B Y K E L LY K O N R A D
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YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET in a car to really get away.
Whether your routine is 14-hour workdays or 14 long carpool rides back and forth to golf camp, everyone could benefit from some true down time. Fresh air is good for the body and the soul, accomplishing everything from boosting the immune system to relieving stress and promoting better sleep. It’s also just outside your back door. Creating personal space outdoors is just that—personal. And it can be as simple or extravagant as you desire. “We see a lot of people wanting to get away from their cell phones and technology,” says Derrick Blair, the Design Studio Operations Director for Van Zelst. “There needs to be a time to get away from that, and we’ve found they want to move their house outside and leave their phones inside.” Outdoor kitchens remain one of the more popular trends in outdoor landscaping, but creating a place to relax doesn’t have to be a formidable project. “Fire pits are popular,” Blair says. “Fireplaces are more formal. Patio spaces that are multi-tiered so that you can displace yourself from everyday commotion are also popular.” Rob Schwarz, a landscape architect with Schmechtig Landscapes, agrees that fire has become a common request in backyard landscaping. “Fire features are something that equates to relaxing. There’s nothing more primordial than fire.” Schwarz added his company has seen
requests for the full range of fire options, from a simple pit to full-fledged fireplaces, and even pieces that combine both fire and water elements. If a place to meditate is more your speed, Schwarz suggests considering color, noise and texture. “I think of a place that would be comfortable and tranquil and a getaway, that’s your escape [where] you’re in your own little world. There’s a tendency for cooler colors; purples and blues are more calming, more soothing.” And to cut back on road noise and loud neighbors? Schwarz says to consider rustling foliage like that of certain aspens or water features. “Something that baffles with white noise.” As more people look to their own backyards for stress relief, Blair says architectural features are becoming increasingly popular. “Arbors and pergolas have been surprisingly popular this year.” At the same time, you don’t have to go big for the benefits of unplugging. “Shade gardens work,” Blair says. “Just little spaces for a bench or stone or wood, so people can get out and sit and listen to more peaceful surroundings.” It doesn’t have to take long to transition your backyard to a place to unplug. Meditation spaces can be created within a week or two for a small design, such as an inground fire pit. Keep in mind though, for extensive plans, such as outdoor kitchens and larger ponds, you need to plan months ahead.
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