| Retaining walls are functional, but they don't have | | | | least four feet high, and there is a decent amount |
| to be drab. In fact, there are ways to incorporate | | | | of flat area in front, consider creating an outdoor |
| the walls into the overall landscape theme of your | | | | sitting area. You can define the area by adding |
| property and turn what some see as a liability into | | | | concrete urns to the top of the wall and fill them |
| a distinct advantage. Here are some ideas on | | | | with huge ferns. Define the sitting area with a |
| making that retainer a little easier on the eye. | | | | rounded or oval concrete slab and then add |
| One of the easiest ways to spice up any | | | | comfortable but visually appealing lawn furniture to |
| structure used to retain a section of land is to | | | | the area. You can enhance the color scheme with |
| add landscaping. For example, if you have a plain | | | | more potted plants. |
| brick retainer wall that helps to contain a section | | | | For a simple means of dressing up bland retaining |
| of sloping front lawn, dress it up with flora and | | | | walls, head to flea markets and second hand |
| fauna. Using the plain brick as a backdrop, plant | | | | shops. Look for old metal medallions, decorative |
| bushes that will bloom throughout the year. | | | | screen door ornaments, and other eye-catching |
| Azaleas and snowball bushes will dress the area | | | | pieces that you can arrange as art on the wall. |
| up nicely, and soften the hard lines of the red | | | | Even if you do not have a green thumb, this will |
| brick. Don't forget to put in a border of colorful | | | | still dress up the wall a bit. As an advantage, the |
| flowers as well, to further give the area definition | | | | metal pieces will hold up well in all sorts of |
| and the appearance of being intentional as well as | | | | weather, so the maintenance will be minimal. By |
| functional. | | | | spending just a few dollars on old artifacts, your |
| If the retaining walls are somewhat tall, say at | | | | retaining wall will have both function and flash. |