8 Winter Landscape Design Ideas: Tips to a Beautiful Winter

With the arrival of cold weather, most people tend to stay inside for the majority of their time. In these cases, their front and backyards usually get neglected to some extent. It is certainly more comfortable to spend the time inside where it’s warm. On that note, this does not mean you have to completely forget about your yard. With minimal effort, you can make some amazing changes and create a space where you can spend your time even in winter. We are going to dive into some winter landscaping ideas that you can implement in your backyard to make it look as beautiful as ever. All you need to do is take a bit of time to research some materials, plants, and ideas that you can use for yourself. That being said, there are a lot of options out there to choose from. Here we have compiled 8 of those ideas in hope of helping you reach a decision.

Landscaping Ideas for Winter

As we mentioned, we have compiled a list of backyard landscaping ideas winter edition. So, without any further ado, let’s begin.

Use the Bark to Your Advantage

When you think of trees, the first thing that comes to mind is the beautiful greenery. However, that is not all there is to it. Apart from the beauty that the greenery brings, some trees have exceptionally beautiful bark. So, when winter arrives and all the leaves fall off, you are left with a beautiful sight. For example, Cornus Sanguinea, also known as Midwinter Fire, has bark with a beautiful shade of red and yellow that almost resembles a sunset. Another great option is the Cornus Alba, also known as Kesselringii, which has a specific deep red color in autumn that slowly turns to an inky purple-black as winter approaches. With these, you can definitely create an amazing view in your yard if you can place them in the right spots. Lastly, if you are looking for something bigger to fill up space, take a look at the scarlet willow.

Add Plant Life

Everyone likes to add different greenery to their lawn care. It looks beautiful, provides structure, and most importantly has a lot of different benefits in general. However, with the arrival of winter, most of the plants lose their leaves due to their nature. This does not mean that the winter has to ruin the look of your yard. With the help of some evergreen plant life, you can have a green yard even in the coldest of winters. Keep in mind that even some evergreen hedges and shrubberies can suffer in weather that is colder than usual. This can be avoided quite easily with some simple research. For example, hedges such as hazel, pine trees, or even sarcococca are much better at dealing with extremely cold weather. On the other hand, if you are not dealing with extremely cold weather and the winters are not that cold, you can look into an evergreen shrub such as escallonia, boxwood, and Griselinia hedging.

Upgrade Your Deck

A lot of people have a deck in their yard. They are amazing for gatherings and outdoor parties in the summer. That being said, as soon as the weather starts to change, most people switch to indoors. Why should you have to sacrifice quality time that you spend outside? You should not look at your deck as something to be used only when the weather allows it. Think of it as an extension to your house. With a simple solution, you can continue spending time outside on your deck regardless of the weather. That solution is an all-weather deck. Normal wooden decking can become slippery due to rain, algae, and ice, so find a non-slip decking that works for you. With this, and some minor additions such as seating and additional lights you can create a truly comfortable space where you can spend time.

Create Your Own Little Paradise Retreat

Backyard landscaping ideas have a lot of options that you can choose from. One of them is a small backyard retreat. Creating a space where you can spend time in private can mean a lot. Create something that you can use and enjoy throughout the seasons. A great choice for winter can be a pergola or some sort of day bed. No matter what you choose, you will create a space where you can spend time comfortably and relax. With a roof above you and some blankets and pillows, you can say goodbye to being cold. Additionally, you can always install heating to your day bed and choose when you want the heating and when you don’t. Furthermore, you can strategically add subtle lights to create this magical atmosphere in the evenings. There is so much you can do with a few simple things and a lot of creativity.

Seating Space for Friends and Family

Do you have a place in your backyard that is unoccupied? Why not put it to use? A place where you can entertain and spend time with your friends and family always comes in handy. Whenever someone thinks of a gathering, they picture good weather, maybe some barbeque sizzling in the background, and everyone having fun. Well, why not do the same when winter comes? The weather does not have to be the best for you to have fun in your backyard. Creating a seating space that is well-designed can be a game-changer. Imagine a circle of chairs all pointing to a fire pit that is in the middle, a roof above, and maybe even a small outdoor kitchen where you can serve drinks and prepare some food. A gathering like this can change an ordinary winter day into a special one.

Shine Your Way Through Front Yard Landscaping Ideas Winter with Special Lighting

There are a lot of winter friendly front yard landscaping designs. We all know what comes with winter, apart from cold weather of course. It is something that everyone likes, holidays. For example, a Christmas is not going to be as magical without the proper Christmas lights. Additionally, having a well-lit yard can really help to highlight the desired features of the yard. Even for your backyard, strategically placed lighting can really bring a whole new feel to the place. You can also use wall lights in order to illuminate your house at night, maybe even some recessed spotlights in the steps, decking or even paving. There are so many possibilities that you can experiment with here. The main thing that you need to keep in mind is to not overdo it. Do some research to find out what works for you, and remember sometimes less is more.

Add a Conversation Starter

With the addition of decoration in your yard, you can really create a fascinating contrast between nature and art. Furthermore, these pieces can serve as great focal points and conversation starters. For example, a well-placed sculpture can really elevate the overall look of the yard. It can work so well with its environment like it was a part of it from the very beginning. A good focal point should complement and be complemented by its surroundings. They should work in harmony to create a masterpiece for the onlooker. Additionally, these focal points will remain looking beautiful with minimal effort. The possibilities here are limitless, you can put as many or as few focal points as you want. However, keep in mind that some places work better than others and that crowding the space can maybe lessen the impact of other focal points.

Try Planting Some Berries

Winter does not bring any vibrant colors with it, so most yards end up looking dull and gray. However, this does not have to be the case for you. Another great way that you can introduce color into your yard is by planting flowers, especially berry bushes. They are amazing at providing vibrant colors that will most certainly cut through the dullness of winter. Additionally, the bright red color of the berries contrasts the whiteness of the snow in such a beautiful way. Furthermore, these berries can also attract wildlife into your yard. So, you can expect to hear some beautiful chirping now and then. Some great choices for berry bushes are cotoneaster, callicarpa, and hollies. With these, you cannot go wrong. No matter which one you choose, you can expect some great results.

Additional Landscaping Ideas for Winter

There is certainly a lot you can do with your yard in the winter. Apart from the bigger ideas we mentioned above, here are some easier ones which will help you keep your yard looking fresh. This goes without saying, but keep your yard clean and tidy. Sweep the leaves, clean the outdoor spaces such as patios and decks, and make sure everything is organized. Take some time to paint the fence and focus on the small details. Maybe add a bird feeder so you can enjoy the view from your house. Also, winter gardens are not a bad idea at all. The possibilities are endless. Find out what works for you, put in some time and effort, and you will certainly like the results.

To summarize, when it comes to landscaping ideas, your options are almost limitless. There is so much you can do with so little effort. That being said, if you are ready to spend some money, you can completely change the look of your backyard. We hope that we helped you with our modern backyard landscaping ideas and that you will create the backyard of your dreams.