7 garden design ideas to add value to your home

When trying to add value to your home, it pays to look beyond shiny new kitchens and bathrooms. Turn your attention to the design of your garden to create some ‘wow’ factor and give your home a unique selling point that will attract plenty of buyer interest.  

Here are some low-cost garden design ideas that will have the buyers lining up at your front door… 

Image source: Catalina

1. Choose low-maintenance options

Only the most enthusiastic gardeners want to spend hours every week pruning, weeding and tending to their garden. The rest of us want to enjoy our backyards without the need to spend all weekend maintaining it. That’s why low-maintenance options like decking, paving and hardy native plants tend to be popular among property buyers. 

2. Build an outdoor room

The Australian summer lends itself to outdoor living, so create a functional outdoor room that essentially extends your house. Begin with a covered pergola, and consider enclosing it with glass louvre windows or privacy screening. Add a built-in bar and barbeque, hot tub or plunge pool, and entertainment system and you’ll elevate your property into the five-star category.

3. Create a focal point

The most memorable gardens surprise and delight. Use a garden path lined with lush foliage to create intrigue, but ensure it leads to something. Perhaps it’s a gazebo, water feature, spa or barbeque area at the end of the path that will provide a sense of arrival. 

4. Remember the kids

If your target market is families, include something in your garden design that will get the kids excited. A pool is the most obvious choice, but lower-cost options like a cubby or tree house, sand pit or play equipment will get the kids begging their parents to buy your house. 

5. Make it functional

Thanks to the foodie revolution, more people are taking a greater interest in where their food comes from. Vege gardens are all the rage, so consider putting in an enclosed vegetable garden, greenhouse and — depending on council regulations in your area — a chicken coup to appeal to the modern urban farmer.

 6. Don’t neglect the pets

We all love our pets, and something as simple as ensuring your backyard is properly fenced can put a tick in the right box for potential buyers of your home. Also consider avoiding plants that are toxic to dogs, and installing an aviary or fish pond will help make your property stand out from the crowd.

7. Focus on privacy

Nobody wants to feel like they are living in a fishbowl. Create some privacy in your backyard with screening plants that block out neighbours without the need to use imposing high fences that will add little to the look and feel of your garden.