Landscape Design for Enjoying Retirement
As our lives evolve, our homes and landscapes should also. Over the next few months, we’ll be sharing how thoughtful design supports every stage of life—from growing families to single homeowners to retirees.
Retirement brings more time to enjoy your outdoor spaces—and for many homeowners who plan to age in place, that means making thoughtful updates for safety, accessibility, and easy maintenance. At Harmony Design Northwest, we believe your landscape should reflect the lifestyle you want to embrace when you retire—whether it’s peaceful mornings on a sunlit patio, tending to a pollinator-friendly garden, or hosting friends and family in a thoughtfully designed outdoor living space.
Here are just some of the improvements we consider when designing landscapes for older homeowners.
For Safety & Accessibility
- Replace old, uneven brick pavers with smooth concrete or modern pavers to prevent tripping hazards.
- Design wide, level walkways that make it easier to navigate with stability and confidence.
- Choose slip-resistant surfaces and handrails where needed for extra security.
- Include raised garden beds to reduce bending and strain, making gardening more enjoyable.
- Add railings to stairs
- Design stairs with low risers; ideally 6″ or less
- Replace stairs with ramps
For Low-Maintenance Care
- Replace aging wood decks with composite decking that resists rot, fading, and splintering—no sanding or staining required.
- Choose durable, easy-care plants that provide beauty without constant upkeep.
- Incorporate native and ornamental plants together to support pollinators while keeping your landscape lush year-round.
- Use smart irrigation systems to simplify watering and reduce water waste.
These before-and-after photos show how we transformed an aging landscape and patio into a safe, low-maintenance retreat perfect for the older couple who lived here. View more of this Modern Tudor makeover in our Portfolio.
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- Before: Uneven brick and rotting decking.
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- After: Composit decking with low stairs and a never paver patio.
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- Before: Uneven brick and too much lawn.
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- After: New paver patio and a bubbling water feature.
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- Before: No path to the garage door.
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- After: Wide path to the garage door.
Ready to Make Your Landscape Retirement Friendly?
Contact us today to schedule a Discovery Call.