7 Landscape Design Ideas That Can Draw Focus to a Prized Retaining Wall in McFarland, WI

A retaining wall may not immediately spring to mind when you’re thinking about adding focal points to your landscape. However, it has the potential to be eye-catching as well as functional. Here are 7 landscape design ideas that can draw focus to a prized retaining wall in McFarland, WI.

Related: How to Choose Wall Stone for Your Retaining Wall in Monona and Madison WI Areas

1. Curves

Curves are more interesting than straight lines. While straight lines can be dramatic design elements, a straight retaining wall won’t encourage your gaze to linger, like a wall with sumptuous curves that create an organic flow in the landscape.  

Curves are an opportunity to tuck intimate patios and gathering spaces into the “elbows” and to visually break up very large spaces. 

Curves can also make a wall stronger if it is a functional retaining wall. They soften edges, stairs, and entryways, bringing a visual balance to an otherwise formal space with a lot of straight lines and sharp angles.

2. A Cozy Fireplace

Incorporating an outdoor fireplace into the lines of a retaining wall gives your gathering spot a true living-room feel - much cozier and more welcoming than a fireplace that sits out in the open. This placement draws attention to the wall’s materials and encourages the use of the same materials throughout other stand-alone vertical elements such as an outdoor kitchen.

3. A Dramatic Water Feature

A gorgeous antiqued Roman faucet or sheer descent waterfall incorporated into a retaining wall adds movement, sound, and interest to what would otherwise be a static landscape feature.

4. Terraces

If your retaining wall is situated on a steep slope, terraces are the way to go to create a dramatic and eye-catching focal point. Each terrace can house shrubs or flowers, as well as landscape lighting that makes the wall come to life after the sun sets.

5. Plants

Soften the look of a retaining wall with ivy or other plants that drape from the top or climb up the sides. You’ll be rewarded with the scents of flowers in summer, and stunning foliage in fall. You could also add small planters along the top of the wall to add pops of color that will draw the eye.

6. Materials

Choosing the right materials for your retaining wall is very important. Your materials choices are partially influenced by the wall’s function, height, and setback (slope). 

Natural stone is the premier building material that will result in a sturdy wall that can far outlast most homes. The drawback to natural stone is materials and installation cost. 

Today, many homeowners are opting for concrete block retaining walls that are designed to fit together for fast and easy installation. Most of these look exactly like concrete blocks. However, higher end concrete blocks can look more like quarried stone.

Another option is to construct a retaining wall with a concrete block core, and clad it with a natural stone or manufactured stone (concrete) veneer. This option gives you an expanded range of style, texture, color, and finish options ranging from sleek and modern plank-style veneers to ones that resemble stacked flagstone.

7. Landscape Lighting

One of the best ways to bring attention to a retaining wall is to incorporate landscape light fixtures directly into the wall. Downlighting and uplighting will dramatically highlight the wall’s textures while creating the right welcoming ambiance for pleasant evenings spent under the stars with friends and family.

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