Hardscaping is the use of non-living elements in landscape design. This can include things like paved areas, fire pits, fences, water features, and more. Hardscape is the opposite of softscape, which includes all the living things in your yard, like shrubs, grasses, flowers, and trees.
Hardscape and landscape are typically used together to create landscape design. So, landscaping is the encompassing umbrella term—referring to the process of modifying the land to enhance its appearance and functionality—and hardscaping and softscaping are the more specific examples that fall under the umbrella.
Examples of Hardscaping
Patios
While plants may be first of mind when you picture landscaping, it's actually common practice to do hardscaping first, and follow with softscaping. Patios are often the largest element of hardscaping in landscape design, and they play an important role of designating functional spaces in the backyard. Walkways
Walkways are another highly functional element of hardscaping. They create designated paths for walking throughout, keeping the stress off your grass or groundcovers.
Water Features
Water features—like waterfalls, water fountains, and even reflecting pools—are all examples of decorative hardscaping. Like many of the plants and bushes used in landscape design, water features can be used to help enhance the overall appearance and atmosphere of an outdoor space.
Fire Pits
Fire pits are often coupled with patios, another element of hardscaping, to create a designated area for relaxing and entertaining.
Pergolas
Pergolas can help take a patio to the next level—literally—by adding more height to the space. They can also help mark and section off an area in your yard and provide varying levels of shade, depending on the style and options you choose.
Kitchens 1. Three-tone kitchens. Two-tone kitchen cabinets — meaning the upper cabinets are one color and the lower cabinets another color, or the perimeter cabinets are one color and the island is a different color — dominated kitchens in the past couple of years. So it’s only natural that designers are building on the trend rather than doing away with it. In a three-tone kitchen, one more color or material is introduced to create an asymmetry in the palette that helps define zones or functions and keeps the eye moving. Here, designer Janina Cabrera of J Style at Home designed a gorgeous kitchen with white perimeter cabinets, a light wood island base and a knockout powder-blue hutch. In this kitchen by Hutker Architects , a deep navy defines the refrigerator and pantry wall to the left, joining white perimeter cabinets and a superlight wood island base. Wood via the beams, ceiling, shelves and flooring adds to the diverse three-tone palette. ...
1. Clear the Sink (5-7 Minutes) The kitchen sink is among the dirtiest spots in a home because they harbor bacteria and moisture, especially throughout the day. After dinner, either load and run the dishwasher or handwash dishes and add them to the drying rack. If you have a garbage disposal, use it to remove any lingering debris. Next, thoroughly clean the kitchen sink , including the drain, faucet, and handles. Wipe the entire area dry with a clean cloth. If you feel motivated, do the same with any hand-washed dishes and put them away so you don't have to do it the next day. 2. Tidy Visible Clutter (5-7 Minutes) Knocking this off your list will automatically make spaces look neater and lower your stress levels. Talk about a win-win! Take a few minutes to go through high-traffic areas like the living room, entryway, and kitchen and re-home stray items that have piled up throughout the day. Declutter countertops , corral chargers and remote con...
1. Outdoor gear Dave Labbe , senior vice president at Kittery Trading Post, saw record sales this summer of items like kayaks, camping gear, and bicycles. He expects the trend to continue for the winter. "Our anticipation is that all winter categories will see the same trend," he says. "Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, downhill skies, snowboarding, and winter camping and hiking will boom as people continue to participate in anything outdoor-related." And outdoor activities aren't just for weekends, either. Kids who are still learning from home will need outdoor breaks. Store inventories of backyard ice rink kits , backyard snowboards , skates, sleds, and snowman kits may melt away quickly. 2. Outdoor clothing Coats, hats, and mittens are popular every winter season, but this year you might have trouble finding what you want as more people brave the cold and snow to fend off cabin fever. "People want to continue spending time together safely this winte...
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