simple as possible. Consult our comprehensive budgeting checklist so you can more effectively bring your vision and your budget together.
Need Help Planning for Your Next Patio?
Download the Patio Project Playbook to begin planning for your next hardscape project!