Curb appeal:  it’s a phrase that we’ve all heard many times. It’s mentioned in most gardening magazine articles and is usually a main focus on gardening television shows. We typically think of curb appeal as what the house looks like from the street or sidewalk. You could say it’s the face of the house, or the view from the curb. But what if we thought of the view from the inside looking out? It’s equally as important as we probably spend more time inside the house than outside, especially during long winters.

The view from inside this home is made more inviting, thanks to landscaping.

The view from inside this home is made more inviting, thanks to landscaping.

What do you see when you look out your windows? Perhaps there is a neighboring house or garage, a stark fence, street lights or maybe a utility pole. It’s important to consider screening these unsightly views.  Installing a tall hedge around your property will allow you to accomplish this, but can create a boxed-in or claustrophobic effect. Instead, the proper selection and placement of an ornamental tree or evergreen can help soften this view. What about the area between houses? Maybe one of your windows lines up with your neighbor’s window. Constructing a wall or fence to separate the space may seem harsh, but a narrow tree or lattice screen with climbing vines would do the trick. Take a look through your windows, what do you see?  Do you need any screening?

A barren backyard viewable from the back windows of this home is made more pleasant and inviting with an evergreen screen and layers of plants in a curved planting bed.

A barren backyard viewable from the back windows of this home is made more pleasant and inviting with an evergreen screen and layers of plants in a curved planting bed.

Even if you don’t require any screening or privacy, installing plant material away from your house, and in line with your windows, will help to bring nature into your home. When installing a landscape, many homeowners focus on foundation plants, or those plants that are planted right up against your house. While these are important from the outside, they typically aren’t visible from in the home. Extend your landscape by considering your view, from the inside looking out.

Some city gardens are bordered by their neighbor's houses, as in this case. We softened the hardness of the wall by adding a lattice screen with flowering vines.

Some city gardens are bordered by their neighbor’s houses, as in this case. We softened the hardness of the wall by adding a lattice screen with flowering vines.

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