Homeowners have been drawn to the natural beauty of wood from time immemorial, with timber and log homes remaining in strong demand regardless of the prevailing trends in real estate and home design throughout the years.
If you are one of the many people who call a log home your own, you may be using the colder months of winter to plan some outdoor living spaces and landscape enhancements to make your property shine once the weather warms up in 2022. To help in this regard, the following breakdown looks at some of the most stunning landscape enhancements to pair with a log home as we head into the new year.
1. Pergola
Many people who live in a log home have a special appreciation for natural beauty. As a result, it is likely that they will want to spend as much time as possible outdoors.
To improve the quality of the time spent outdoors, it is worthwhile to shop for pergolas to provide protection from nature’s elements. A pergola is an outdoor structure consisting of columns that support a roofing grid of beams and rafters. Different pergola kits will offer varying degrees of shade, with some options containing canopies or louvered roofs to provide complete protection in the event of precipitation.
Not only are modern pergolas versatile and customizable enough to protect a wide range of exterior structures, but many of the most popular pergola choices are fabricated to replicate natural wood craftsmanship, making them a strong landscape enhancement to accentuate the curb appeal of a log home.
2. Deck
A deck addition is another great way to improve the outdoor living space of a log home. While the deck is an ideal place to house the grill or set up some patio furniture to enjoy an outside cup of coffee on a sunny morning, it is also a potentially lucrative landscape enhancement. In their annual Cost vs. Value report, Remodeling magazine found that a wood deck addition returned 66% of the cost of installation in 2021, making it one of the most valuable ideas a homeowner can explore.
3. Pool House
Adding a pool house can provide a true resort-like atmosphere for your log home. Fabricated from any combination of timber-based materials, such as log beams and heavy timber roofing, a pool house provides a convenient place for residents to slip into and out of their swimwear, step inside and enjoy
a break from the sun, or put together a quick refreshment. By choosing timber components, the pool house can make the pool seem like a more natural and aesthetically pleasing landscape enhancement–especially if the pool is skirted with masonry as opposed to cement.
When adding a pool house, it is important that you install an elite pool deck drain to prevent water from running toward the structure. Not only can errant water potentially undermine the pool house’s foundation, but one of the reasons to build a pool house is to dry off for a bit, with standing water near the building largely defeating this purpose.
4. Gazebo
People often confuse gazebos and pergolas, as both are exterior structures that provide shade and weather protection. However, while pergolas are used to protect existing exterior spaces and adorn them with an element of visual intrigue, gazebos are stand-alone structures built specifically for independent enjoyment.
Most gazebos are located a good distance away from the home, typically at the far end of a backyard. They are usually circular or hexagonal in shape, with attached benches and a solid roof for people to relax within their confines. The true appeal of pairing a gazebo with a log home is that timber is the overwhelming material of choice in gazebo construction, making them a natural complement to wood homes.
5. Garage Door
A garage door replacement is another quick and efficient way to improve the curb appeal of your log home. When your old door becomes slow, uneven, or dented, an upgrade to a wood or timber model could make for a stunning complement to your log home, especially if you pair the new garage door with one of the attractive garage door pergolas on the market, providing an element of contrast to the door’s natural features.
In addition to improved safety, functionality, and aesthetics, a garage door replacement is one of the most financially rewarding landscape enhancements a homeowner can choose. The Cost vs. Value Report notes that in 2021, the national average ROI for a garage door replacement was 93.8%, meaning that homeowners will receive all of the benefits of a new garage door and a hefty boost in resale value, to boot.
The Best Landscape Enhancement Ideas to Pair with a Log Home
While log homes possess a timeless beauty, there are some special landscape enhancements that can make the property truly pop. To get a head start in planning your outdoor living spaces, look into adding a pergola, deck, pool house, gazebo or new garage door to help boost the aesthetics of your log home.
Natalie Akins is an editor for the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. She is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.
