Living in a big city like New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles has many benefits. Living within such a creative hub full of life and energy is good for the soul. Just as vital for your wellbeing is an outdoor space. With city living comes limited space for gardens. Home improvement projects are as possible for apartments as they are for houses.
By choosing to live in a city apartment, you will more than likely have a small terrace to work with that nine times out of ten, will be shared with another tenant. A garden in the city is much smaller than if you live in the suburbs, so let’s take a look at how you can create an outdoor space in a city apartment.
Take time to decide on a plan
What is your main goal with the space you have? Will you use your garden for barbeques, for dining, for gardening? If it’s primarily for entertainment and your area is shared with a neighbor, you may want to consider installing a boundary for privacy. This could be a simple wooden fence or something more robust like a brick wall. You will probably find that your neighbor would oblige, and perhaps you could even split the costs.
How much of the space will be taken up by plants and seating? Would you like to redo the flooring, install a deck, or install an awning for shelter? There are various factors you need to plan out initially, so we suggest working with a renovation company to help you create a plan. Here are some excellent ideas!
Now, the fun part begins.
Using plants in a functional way
When it comes to home improvement projects in the city, specifically improving your outdoor space, choosing the right plants is crucial.
It would be best if you got a realistic sense of your outdoor space’s growing conditions — factors such as the sun, exposure to wind, and moisture all affect which plants will thrive. If you live in Los Angeles, your best bet is tropical plants. In less sunny locations like Ney York City, you should go with plants that thrive in the shade like birds of paradise and majesty palm.
If you are unsure of what plants to go for, working with a landscape designer will prove beneficial. When it comes to functionality, you can even use tall plants, like arborvitae and yew, to double up as a barrier for enhancing privacy.
Potted plants, which can be taken inside during the winter, are an excellent option for filling your outdoors space with variety and color.
Don’t forget about irrigation and drainage
Another reason why trying to do this on your own may prove costly. When you create a green outdoor space in the city, you have to consider the drainage of excess water. By working with a contractor or landscape designer, you can be sure they will have a great understanding of how to install and manage bulk water drainage. This is essential for roof gardens. You need to have unobstructed access to the roof drains for clearing excess water.
Another benefit of working with a professional renovation company is that they will know how to acquire the necessary approvals for home improvement projects — things like an alteration agreement or permission from the building’s architect.
Home improvement projects take time and a lot of planning. You will need to be on top of it 100% of the time. We recommend using a renovation app to keep tabs on how the job is going. It’s a centralized place where you and your contractor can stay in touch and tick off checkpoints when completed. It is also super easy to use.
With home improvement projects, there may be a few challenges. Still, at the end of the day, you will be increasing the value of your property and creating a space where you can relax and take in the natural elements.