Unleash the Potential of Your Corner House Landscape: Creative Solutions for Tricky Spaces

Landscaping a corner lot comes with unique challenges. With an additional exposed side and 90 degrees more visibility, corner landscapes require extra thought and planning. However, if done right, a corner yard can become an eye-catching focal point full of curb appeal.

Design for Curb Appeal from All Angles

Unlike a standard front yard, a corner landscape needs to look appealing from multiple viewing angles. Consider the experience of people driving or walking past your home on both streets as well as the view from your own property. Some effective strategies for great curb appeal include:

• Incorporating vertical elements like tall plants, trellises, arbors and decorative art features to add height and break up flat expanses.
• Using focal points like specimen trees, colorful flower beds or striking hardscape features to draw the eye.
• Repeating design elements like paver colors, plants and outdoor furnishings to tie the space together.
• Embracing the actual corner of the yard with a stunning planting bed or eye-catching statue.

Create Functional Spaces for Entertaining, Dining and More

Don't let those extra square feet go to waste! A corner lot allows you to get creative with defines spaces for dining, playing, relaxing and parking. Consider these functional elements:

• Patios or pergolas for outdoor entertaining and dining.
• Seating areas around fire pits or water features.
• Play areas for kids or pets - sandboxes, playhouses, etc.
• Vegetable gardens, cutting gardens or herb beds.
• Parking pads, driveways and garages positioned to maximize remaining space.

Prevent Unwanted Foot Traffic

A common nuisance with corner lots is foot traffic cutting across the yard. To discourage this:

• Use strategic fencing or planting beds to block short-cut paths.
• Add a curving path to force people around rather than straight through.
• Incorporate prickly plants along the edges.

Hardscaping Provides Structure and Function

Thoughtfully incorporated hardscape elements create "bones" giving shape and purpose to a landscape. Consider these ideas:

Walkways, Patios and Decks

Hard surfaces like stone, brick and concrete allow you to extend living areas outdoors and connect different zones. For corner yards, curved walkways add appealing angles.

Walls, Fences and Screens

Boundaries and enclosures crafted from wood, masonry or metal add privacy while separating spaces. On corner lots, fences and screens also help deter foot traffic.

Pergolas, Trellises and Arbors

These vertical structures act as living architecture in the garden. A pergola over a patio or arbor along a path adds height and visual interest.

Fire Pits and Kitchens

Gathering around fire is a timeless tradition. Choose a simple fire ring or an elaborate kitchen and dining area anchored by a fireplace or brick oven.

Softscape Choices Create Natural Beauty

Plants, trees and other living elements bring color, texture and life to the yard. Some excellent options include:

Trees for Height and Shade

Trees act as vertical design elements and living sculptures. For corner yards, place specimens trees in focal points visible from the street.

Shrubs and Hedges for Privacy

Beds, borders and hedges made from boxwood, laurel and other shrubs screen unattractive views and buffer noise.

Flower Gardens and Plantings

Flower beds, rock gardens and planters burst with color. They look best placed in front of fences, along the home or bordering hardscapes.

Lawn Alternatives

Rather than turf grass, try groundcovers like clover or creeping thyme. Or opt for mulch, stone, gravel, or hardscapes.

On their own, individual elements like a patio or garden bed look disjointed. But using design strategies to connect the full landscape together creates a unified, welcoming corner lot oasis:

• Repeating plants, materials and decor unifies the design.
• Transition between hard and soft elements with edging or overlap.
• Use focal points like sculptures to draw the eye through the space.
• Divide the yard into usable rooms or activity zones.
• Vary heights and layers with trees, shrubs, plants.

Corner yards can be both beautiful and functional. Embrace the unique lot shape, take cues from the neighborhood, and implement the strategies in this guide to create a stunning landscape you'll enjoy for years to come.