I was walking through a client’s backyard in Nichols Hills last summer, just a couple of weeks after we wrapped up their new residential landscape design. The homeowner told me, “It’s the first time we’ve actually wanted to sit outside in the evening.”
That’s the part most people don’t think about. Yes, landscape design makes your home look better from the street. But it also changes how you use your home. It gives you a reason to actually enjoy the outside, not just look at it. And in neighborhoods around Oklahoma City, Edmond, Deer Creek, and Norman, that extra usability adds real value—both for your family and for your property’s worth.
When we talk about landscape design, we’re not just talking about planting a few flowers or laying down some sod. We’re talking about creating a plan for your whole outdoor space that works for the way you live.
A good design answers questions like:
The plan is about function first, beauty second—because if it doesn’t work for you, you won’t take care of it, and then the beauty doesn’t last.
According to the National Association of Realtors, professional landscape design can add 10-15% to a home’s value. In OKC neighborhoods like Gaillardia and Quail Creek, buyers expect a polished yard. When they see a professionally designed space, they assume the rest of the property is equally cared for.
One of the biggest landscape design benefits is less work later. We plan bed shapes so they’re easy to mow around. We pick plants that fit the space so you’re not constantly pruning them back. We design irrigation so every zone gets just the right amount of water.
If you’ve ever had standing water in your yard after a storm, you know how frustrating it is. Professional design looks at drainage solutions right from the start—whether that’s grading, a French drain installation, or a dry creek bed.
From modern, clean lines to lush, layered gardens, design reflects the personality of the home. A mid-century modern house in Edmond needs a very different approach than a historic property in Heritage Hills.
Good design creates usable spaces—places for a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen, or a shaded seating area. And in Oklahoma, that means factoring in wind, sun exposure, and seasonal changes.
We worked with a homeowner in Norman who had a large backyard but never used it. The lawn sloped awkwardly toward the house, so it was wet most of the time. We regraded the yard, added pathway lights for evening use, and built a small stone patio with seasonal enhancements that change twice a year.
Now, they host friends outside all the time. And when they had the home appraised, the yard upgrades added more than the design and build cost.
A lot of homeowners try to DIY their landscape layout planning—and some parts of it can be done yourself. But here’s where most projects run into trouble:
That’s where professional designers save you money—by getting it right the first time.
Designing in Oklahoma isn’t the same as designing in other states. Here’s why:
These local factors are why searching “residential landscape design OKC” should lead you to a team that actually works here—not a generic national company.
Our process always starts with a walk-through of your property. We look at:
Then we create a custom plan that might include:
And because we’re local, we also think about how Seasonal Magic holiday décor, snow and ice management, or seasonal enhancements will fit into your year-round property care.
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is installing a great design and then letting it fade because there’s no maintenance plan. At OAK Outdoors, we combine landscape design with:
This way, your investment keeps adding value year after year.
