This is especially appropriate in the front yard, which is the first thing visitors see when they pull up to your house.
Large pavers and stonework look more dramatic and expensive, rather than the smaller-scale pavers that you can buy anywhere, says Thiem. The bigger scale feels more grand and less cookie-cutter.
Metal looks the cleanest and is easiest to maintain, but angled spade edges are crisp and neat and simple to expand as the landscape matures and the size of the beds change.
A garden looks more lush and appealing with the addition of year-round color, says Thiem. Evergreens add texture, too.
When it comes to outdoor furniture, many designers are moving away from concrete and steel toward more natural materials, such as wood, rattan and woven fabrics in earthy colors.
Details make all the difference. Keep walkways and paths level, tidy and weed-free, and ensure the driveway is in good repair and edged so grass isn’t creeping over it.
A jumble of unrelated plants and garden elements doesn’t make sense.