Most typical homeowners would like more land. But if you can't purchase or maintain more than what you have, the next best thing is to steal a view.

If you are blessed with beautiful landscapes around you, a beautiful garden next door, a mountain range in the distance or a peek of the ocean, you should play it for all it's worth. Plan your garden hardscaping to maximize views, plant to enhance the lines of the surrounding countryside and expand your living space visually by pretending those vast expanses are simply an extension of your backyard. Here are some guidelines. 1. Don't Block the View

The first rule of thumb when stealing a view is simply not to block it. If you have a forested mountain view off your back porch, make use of see-through railings instead of solid walls. The open spaces create a sense of oneness with the surrounding area. clemente design studio, llc Open latticework can provide a sense of enclosure while still capturing the views of greenery and sky beyond your backyard. Stephen Cox-Cox Landscape & Garden Design 2. Blur the Boundaries

This garden has plantings and a pathway marching right toward the pond, gaining height as they progress. The taller plantings visually bridge the gap between the short lawn grass and the view of the pond, creating a connection for the viewer. It doesn't matter where the property lines are; the lines of sight have no boundaries.

To see another example of a landscape that blurs the boundaries, check out this new home set within a reclaimed meadow in Maine. Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture 3. Mimic the Scenery

Perhaps your property overlooks commercial farming enterprises. Take notes from the color blocking and mimic the designs with your own plantings. Your garden will flow visually into the farm, and your property will seem to greatly expand. Woodburn & Company Landscape Architecture, LLC You might not own the lake or the wooded property next door, but who's to say you can't take visual cues from them? Follow the curve of the lake with curved planting beds and plant trees that reflect the look of the wild forests beyond. Amy Renea 4. Open Windows

Create windows in your garden by opening up views to the surrounding countryside. With an intentionally crafted view of the farm next door, the hillside becomes an integral part of your design. You do no work to keep the fields beautiful, yet you benefit from the visual impact. Feldman Architecture, Inc. If you are lucky enough to live in the middle of a wildflower field with wide open skies in every direction, take advantage with windows all around. Just don't throw stones. Whether you live in the countryside, on a wooded lake or in an apartment overlooking the surrounding skyline, maximize your fantastic view by blurring boundaries, opening windows and mimicking the scenery around you.

More:
Old-School Design: Frame Your Garden View
Room With a View: Designing Around a Panorama
Indoors Looking Out