Luxurious Landscaping Ideas To Turn Your Backyard Into A Five Star Resort

Imagine stepping into your backyard and feeling like you’ve checked into a lavish five star resort? From exotic plants to swim spas, there are many high-end features that you can install to spruce up your outdoor space and turn it into a private oasis. In this post, we’ll explore a few of the different ways to give your yard the VIP treatment.

Exotic plants

Start by incorporating some five star foliage. Think beyond generic plants, and consider exploring some exotic choices. A few excellent examples include:

Chusan palms: For a tropical look, choose palm trees. Chusan palms are remarkably hardy and have stunning fan-shaped leaves.

Bird of paradise: Sporting flowers that look like an exotic bird, the bird of paradise could be a unique option to consider.

New Zealand flax: These explosive leafy evergreens grow in various colors fiery red to vibrant green. They’re good for jazzing up corners of yards.

Chilean jasmine: This climbing plant produces highly fragrant gorgeous flowers and can be used to decorate fences and garden walls.

Such plants could be trickier to grow in cooler climates, however there could be solutions such as opting for potted options that can be moved indoors.

Premium paving

Next, think about hard surfaces. Paving is excellent for patios and garden paths. While there are many different stone materials you can use for paving, these premium options are the best choice if you want your yard to look a million dollars:

Porcelain: Porcelain mimics the look of natural stone at a fraction of the cost and is a fantastic low maintenance option for high traffic areas.

Brazilian slate: Brazilian slate comes in different hues including gray, purple and green. Its ruggedness makes it more slip-resistant than other natural stones, and it’s very durable.

Granite: Granite has a distinctive freckled look and has excellent heat resistance, making it a great option around fire pits.

Marble: While it’s a high-maintenance option, the polished veined appearance of marble screams opulence.

To add extra excitement to paving, consider exploring different paving patterns. You can also mix and match color tones.

Dramatic pond features

A pond can add serenity to your backyard. You can grow aquatic plants in it and keep pet fish here too. However, if you really want your pond to stand out, consider splashing out on some dramatic water features. These could include:

Fountains: Fountains can help provide aeration and can reduce weeds and mosquitoes, while being stunning focal points.

Waterfalls: Like fountains, waterfalls can keep water moving in the ponds, while also serving as beautiful features that can provide a steady ambient trickling sound.

A beach: You could consider sloping your pond and adding a pebble or sandy beach area for a touch of the seaside. This beach could be decorated with shells and ornaments.
A bridge: For larger ponds, consider the option of building a bridge over the top. A viewing deck over a pond could be an alternative option to this.

Ponds can require a lot of maintenance, but are certain to bring the wow factor to your backyard, especially if you add one or two of the above features.

Lavish lighting

To keep your backyard looking magical at night, you’ll need to consider some outdoor lighting. While basic options like string lights and solar spike lights can be effective, those wanting to give their backyard an opulent feel should consider some of the alternative illumination methods:

Bollard lighting: Sleek lighting on bollards could be a stylish way to light up pathways.

Uplighting: Using spotlights pointing upwards to illuminate trees and or statues from below for a dramatic look at night.

Smart LED systems: Smart LED systems can be programmed and operated using an app to display different colors and provide different flash settings.

Vintage lampposts: Installing a vintage lamppost in your backyard could provide a touch of Victorian romantic elegance.

Lighting can be battery-powered, solar powered or wired into the mains. Solar lighting is typically the most economical option, but may not be suitable for powerful lighting.

Lawn art

When creating a luxury backyard, don’t overlook the power of well-manicured lawn. To make your turf truly stand out, consider adding some lawn art with an electric mower. This involves creating patterns as you cut the grass that could include:

Stripes: This is the most basic mowing pattern, which involves creating stripes in different directions.

Waves: Mow in gentle curves to create a wavy look that is effective for sloped lawns.

Checkerboard: This involves mowing vertically and horizontally to create a checkerboard effect with light and dark squares.

Circles: It’s also possible to mow concentric circles. This has stunning results when centered around a mound or a sundial.

Creating mowing patterns takes practice – you may be better off hiring a landscaping company that specializes in mowing to create these patterns. To achieve a truly cohesive and high-end outdoor transformation, many homeowners choose to work with experienced specialists like Keble Heath, who can deliver expertly designed landscaping, paving, and groundwork that elevate a garden to luxury standards.

Plush furniture

Consider creating a luxurious outdoor lounge area by adding some plush furniture straight out of a five star resort. This involves ditching basic plastic chairs and consider some of these comfier solutions:

Outdoor sofa suites: You can buy outdoor lounge suites made up of sectional sofas with cushioned seats and wicker frames. These can make your patio feel like a second living room.

Hanging egg chairs: These hanging cocoon-shaped chairs are perfect for reading or napping.

Swing benches: A swing bench under a pergola could be another beautiful quirky outdoor seating idea.
Pool deck chairs: For sunbathing by the pool, consider some high-quality pool deck chairs.

Opt for high quality weatherproof materials to make sure that your outdoor furniture lasts.

Exterior heating

For backyards in cooler climates, exterior heating can be a much needed landscaping feature that will keep you warm and cozy. There are a few different ways to heat up outdoor spaces including:

Electric patio heaters: Electric patio heaters are typically plugged into an outlet and provide infrared heat. They come in many forms from floor-standing models to wall-mounted options.

A fire pit: For a campfire feel, consider building a fire pit. These consist of an open fire in a bowl or a table.
A chiminea: Chimineas provide an enclosed fire in a chimney-like structure. Unlike fire pits, they are typically portable.

When exploring outdoor heating options, make sure to avoid placing them under canopies or near flammable materials. This is particularly important when it comes to fire pits.

Spa amenities

Last but not least, why not consider adding some space amenities to your yard to truly give it that resort feel? A few prime examples include:

A pool: Installing a swimming pool could provide somewhere to cool off, practise lengths or even host pool parties. Use a custom pool building company to explore fun shapes and layouts.

A hot tub: Who doesn’t enjoy a relaxing soak in a hot tub? These warm bubbly pools come in various sizes from one-man tubs to large extravagant swim spas.

A sauna: For warming yourself up on cold nights, consider adding a sauna to your backyard. You could convert an existing shed into a sauna or build a separate purpose-made sauna building.

Such amenities are likely to cost a lot, but are the ultimate features to bring vacation vibes to your backyard.