In recent years, the Danish word hygge (pronounced “huga”) has made its way into mainstream vernacular. While it has many definitions, hygge encompasses the idea of enjoying cozy, simple pleasures in life with the people you love. As the days get shorter and the evenings get cooler, many Minnesotans seek ways to intersperse hygge in their daily routines. Many of us light our saunas, swap out our summer flowers for fall colors, cornstalks, pumpkins, and scarecrows, and start gathering with friends and neighbors around our firepits on chilly autumn evenings. Let’s dive into some inspirational ideas for outdoor fire features, fall foliage, and landscape lighting that will translate you into a hygge state of mind.
Designing Your Outdoor Fire Feature
As the temps drop, we naturally gravitate towards all things cozy—oversized hoodies, fuzzy slippers, flannel sheets, and warm blankets, to name a few. And let’s not forget how we crank up the thermostat and get that furnace roaring! For those of us who enjoy the great outdoors, a backyard fire feature is another exciting option. With so many to choose from, it’s helpful to consider the benefits each fire feature has to offer.
Outdoor fireplace: One of the more expensive and dramatic options, an outdoor fireplace really makes a statement! Often integrated into an outdoor kitchen or built into a retaining wall, these stone or brick hearths are as inviting as they come. Not only is an outdoor fireplace a natural focal point and gathering spot, but smoke vents out the chimney so unlike other wood-burning options, you won’t have to worry about burning eyes or smoky-smelling clothing. Plus, they provide a great cooking option for hotdogs, hobo dinners, marshmallows, and even pizzas!
Pop-up firepit
Probably the most affordable option, free-standing “pop-up” firepits are easy to move around the patio or out into the yard. And when you need to empty the ash, simply carry the firepit to the back woods and dump it out. Just make sure it’s completely cool and ember-free!
Wood-burning firepit
When you think of a backyard firepit, this is likely what comes to mind. Wood-burning firepits can be either dug into the ground wilderness-style or surrounded by a metal ring, large stones, or concrete bricks to contain your fire. Solo and Breeo make deluxe wood-burning firepits that reduce smoke, are easier to move around on your patio or deck, and utilize pellets as an alternative fuel source.
Gas-burning firepit
These are an attractive option and come in many styles, from large bowls and boxes to wood-burning firepit lookalikes. Gas-burning firepits don’t require wood, start and shut down quickly, and don’t generate smoke. They’re an easy choice if you already have an outdoor kitchen since you likely have a gas line running to your patio. However, you can always install a new gas line.
Propane fire table
Portable fire tables are increasingly popular among homeowners everywhere—and for good reason! In addition to all the benefits we listed for gas-burning firepits, propane fire tables are highly portable, and base models start at a couple hundred dollars—a small investment for a cozy deck or patio feature you’ll love gathering around on those chilly autumn (or winter!) days.
When designing or purchasing a fire feature, think about how you can incorporate seating around it. Do you want it on your deck or patio or in a distinct part of your backyard? Would you like a paver, gravel, or concrete path leading to this inviting space? As a guideline, install firepits 25 feet or more from any structures, vehicles, or wooded areas. A thoughtfully planned, accessible area enhances your fire feature’s overall function and charm!
Embracing Fall Foliage
Beautiful reds, oranges, yellows, golds, and browns compete with the glow of a warm fire for the best part about fall. Whether you’re planting trees or perennials in the fall or choosing your seasonal flowers in the spring, envision what blooms will emerge and how their foliage colors will change throughout the seasons.
Are you looking for trees and shrubs that will break the wind or provide a natural barrier on your property? Do you want something drought-resistant and low-maintenance, or are you willing to plant something that can be a little more finicky if it fits the aesthetic you’re going after?
Conifers
Conifers are an all-around winner for Minnesota’s variable climate.
- Northern white cedars prefer cool, moist soil, which is why they’re often found along riverbanks and creeks and in low-lying areas.
- The white fir is hardy, low maintenance, and known for being disease-resistant.
- The Minnesota state tree, the Norway pine, prefers sunny locations and is moderately tolerant of drought conditions.
These conifers make excellent windbreaks and lend themselves to year-round greenery—a beautiful backdrop for pops of fall color!
Shrubs
- A popular shrub choice—the serviceberry shrub—is a hardy native plant that grows best in moist, well-drained soil. The Autumn Brilliance variety shows off with bright red fall foliage. In addition to fall color, serviceberries generally have a white flower in spring and a bluish-red berry in late-summer through winter.
- Forsythia is another shrub that will wow you with its fall brilliance! Its bright, buttery yellow leaves mingle playfully with surrounding reds, oranges, and browns before often turning red themselves. This shrub makes an excellent border around your yard or outbuildings. Forsythia is a fast-growing shrub that can grow up to 24 inches each year!
Deciduous trees
And let’s not forget about deciduous trees that turn all sorts of beautiful colors in the fall!
- The sugar maple is perhaps the most showy, with leaves that turn from green to yellow, to deep orange and sometimes red. Sugar maples can be prone to disease but are great for tapping in the spring. And who doesn’t love fresh maple syrup?! These maples are also shade-tolerant and moderately drought-tolerant.
- The bur oak is a popular choice for Minnesota homeowners. They can be planted in full sun and are heat-resistant. Leaves turn yellow and orange in the fall, and brown leaves generally remain on the tree all winter long, creating visual interest and adding a rustling sound on windy winter days.
Seasonal plants and flowers
Trees and shrubs can bring plenty of fall charm to your property, but we can’t overlook the beauty that seasonal plants and flowers add to the scene as well!
Some local fall favorites include:
- Mums: Planted in the ground or more commonly arranged in pots on the front stoop or among your landscaping, mums come in a variety of colors, are hardy down to 26-28℉, and add wonderful splashes of color to your cozy fall landscape.
- Geranium: Available in annual and perennial varieties, geraniums are cold-hardy, and their deep red flowers and rust-colored leaves are a festive fall choice.
- Indian Summer Rudbeckia: A black-eyed susan variety, this bright yellow flower is tall and whimsical—a real standout among your fall foliage.
Incorporating Creative Lighting
You’ve got your fire feature and your fall foliage. Now you just need creative lighting to tie it all together…and turn your yard into the most inviting yard in your neighborhood this fall!
Lighting can be overwhelming because there are so many options. Lighting is aesthetic, but it’s also functional. Start by thinking through your goals to narrow down your search.
Some popular landscape lighting includes:
- Spotlights: These illuminate in one direction and are generally used to highlight a specific feature in your yard—a flag pole, a column, a fountain, a tree, etc.
- Step lights: These illuminate steps so they’re easier to see at dusk or at night. They can be installed into or alongside each step.
- Hardscape lights: With a broader beam than spotlights, hardscape lights illuminate outdoor elements such as outdoor kitchen features, decks, or fireplaces and add an elegant touch to any property.
- Pendant lights/lanterns: Not functional as much as aesthetic, pendant lights can hang in trees with overhanging branches or from your gazebo, pergola, or front or back porch ceiling. They might offer just a little light, but they’re big on style!
- Garden lights: If you plan to host some evening gatherings this fall, these are a perfect choice for placing in the ground along walkways to keep guests safe. You can also situate them along the border of your landscaping for added elegance.
- Bistro lights: Perhaps the most fun and whimsical of all, stringing bistro lights (also known as cafe lights) in the trees around your firepit area or across small corners of your deck or yard is a great way to transport your guests into another world reminiscent of a Paris cafe at night. They are both a practical and charming light source that will add to the coziness of a fall night around the fire.
From outdoor fire features to fall foliage to creative lighting, M
cDonough Landscaping can help you hygge this fall season! We have a few openings left on our calendar for smaller projects. Contact us today to get on our schedule!
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