When you want to upgrade your backyard, you usually need two different experts: a designer and an installer. The seasoned designer has a knack for deciding where things need to go and has spent years perfecting the backyards of every imaginable layout. It’s also great for knowing what kind of plants will grow well in your garden.
Meanwhile, the installer is good at purchasing, installing and maintaining these plants so that they do not die. However, installers are only implementing someone else’s vision, not creating a big, beautiful design. In that sense, upgrading your backyard is like doing a major remodel of your home – you need an architect or designer to help you make all the decisions and then a contractor to build and install everything.
To help you find an easy and affordable way to remodel your backyard, we’ve looked at the four best online landscape design companies for your home. But, first, let’s dive into the main things you need to know before remodeling your backyard paradise.
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Problems When Searching for the Best Backyard Design
When trying to find someone to create the best backyard design for your home, you may run into problems with how most landscaping services are just fixers and won’t do a great job with the design. At best, the design part might just be an afterthought to sell and get the job done. Remember, planning is worth every penny in ensuring you get the vision of your dream backyard.
Another issue with contacting a local landscape architect is that they are all about the size of the job, usually focusing only on commercial real estate or homeowners with huge budgets. You might even own a million-dollar home in The Heights or West University, and your garden wouldn’t be a priority for an architect focused on an all-master planned community or a sprawling estate on the River Oaks.
Because of these potential setbacks, if you want something more affordable—or perhaps less sophisticated—you’re likely to have a hard time finding the right designer who actually takes care of your home (although if you’re lucky, you might have a friend who knows someone).
As a result, many people try the “DIY” route, as evidenced by the sheer number of garden centers throughout the greater Houston area. The problem is that it’s hard to come up with a stunning design that would also work well in your backyard, where sunlight and soil can vary greatly.
What many home network remodeling offerings do is make everything look nice while the cameras are on even if the end result is completely impractical for a typical home climate. This beautiful reveal you liked leaves quickly deteriorates after the departure of the contractors. Don’t believe us? Google View your favorite home remodeling and see how many homeowners on completed projects have filed lawsuits.
How to choose the best backyard design for your home
The solution to choosing the best backyard design service for your home may lie in the emergence of landscape design online. The major websites that offer this offer, which are both innovative and convenient, usually operate in similar ways. You buy a package of services that include either the backyard, the front yard, or both. After uploading and sending the required videos and photos, the company will provide a plan using 2D or 3D software. To make additional changes, you can speak with the designer in person. You then have the option to search for your installer or use the installer that connects you to it.
One big advantage of this approach is that it is usually much cheaper than using a local designer or architect. The company has hundreds of templates on file to put something together quickly. Since you are doing photography and video work, they don’t have to send someone for a personal visit.
The biggest drawback to this approach is that designs can be a bit cookie-cutter, especially when it comes to designing a hardscape, including patios, walls, furniture, and more. However, this is not necessarily a problem. This cookie cutter design can easily be customized by flipping the design, repositioning the plants, using different colors and many other simple customization techniques.
To help you get started, no matter if it’s a huge job or you’re just collecting some small backyard landscaping ideas, we’ve taken a comprehensive look at 4 of the best backyard design services that you can use for your home, all accessible online .
Modern landscape design by Yardzen in Houston, Texas.
yardsWidely known as the current leader of the online landscape design market, Yardzen is the brainchild of a couple of entrepreneurs. Their founding principle of the service is that everything else in the world can be done on an iPhone or a mobile device, so why not landscape design? This was especially important given the data that proves that millennials care more about outdoor spaces than previous generations when shopping at home.
In addition to Los Angeles and the Bay Area in California, Austin and Houston took out the only markets where the service was first introduced. Yardzen offers 3 different packages for designing properties, then they refer you to an optional local installer that can implement the plans. Plans are either $649 for hand-selected plants only, and $995 for a front or small backyard design that includes deck ideas, backyard lights, furniture and other personalized solid background planning. The third plan for $1,495 is a discounted package that includes the entire yard, front and back.
In general, when exploring Yardzen, just know that you don’t get personal attention, but that you pay a lot less. This really is the whole point of Yardzen, to get the backyard landscaping you need a local installer to do the job without incurring exorbitant hourly bills.
Spanish backyard landscape design by ShrubHub designer, Seasons Landscaping.
drinkShrubHub offers backyard design—plus front yard service—for a low base price of $89.95. It should be noted that although this includes a phone consultation with a real landscape designer, you will then be sold on multiple upgrades, quickly raising the final price.
Many users have positive reviews of ShrubHub and are amazed at how little they spend on the patio designs they love, but keep in mind, despite getting design plans from a real designer, other users have less than excellent reviews. Common complaints include inconsistent communication with impersonal long wait times, sudden heights, and plans in 2D instead of 3D, creating an unreliable preview of what your final backyard design will look like.
At the end of the day, if your budget is low, ShrubHub might be worth rolling the dice in the hope that you will have one of the most positive experiences.
Fun and relaxing backyard design created by Tilly Design.
Tele DesignLike other landscape design services, Tilly Design is a completely virtual experience. When they first started, for just $75, anyone can receive a 30-minute face call with their professional designer to discuss personal landscaping ideas. Due to high demand, they have since gone for a fixed-price model where an entire backyard landscape can be designed for $525, with 3 optional upgrades: 3D renderings between $250 and $350, and backyard lighting plans between $100 and $150 Dollar and side yard plans at $150 per side.
When considering Tilly Design, it really does seem that they are using technology to make landscape design more affordable for people who can’t afford expert real estate design, but that doesn’t mean the designs themselves are below par. All the examples we’ve seen from satisfied customers have been great.
Before and after showcasing drought-tolerant backyard landscape design in West Texas created by Home Outside.
home outsideIf you are still intent on hunting down the #1 backyard design ideas to get your money’s worth, you should also take our fourth and final online service into consideration. Home Outside has the fewest reviews available, but from what we collect, that’s more because they’re a tight-knit team rather than a size-focused mill. Another indication of this is Home Outside’s slightly higher prices, which are more comparable to Yardzen. The single design will cost you $999, while the two designs (front and back) will cost you $1,399. Accompanying 3D renderings are an additional $400 per design.
Before making a decision, we recommend taking a thorough look at the Home Outside website, especially their photo galleries where high quality before and after photos are featured. If you feel that their botanical suggestions and hardscape details match your aesthetic, then this might be the right choice for you.
Get started with your own Dream Backyard
When deciding on the best backyard design service for your home, it’s important to remember that there should never be a one-size-fits-all model. Top providers customize the experience to make your outdoor paradise unique to you. By taking the overview into account, you ensure that you get the unique attention you deserve.
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