Landscaping Southampton NY - for Large Families
Designing a landscape for a large family adds a few challenges that small-family designs don’t face. You don’t want a patio that feels as big as a parking lot, but at the same time, you want everyone to enjoy some elbow room. Here are our top tips for landscaping for large families in Southampton, NY.
Related: 5 CREATIVE LANDSCAPING IDEAS FOR BROOKVILLE, NY, SIDE YARDS
A Place for Every Activity
Segregating activities is important because you want to give people a chance to enjoy the outdoors in their own way, on their own schedule. Maybe someone wants to read a book while the rest of the family plays a game. Kids need a place to run and play. Adults may want to enjoy relaxing by the fire while the teenagers congregate in their own area. The challenge is to create separate activity zones without making anyone feel isolated. To achieve these needs, use vertical elements such as retaining walls, arbors, trellises, or living walls to create outdoor “rooms” that each have a specific function, just like the rooms in your home.
Traffic flow is extra important when you’re considering the movement of larger groups of people. You want to ensure that all traffic flows easily and smoothly. That means placing activity hubs where there’s clear access from the home because even having to detour a few feet around a dining table will become annoying over time. Think of your landscape as a wheel: the hub is the home, and various outdoor spaces are at the ends of the spokes. Make sure those spokes are relatively straight and free of obstacles. Kids especially will short-cut through plant beds, potentially trampling flowers (but adults will do the same if you give them a chance).
A Clutter-Free Space
Nothing is more annoying than a patio that feels like an obstacle course. Solve the clutter problem by clever use of seat walls (either full masonry, or an integration of wooden benches and masonry pillars).
The Hub of Activity: the Kitchen
Indoors or out, the hub of family activity is the kitchen. It doesn’t matter how small a kitchen is, people naturally gravitate to it. Take that into consideration when designing space for a large family. An L-shaped outdoor kitchen will accommodate more than one cook, and make the cooking area feel more open and airy. Adding a generous bar will ease overcrowding on the patio and give everyone a chance to be together, in on the action. To minimize traffic back and forth to the house, make sure your outdoor kitchen has enough storage and amenities like a larger refrigerator and a sink.
Protection From the Elements
A stylish pavilion will keep the party outdoors even if the skies open up. Installing a pavilion over and adjacent to the outdoor kitchen will provide ample shade and rain protection.
Game Area
A side yard is a perfect opportunity to incorporate games and sports without dedicating the whole backyard. Narrow-space games and sports include horseshoes, lawn darts, bocce, outdoor bowling, or even archery if you have older kids. This can be the perfect “hideaway” for teens who don’t want to spend all their time socializing with the adults!
A Getaway
Sometimes, you just need a break from all the activity. Another great use for a side yard or a quiet corner of the yard is a little zen garden: an intimate space just big enough to accommodate a bench or hammock, a small fountain to mask noise, and an attractive privacy fence.
Related: 5 LANDSCAPE DESIGN IDEAS THAT WILL INSPIRE YOUR CUSTOM POOL IN EAST HAMPTON, NY