If you’ve spent some time researching landscaping designs and ways you could enhance your backyard, you’ve probably come across the term ‘retaining wall’. Now, you may be asking yourself, “what is a retaining wall, and what is its function?”.
Below, we’ll be taking a look at what a retaining wall is, what it does, and how it aesthetically enhances your backyard, in a way that serves a functional purpose, while looking absolutely stunning!
Let’s get into it.
Retaining Walls: Where Aesthetics Meet Function
Retaining walls are highly functional landscaping designs that protect your garden from erosion, flooding, or any kind of weather damage.
In addition to protecting your garden, they also serve as a way to segment your garden into separate areas – whether it’s dividing a patio area with the rest of the garden or dividing a driveway from the rest of the property.
Now, where function meets form, is the styling and aesthetic appeal of a retaining wall. Not only does a retaining wall serve to protect your garden and divide a space, but it also provides a blank canvas for planting flowers or other plants and adding visual interest to your garden.
Materials and Style
There are many options when it comes to styles and materials. If your property has a more contemporary style, then retaining walls with clean lines and a monochromatic color palette would work really well.
If your home is more on the rustic side, then perhaps larger, rougher pavers or bricks would be a better choice to create a beautiful rustic aesthetic.
Whatever the style of your home, there are many paver options and colors to choose from.
Shape
There are many ways to design a wall – it can have curves, it can be straight, with square edges, or it can even be rounded.
It’s always a good idea to design your landscaping in line with the general style of your home. So, if your home has lots of straight lines, it’s a good idea to perhaps stick with that style, maybe adding in a few curved edges.
Something else to consider is the purpose of the retaining wall. If you’re looking to create a warm, enclosed patio with, say, a firepit, then perhaps a rounded wall would work really well. It creates a sense of warmth and coziness, that a squared-off wall does not.
Features
Besides the actual build of the wall, there are many things you can do with a retaining wall. The timeless classic features of retaining walls are planters. Adding planter boxes to your retaining wall is an easy and inexpensive way of turning a functional wall into something beautiful.
Another great thing you can do is to create a fire pit in the center of your retaining walls. If you’ve opted for a more enclosed retaining wall around your patio, or even in the middle of your garden, adding a fire pit can be a stunning addition. It’s a great way to create an additional entertainment space in your garden while making it a focal point of your backyard.
Now, if you want to be extravagant, you could add a fountain. Yes, we said fountain. If you really want to make an impression with your backyard, you could add a fountain feature to complement the aesthetic you’ve created with the retaining walls. This could overlook the rest of your garden, and add elegance to the space.
Extending Your Patio
Having a sloping garden can be beautiful, but it can also be difficult to use the space effectively, particularly if you’re wanting to add a patio.
Adding a retaining wall would allow you to extend your existing patio area, or create a new one, by leveling the ground and keeping the earth all in place. As a bonus, you’ll have a great view from your patio, over the sweeping slopes of the rest of your garden.
Terracing
When you have a particularly large slope in your garden, it’s sometimes a good idea to terrace the retaining wall. What that means is, instead of having a large, straight wall keeping everything in place, you’d create a ‘graduated, stepped’ effect with the walls.
Essentially, what terrace-style landscaping does is help with drainage, and it creates more space for you to add other elements, like plants or flowers.
Conclusion
Adding elements to your garden that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing can enhance the overall style of your home. Retaining walls do just that. They’re a stunning addition to any home, large or small, and they’re a great way to divide spaces and create focal points in your backyard.
If you’re looking to enhance your garden with a beautiful, paved retaining wall, get in touch with us at Seattle Outdoor Spaces. We’re ready to help you transform your garden!
