The design of your garden and the kind of landscaping you go for can have a big impact on how well you use the space and how much you enjoy it. One of the best ways of achieving this is by embracing the concept of accessible garden design, where you consider the needs of yourself and others at home, and designing with this in mind.
The aim is to make sure that your garden is easy for you to work in and designed in such a way that you’ll want to spend as much time outside as possible. You need to be able to move through the space easily, so make sure that paths are sufficiently wide enough, especially if you or someone else at home is a wheelchair user.
The paths and other routes through the garden need to be both safe and stable to use, so think carefully about your material choices, ensuring that everything is flat, even and non-slip.
Also consider decluttering the garden and adopting a minimalist design if your eyesight is becoming a source of concern. This will make it easier and less dangerous to navigate your way through.
Another way to prioritise safety while outside is to install handrails throughout your garden. These, while utilitarian, don’t have to be stark in appearance and you could make a beautiful garden feature out of them with a bit of ingenuity and imagination.
And don’t forget the importance of lighting when it comes to making your garden safe and accessible, as this is one of the best ways to achieve this, especially if you want to spend time outside as the sun goes down.
You can use lighting systems to create a beautiful warm ambience in the garden, as well as highlighting your favourite features and illuminating task areas, while installing lights following the path routes so you can easily see where to go.
If you’d like any further hints or tips relating to accessible garden design and landscaping, get in touch with the LW Landscapes team today.