Patio Landscaping Ideas for Colonial Houses

Colonial homes have a distinctive look.

Colonial homes are often identified by their central doorway with tall front porch columns and the symmetry of having an equal number of windows on each side of the front door. If there is something on the left side of a colonial home, then the same feature will appear on the left side. This symmetry, along with the reputation colonial homes have for well-kept landscaping, helps to create landscape design ideas for colonial patios.

Paths

Colonial homes are known for sprawling backyards with well-kept gardens. One of the design elements you can use to landscape around your patio is to run paths to your backyard gardens from your patio. Use cobblestone path stones to help make walkways that make the patio the central feature of the backyard. Remember to keep the paths symmetrical on both sides of the patio. Split your yard in half and run an equal number of paths on each side of the patio to gardens in your backyard.

Shrubs

The front yards of colonial homes are often accented with low-cut shrubs. The shrubs are densely packed together to create a natural fence. This landscape feature can be used to help create a natural border around your backyard patio. You can line the outside of your shrubs with small, colorful flowers to help accent the perimeter surrounding your patio.

Lamps

Landscaping around a colonial patio requires specific kinds of landscaping elements and design patterns. One design element that remains true to the colonial period is the backyard patio lamp. Use wrought iron lamp stands and colonial lamps on each corner of your patio to give your backyard light and add to the symmetrical look of your colonial home.

Colorful Flowers

Colonial landscaping used foliage for fencing around smaller areas, such as porches and patios. Do not make the mistake of putting up fencing around your patio as it will not be in line with the colonial theme, according to the "Old House Journal" website. If you are not inclined to put shrubs around the perimeter of your patio, then use colorful flowers. Marigolds or any colorful flower that is native to your area will help to accent your patio and enhance your colonial landscaping theme.

References

• Old House Journal: How to Create a Colonial Garden
• Rafter Tales: Colonial Revival Home Architecture and Design Features
• Colonial Williamsburg: A Williamsburg Perspective On Colonial Gardens

Resources

• Garden Helper: Landscape Restoration Summary