Landscaping Ideas for a House With a Walkout Basement

Easy Access

• If your basement is unfinished and used for laundry and storage, design the exterior landscape to allow for easy access from your driveway or other levels of your house. Building ramps and pathways that can accommodate wheeled utility carts are a wise option or you can join the entrance to other areas of the yard with steps if storage access is not necessary. Once the walkways, ramps or stairs are in place, add landscaping that gives the area color but is maintenance-free based on your area of the country. Plant rock gardens with native plants for areas that you choose not to have to mow. Choose your plant materials based on your climate and the amount of sunlight adjacent to the basement entrance. Select plants that won't need to be trimmed to keep their shape or grow large root systems that can damage the foundation in the basement area. When designing your landscape, take drainage into consideration. A walkout basement can easily become an area where moisture can enter your home if the landscape does not provide for proper drainage directing water away from your house.

Deck

• Installing a deck right above your walkout basement will give you usable outdoor entertaining space off the main floor of your home. A deck can also provide a cover for outdoor built-in basement level storage or an additional patio gathering space beneath. Choose composite decking materials for maintenance-free decks that don't need to be treated or painted. Again allowing for proper drainage away from your house, design the space under the deck for added outdoor storage or a second entertainment space with a patio. This is a divine space to place color-coordinated weatherproof bins or small storage sheds to keep all of your lawn tools easily accessible to your landscape. Landscape the storage area or patio by planting perennials in raised beds to act as natural perimeters for the storage space. If the space is void of a cement slab, install pavers or an inch or two of rock to keep the area clean, usable and maintenance free.

Walled Patio

• For walkout basements that lead to some usable living space, consider building a walled patio courtyard just outside the basement door. The walls add interest and provide a cozy feel for a space that can be used as quiet outdoor reading space or an entertainment space complete with seating, a barbecue grill, fire pit or fountain. Terrace existing landscaping with rows of landscaping ties and plants or continue your lawn to the area just outside of the patio wall. Think of courtyard design when landscaping this space. Potted plants can add color to the area, yet allow it to be free of plants during inclement weather. Line the walls with solar or electric lights so the patio can be used day or night.