Incorporating 'Greenery', The Pantone Color Of The Year, Into Your Outdoor Space
Published Date: Jan 17, 2017
Every year, Pantone studies the entire rainbow of hues and picks its Color of the Year. For 2017, the chosen color is "Greenery," a bright, cheerful green. Considering we're always trying to make our outdoor space look green and lush, this is the perfect color to help accent your outdoor living area. If you're looking for some inspiration for your backyard, consider sticking to this color theme. Green is such a lively color that makes you want to spend all your time outside in your freshly redesigned outdoor space. Here are some ways to turn up the Pantone Color of the Year in your yard:
Start with artificial turf
Natural grass lawns are never perfect. The weather and general use affect these surfaces, and often they collect patchy brown or yellow spots from sun, drought or repeated exposure to pet waste. These little interruptions in your otherwise green lawn can be unappealing to the eye and even reduce your asking price if you want to sell your home. So why not replace your lawn with artificial turf? Instead of spending your outside time staring at those unsightly splotches of damage, you'll enjoy the natural look and feel of your turf. Plus, you'll be more inclined to invite friends and family over for some outdoor fun. Artificial grass is always green, no matter the season, and is perfect for locations with little drainage thanks to its porous design. You also won't have to mow the lawn every week or repeatedly buy expensive fertilizers. Just pick up any solid pet waste, and your turf will look fresh and new for years to come.
Add real greenery
Next, bring in some real plants. Your yard is likely not just one big square of grass, and if it is, break it up with some beautiful landscaping! Those who have a fence bordering their yard can liven things up by adding several feet of garden areas featuring greenery like native plants and wild?flowers. Use a retaining wall to bring up the height of this area and add visual interest to the space. Talk to a botanist at a local plant nursery to learn about options in Greenery, the Pantone Color of the Year. He or she will point you in the right direction and applaud your clever design idea!
Another great planting idea is to use succulents and cacti. These popular little plants come in many shades of green and even have fun purple and red hues. Some are striped while others have polka dots and flower several times a year. Those who live in warm climates can plant cacti and succulents right into the ground while colder locations would better host potted varieties that can head inside during the winter.
Cacti and succulents are a great way to green up your yard.
Use eco-friendly landscaping
The phrase "going green" has been big in the last 10 years as people consider the possible effects of climate change. Why not follow this trend by considering sustainability in your own yard? Start by using only natural plants as they are better adapted to the climate so they use less water while growing efficiently. Only use natural fertilizers like compost, and forego the chemical additives in most commercially available varieties. Also think about conserving water by adding artificial turf to your yard. This beautiful green grass alternative allows for ample drainage of rain, snow and spilled liquids (wine, anyone?) so it's great for both dry and rainy locales. Jumping on the sustainability train let's you put a unique twist on Pantone's Color of the Year by going green in an eco-friendly way!
