Help in my yard needs a face lift

Question

Hi would like some ideas for my yard! We live in the country side. I can not paint walls because it belongs to a private landlord. It's not very big, but when you open the gate it's an eye sore. I'd like to do something with the wall with the ladders on it and the gas box. I'm not really a plant person so something other than that would be great. :) Thanks!

Hannah V · Answer

Here are some great ideas and inspiration from @Katie Nathey! http://www.hometalk.com/diy/outdoor/porches/balcony-decorating-ideas-1486605 Also, lighting always makes a huge difference like these from @Homes.com http://www.hometalk.com/diy/outdoor/decor/diy-outdoor-lighting-ideas-1811594

Tamara Copple · Answer

ooh, and paint the door bright blue or yellow, and the trim around the window!

Douglas Hunt · Answer

I think that stone wall is pretty handsome. Put a couple of colorful planters in to get some contrast growing and plant with low-maintenance evergreens for year-round appeal.

Carole Alden · Answer

I like the stone wall too. Maybe your talking about that thing behind the ladder that folds out smaller to bigger. I forget what they are called.

Vicki K · Answer

If I were you, I would remove everything in that raised stone planter except the plants. Add 3 rosemary bushes (pick it to cook or grill with) and fill the rest with lavender - neither need care, they like dry and neglect. Then fix the other side as above. Paint the gas box to match the house so it will blend in, and not stand out. Bright color (turquoise, teal) on door and window frame, maybe spray paint the seating group too if you can afford the cans of paint, get Rustoleum. Yellow vase on table. Keep it cleaned up and it should do fine.

Barbara R · Answer

Not a plant person? How about a paint-person? All I see is the absence of color out there. Paint the table and chairs, the electrical box, get some fake plants (resale stores are full of them) in colored pots (paint them if not colored)...hang some decorative flags on those stones (somehow hook them in between the stones) to cover up most of the wall...on the floor...wash it good with a hose and a broom to brighten it up in its natural state. All of this is cost-effective, (spray paint is cheap at the dollar stores)...and you can have a bright and cheery patio in NO time! Let us know what you do!!

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Get artificial vinery from a $ store. Start high up on those metal rods running down the side of the house. Secure with fishing line or such.so it looks like vine cascading down the wall. We did this at my daughter's (a bird even built a nest in it! ). This will make the area cozy. I would also get an indoor/outdoor rug and paint the table and chairs. Think you just have to store the ladder and clean that area. You can always get some pots for along the top of the stone and below - then just add artificial greenery to hide the view if you don't like it. I have artificial trees in my backyard for privacy and to soften lines, etc. Works great. No weeding. Just swish off with the hose if dusty.

Jeanette S · Answer

That wall is great! The first thing I would do is get a stiff broom and scrub that patio with some bleach and water. Then get several different colors of spray paint...Rustoleum makes brilliant colors in their 2X series, paint your patio set, flower pots etc. and set them in front of the wall! You are limited only by your imagination. Add some colorful cushions for extra seating on the flat benches at the end of the wall. Bright green, yellow, orange, hot pink, lavender will spruce it up quickly. Then hang up some bird houses on shepherd's poles, etc.

LTorrans · Answer

I am not clear if those black benches are permanent (move them if they are). Those stone retaining walls are stunning. I would employ the same principle container gardening uses for those beds: a thriller, a spiller and a chiller. Towards the front place perennials that spill over the walls. Behind that add varying color and height and beyond that place a ten to twelve foot tree. Utlimately, the tree will provide shade and your plantings will have to be modified. Regarding bright colors or muted, pick one and stick to it. Amen, to Jeanette and the bleach. That whole place needs to be bleached down and painted. Bright or muted, that's your choice, but ulta-bright needs a sophisticated hand and touch or you will end up with a garish circus. I have helped people recover from that before and it's not easy! http://leeanntorrans.com and look at the container gardens, will try to add more images this weekend.

Yellow Barn Interiors · Answer

I am thinking you could get a long slab of granite for top of wall to make it more table/counter useful and it would,look more finished.  On your lattuce wall hang some old vintage frames of different sizes with a birdhouse hanging in the middke of each.  Hang frames non uniformily.  Maybe overlapping corners of some.   Be creative.  If the landlord won't let you layer some crushed stone over the whole floor,  then you could buy some click together teak square flooring to put a section of it under your bistro set.  The metal box on the wall could be painted to look like barnwood  and on top of it set an outdoor lantern with a battery operated candle in it.  The wall you can't paint could have a nice metal vintage metal piece hanging up with small l.e.d. operated string lights to add evening ambience.  You could also use an oudoor washable area rug under table set.

Help in my yard needs a face lift

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Help in my yard needs a face lift

Balcony Decorating Ideas

DIY Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Suggested Project Book