9 Warm and Welcoming Rustic Outdoor Ideas

Rustic style is one of the most popular interior design approaches today. Given the fact that it emphasizes rugged, natural beauty embraces nature-inspired textures, and promotes unpretentious, organic warmth, it is a perfect choice for outdoor spaces too. However, even though it is mostly natural, this style still requires proper landscaping approach; just as any other more formal design does, because the serene and welcoming environment doesn’t happen by chance. Still, precisely because of the same reason, it also doesn’t require a lot of investment. Here are several great ideas for turning your back and front yard into a true farmhouse-inspired oasis.

Shrubs, Bushes and “Chaos”

Nature doesn’t create perfect forms. We do that when we lay out artificial grass, where every blade of grass is exactly the same as the one next to it. If you want to design your outdoor space in a rustic manner, you will need to give up the perfection and embrace nature’s chaos. You can plant varieties of evergreen trees and shrubs in odd-numbered stands, and add ornamental grasses to soften everything up.

Colorfulness

Imagine going on a nature walk. Are evergreen trees everything you’ll see there? Of course not. Your backyard should be just as diverse when it comes to plants and colors. Include one or two flowering trees that will blossom in spring and summer and a couple of trees that will provide rich fall shades.

A Rocky Road

Here’s an easy, breezy, and above all cost-efficient way to make your backyard more rustic. Find natural rocks somewhere in your area (sandstone, river rock, granite, etc.) and set several groups of them together. Use varying sizes to make it more natural.

Go Native

We love having exotic plants in our gardens, but they are neither cheap nor easy to maintain. Use native plants instead (including small plants and grasses). You can set them among the above-mentioned rocks, or group them together throughout the garden.

A Gathering Place

People gather around the fire for centuries, so why should we change a thing now? Unpretentious simplistic fire pits perform this task much better than large outdoor fireplaces. When surrounded by raw or reclaimed wood furniture, they perfectly enchant the “small-cabin-in-the-middle-of-the-woods” feel. You can even go as far as circling the fire pits with logs to sit on.

Charming Pathways

There’s no need to bother yourself with concrete pathways when it comes to rustic landscaping. In fact, here, pathways are very much in the DIY domain. You can use rocks (of uneven shape and size) to create a magical transition throughout your yard. Stone, bricks and wooden planks will serve just as fine.

Stack It Up

A stacked stone wall is perfect for creating multiple levels of your garden, which will break down the monotony of otherwise flat surface. Make sure you get the most of it by planting colorful flowers that will stand out above the paths.

Water in All Its Glory

Ceramic fountains are great, but this time, we are aiming for a more natural appearance, and artificial water feature won’t get us there. Instead, go with the easier and much more affordable option of introducing a lake or a pond in your backyard. Stack some rocks around it, plant bushes of varying sizes, and voila!

Add Something Extra

Finally, complete the farmhouse look with numerous details. Search through your attic (or a flea market) for old cracked pots and fill them up with soil and flowers. Set up a raw wood birdhouse. Treat yourself with a natural wood swing. Display several rusted watering cans…

Landscaping can sometimes be difficult, but it is always very rewarding. In this case, it is rewarding but not nearly as difficult as with some other approaches. Besides, a rustic landscape is a way to reconnect with raw nature and minimize the stress of urban life, and all that on a shoestring budget.