When designing a landscape, it is tempting to just sit down and start planning for plants that look pretty and pavers that attract your attention. But the best landscapes are more than just pretty; they are functional. You want a landscape that works well with your lifestyle and is compatible with your demands and desires. Answering the following questions before you start designing will help ensure you are ultimately able to create a landscape that meets this description.

Who will be using the yard?

Think about the people who are going to spend time outside your home. Are they your young children? Or do you primarily plan on using the yard when you have adult guests over for barbecues? Consider what these people will do in your yard, and how that might change the way you design the space. For example, if you plan on your kids spending lots of time there, you will want to leave a lot of open, grassy space, and you may want to avoid gravel elements that could lead to scraped knees. If you plan on the yard being used by adult guests, on the other hand, you may want to include lots of space for seating and perhaps some smooth walkways for older, less mobile adults.

How much maintenance are you willing to do?

Maybe you're someone who loves gardening, and you plan on spending your Saturdays tinkering away in the soil. If so, then it's fine to include lots of plants that need more attention, watering, and trimming. On the other hand, if you are a busy professional and you don't want to dedicate much time to landscaping work, then you will want to design your landscape with fewer plants. And the plants you choose should be native ones that don't require a lot of watering and trimming.

What will be your focal point?

Landscaping designs, like interior designs, tend to look most cohesive when there is a single focal point for other elements to be oriented and arranged around. This could be a certain tree in the back of your property. It could also be a pool, your patio, or even the back door of your home. Identifying your focal point will allow you to position the other elements of your design appropriately.

If you take the time to answer the questions above, you'll have better luck designing a landscape that suits your lifestyle.