Landscape design from Wall & Company can range from free sketches and design concepts for straightforward projects to approximately $3,500 for detailed digital landscape designs with visual mock-ups.
Wall & Company will also frequently include landscape design as part of a larger landscaping or outdoor-living project, rather than charging for design as a separate service.
The appropriate level of design depends on what is being built.
A simple paver patio or small landscape renovation may need little more than measurements, material selections and a sketch. A complete backyard transformation involving patios, retaining walls, an outdoor kitchen, lighting, irrigation, planting and significant elevation changes can benefit from a much more detailed digital design.
And when a project warrants specialized professional design or engineering, Wall & Company has relationships with respected and experienced designers and engineers in the Spokane area who can be brought into the project when appropriate.
How Much Does Landscape Design Cost?
For initial planning, Wall & Company’s landscape-design costs generally range from:
| Type of Landscape Design | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Simple sketch or design concept | Often Free |
| Design incorporated into a Wall & Company project | Often Included |
| More detailed landscape design | Varies by project |
| Full digital design with visual mock-ups | Up to approximately $3,500 |
| Specialized professional design or engineering | Quoted based on project requirements |
Not every project needs a $3,500 design.
And not every project can be adequately planned with a quick sketch.
The objective is to use the appropriate level of design for the project being built.
When Is a Simple Landscape Sketch Enough?
Many relatively straightforward projects don’t require an elaborate digital design.
For example, a homeowner may already know that they want a rectangular paver patio in a particular area of the backyard.
The important design decisions may primarily involve:
- Patio dimensions
- Paver selection
- Border selection
- Location
- Finished elevation
- Steps or transitions
- Relationship to the house
- Relationship to existing landscaping
A simple sketch, measurements and material selections may communicate everything necessary to properly plan that project.
The same can be true for smaller landscape renovations, pathways, fire features and other clearly defined improvements.
In situations like these, Wall & Company may provide sketches and design concepts at no separate cost.
When Is Landscape Design Included With the Project?
Wall & Company will often incorporate the necessary landscape-design work into the overall project.
This is particularly useful because landscape construction and landscape design aren’t separate issues.
A patio affects drainage and traffic flow.
A retaining wall changes elevation.
An outdoor kitchen needs utilities.
A fire feature influences seating.
Plant placement affects irrigation.
Pathways determine how people move through the property.
Lighting changes how the landscape functions after dark.
Designing those elements as parts of one project allows the finished landscape to work together rather than appearing to be a collection of unrelated additions.
Depending on the scope of the project, that design work may be included as part of Wall & Company’s overall planning and construction process.
When Does a Project Need a Detailed Digital Landscape Design?
As the number of project elements increases, the value of a more detailed design usually increases with it.
A digital design can be especially useful for projects involving combinations of:
- Paver patios
- Retaining walls
- Boulder walls
- Outdoor kitchens
- Fire features
- Water features
- Pathways
- Sport courts
- Xeriscaping
- Planting
- Irrigation
- Landscape lighting
- Grade changes
- Multiple outdoor living areas
Instead of considering each feature independently, the designer can evaluate how the entire space should function.
What Does a Full Landscape Design Include?
The exact deliverables depend on the project, but a more comprehensive landscape design can include detailed layouts and digital visualizations showing how the proposed improvements relate to the home and property.
Visual mock-ups can be particularly helpful.
Plans and measurements communicate dimensions. A visual representation can help a homeowner understand something different:
What is this actually going to look and feel like when it’s built?
A detailed design can help homeowners evaluate:
- Overall layout
- Proportion
- Patio size
- Traffic flow
- Seating arrangements
- Material relationships
- Retaining-wall locations
- Planting areas
- Pathways
- Outdoor kitchen placement
- Fire-feature placement
- Landscape focal points
- How multiple project elements work together
For more involved projects, Wall & Company’s detailed digital design work can cost up to approximately $3,500.
Why Design Before Building?
Landscape construction can represent a significant investment.
Changing a line on a design is relatively easy.
Moving a completed retaining wall isn’t.
The same is true of a patio, outdoor kitchen, gas line, water feature or sport court.
Design gives the homeowner and contractor an opportunity to solve spatial and functional questions before those decisions become concrete, pavers, block, utilities and landscaping.
That becomes increasingly valuable as project complexity increases.
Landscape Design Is About More Than Appearance
A good landscape plan should certainly look attractive, but appearance is only part of the job.
Landscape design can also address how the property functions.
For example:
Where should people naturally walk from the house to the patio?
Is there enough space around an outdoor kitchen for someone to cook while guests sit nearby?
Will a fire feature be appropriately positioned relative to seating and other improvements?
How does the patio connect to the lawn?
Where should retaining walls handle changes in elevation?
Where should lighting be positioned?
How should planting areas and irrigation zones work together?
How does water move through the property?
A landscape can look attractive on a drawing and still function poorly if these questions aren’t considered.
When Does Landscape Design Become Landscape Engineering?
Design and engineering aren’t the same thing.
A landscape designer is primarily concerned with the layout, function and appearance of the outdoor environment.
An engineer may be required when the project involves structural or technical conditions requiring professional calculations, specifications or stamped plans.
Depending on the project, this can include issues involving:
- Significant retaining walls
- Structural loads
- Challenging slopes
- Complex drainage
- Major grade changes
- Structural foundations
- Other engineered site improvements
Not every retaining wall or hardscape project requires an engineer.
When professional engineering is warranted, however, it should be treated as an important part of properly designing the project rather than as an unnecessary expense.
What If My Project Needs a Professional Designer or Engineer?
Wall & Company doesn’t attempt to make every project fit within its in-house design process.
When a project warrants additional expertise, Wall & Company has relationships with respected and experienced landscape designers and engineers in the Spokane area.
Those professionals can be brought into the process when their expertise is appropriate.
This gives homeowners the ability to work through Wall & Company on relatively straightforward projects while still having access to specialized professional resources for more complicated projects.
Fees for outside professional design or engineering depend on the scope and requirements of the project and are quoted accordingly.
Do I Need Landscape Design for a Small Project?
Not necessarily a formal digital design.
Every project requires some degree of planning, but the level of documentation should match the complexity of the work.
A clearly defined pathway, small patio or straightforward fire-feature installation may only require a sketch, measurements and material selections.
Creating a detailed digital model for a project that doesn’t benefit from one simply adds unnecessary cost.
Conversely, trying to plan a complicated $75,000 or $150,000 outdoor-living project with an informal sketch can leave too many important decisions unresolved before construction begins.
The appropriate question isn’t:
“Do I need landscape design?”
It’s:
“How much design does this particular project need?”
Can Landscape Design Help Establish the Project Budget?
Yes.
One of the most valuable parts of the design process is connecting what a homeowner wants with what those improvements actually cost to build.
A wish list might include a large paver patio, outdoor kitchen, fire feature, retaining walls, water feature, lighting and new landscaping.
Design provides an opportunity to determine how those elements fit physically on the property and how they fit within the overall project budget.
Sometimes that means modifying the size of an element.
Sometimes it means changing materials.
Sometimes a project can be divided into phases.
And sometimes the design confirms that the original concept works well as proposed.
Resolving those questions before construction is generally much easier than resolving them while the project is underway.
How Much Should I Budget for Landscape Design?
For a Wall & Company project in the Spokane area, landscape design can range from $0 to approximately $3,500, depending on the level of design required.
A straightforward project may receive a free sketch or design concept.
Design work may also be included as part of the overall Wall & Company project.
More complicated projects may warrant a detailed digital design with visual mock-ups, which can cost up to approximately $3,500.
If the project requires specialized professional design or engineering, Wall & Company can coordinate with experienced Spokane-area professionals, with those services priced according to the project’s requirements.
The objective isn’t to sell every homeowner the most elaborate design available.
It’s to provide enough design to properly plan the project before construction begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does landscape design cost in Spokane?
Wall & Company landscape design can range from free for simple sketches and concepts to approximately $3,500 for detailed digital designs with visual mock-ups.
Does Wall & Company charge for landscape design?
Sometimes. Simple design work may be provided at no cost, and Wall & Company will often include landscape design as part of a larger construction project. More comprehensive digital design can cost up to approximately $3,500.
Is landscape design included with a landscaping project?
It can be. Wall & Company frequently incorporates the appropriate level of design into larger landscaping and outdoor-living projects.
What is a digital landscape design?
A digital landscape design uses computer-based plans and visualizations to show the proposed layout and, depending on the project, help homeowners visualize how the finished outdoor space could look.
Do I need a landscape design before getting a price?
Not necessarily. Straightforward projects can often be evaluated and budgeted without creating a full digital design first. More complicated projects may require additional design development before an accurate construction scope can be established.
Does Wall & Company provide engineering?
When professional engineering is warranted, Wall & Company works with respected and experienced engineers in the Spokane area who can provide the specialized expertise required for the project.
When might a landscape project need an engineer?
Projects involving significant retaining walls, structural loads, challenging slopes, complex drainage or other structural conditions may warrant professional engineering. Requirements depend on the specific project and site.
Can I get a landscape sketch without buying a full digital design?
Yes. Wall & Company can use simple sketches and design concepts for projects that don’t warrant a complete digital design package.