In Aspen, clients pay top dollar for a house or piece of property with a great view of the mountains and local scenery. Research has shown that having a beautiful view or garden to look at through your windows is important for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. A study of older adults who are mainly housebound shows that older people "deliberately use the space to construct narrative and meaning. The views become “thick” with meaning and a place of high significance for the observer."
But what if you can't afford the house on the hill overlooking Aspen? Don't fret, there are many ways you can add to your landscape that will create window appeal from inside your home!
A study found that three aspects were important for the evaluation of the view quality: maximum viewing distance, number of visual layers and aesthetical quality of the scene.
A few tactics that we have used for clients over the years to increase window appeal include:
Adding trees to block unwanted sights (neighbor's house, streets, public areas, etc.)
Removing trees to increase viewing distance.
Creating gardens in window wells.
Adding rocks or textures to increase the aesthetic quality.
Adding plants with varying heights to create visual layers.
Creating a plant palette that matches the client's ideal vision: you may already have a gorgeous landscape but maybe it's not your exact style. We once worked with a client who had a very modern, white interior of her home so she wanted the exterior to be as colorful as possible for contrast.
Adding water features: a great option for noise pollution as well!
Placement of pots or hanging baskets where you are unable to plant.
Bring plants inside: maybe you live in an apartment and don't have a yard to work with, adding greenery to the inside of your home can have a similar effect.
No matter what your current window view offers there is always a way to improve upon it. Reach out to us if you need ideas or help planning your next project!