Things an interior designer would never have in her garden

Plastic furniture doesn’t seem sophisticated to me.

In my opinion, colorful plastic chairs and tables look flimsy and distract from the natural beauty of the yard.

Unless you want to opt for a more sustainable option like Polywood, which is made from high-quality recycled plastic, colored furniture is likely to fade and wear out quickly in the sun.

Instead, I create a timeless garden space using heavy wrought iron or wooden furniture.

A fully landscaped yard is my nightmare.

Hardscaping, or incorporating unnatural features like stone walls, decking or fencing, can help create functional outdoor spaces for entertaining. These unnatural elements can be especially appealing to people who don’t want to deal with lots of living plants.

However, I find that many designers overdo it when it comes to hardscaping – and for me, a wall-to-wall concrete yard with little vegetation is a bit dreary and difficult to update.

You don’t need to remove all vegetation to have a low-maintenance garden. I recommend searching for native plants or consulting a landscaper to create a beautiful garden that is rich in biodiversity and easy to maintain.

I would not recommend outdoor rugs in most climates.

Outdoor rugs are great in dry climates or areas where part of the yard is covered. However, they can become moldy and become maintenance nightmares in areas with high rainfall or pollen.

I like to create interest and dimension in the yard by using a variety of flooring materials like stone, tile, or wood decking. By diversifying my materials, I achieve the same effect as a rug but in a durable and design-driven way.

I find solar powered path lights to be unreliable.

I find solar lights to be unreliable and not bright enough during the dark winter months. Therefore, I recommend installing path lights or other outdoor fixtures with regular bulbs.

For easy maintenance, select fixtures that allow for bulb replacement rather than options that require removal of the entire structure.

Outdoor bean bags and ottomans are not worth maintaining for me.

I avoid bulky, heavy fabric furniture like ottomans and ottomans, as they need to be protected from the elements in bad weather and require lots of storage space.

I tend to opt for woven rope furniture or high-quality metal pieces with cushions. However, I make sure the cushions are made from durable materials like Sunbrella, which is fade and UV resistant.

These synthetic fibers still require annual cleaning and the cushions should be stored during rainy days or out of season. However, these types of pieces are made to last and are more forgiving for low-maintenance yards.

I find that vinyl fences don’t have the charm of real wood.

Vinyl fences are popular for their low maintenance, but I don’t like the look of sleek plastic in a natural landscape.

I prefer traditional wood fences, which are generally less expensive to install than vinyl and can blend into the yard as they fade naturally. Instead of painting a wooden fence, I recommend staining it for a long-lasting treatment that matches the natural color palette of the yard.

I’m not a fan of too many lawn ornaments.

I find plastic trinkets, weather vanes, and garden gnomes charming in moderation, but I prefer to use live plants and landscaping as my main decoration.

For an unusual courtyard with sophisticated embellishments, I lean towards decoration made from natural materials such as stone and glass. These materials generally resist fading from the sun, which can make the decor look faded.

I do not recommend stamped concrete.

Stamped concrete, which creates a design imitating brick or stone, is generally economical. However, I do not recommend it over traditional pavers.

Stamped concrete often becomes slippery when wet, is difficult to repair, and can crack over time.

On the other hand, I find the natural imperfections of most pavers visually beautiful. Pavers are generally very durable, making them an investment that adds value to the home.