That’s where inspiration plays an important role. The best way to get ideas for your own yard is to start a collection of ideas you like from a broad range of sources. This includes everything from grass and flowers to features like decks and fountains.

You might not be able to get everything you like in your space, but you can incorporate the best parts!

One way to find inspiration is to just look at the things you have around you. What decorations in your house are your absolute favorites? Which paintings do you like? What’s your favorite type of lighting fixture?

Not only can you get an idea of what you like in a way that’s more tangible, you can even repurpose some of your items and turn them into features themselves!

Talk to the people around you and find out what they like about their own backyard spaces. If they could do anything with their yard, what would they do? What do they wish they could change in their yard?

These kinds of insights go a long way in helping you know what to go for and what to avoid.

When you talk to a landscaping or exterior professional, they have experience under their belt. They can tell you which things will go furthest for your money, which features and ideas are more popular, and which will fit well into your yard or budget.

They can also help steer your ideas into a cohesive design, that incorporates some of the things you like best without feeling disjointed.

Go for a walk or drive with your camera, and take pictures of all the things you see and like. Love a certain type of flower in a person’s yard? Snap a picture to remind you of what it looked like and to help you find it later!

Look at features, too—water features, stepping stones, the grass—whatever you see that catches your attention, take a picture for later!