We see you dreaming.
You’re looking at your suburban Chicago backyard and envisioning the space of your dreams. Maybe it’s got an outdoor kitchen with a gourmet oven. Possibly you’re thinking about dinners on a bluestone patio under a flowering tree. Maybe you have a wide open space and you're looking for an outdoor room that gives you privacy, shade, and a more intimate setting.
You’ve dog-eared the pages of landscape design magazines and you have saved some of your favorite HGTV backyard renovation episodes. You’re ready for that new backyard.
As you start adding things up, you begin to wonder what you should prioritize and what you’re missing. Is the cost of an outdoor kitchen just the gourmet grill? What about the hardscape surrounding it or countertops? Is it the same as the cost of an indoor kitchen? What about the design work involved in pulling it all together so it cohesively works in your space?
It can be hard to understand the full extent of residential landscape design costs. You want quality work, but you need to plan and prioritize, and that means you need to know what kind of budget makes sense.
Residential Landscape Design & Installation Costs
When you want to transform your property, nothing can squash that excitement. But not planning the right budget might come close when you realize your dream backyard might need more consideration.
Never fear; that’s why we’re here. We’re going to break down various landscape design costs so you can have a better understanding of the price of different elements. This should help you better plan for that ultimate dream Naperville, IL backyard.
Patio Costs
A patio is a great place to unwind outside. Have a meal, sip coffee, read a book, or just relax. A patio can be a space you use for all of these activities and more.
The patio you're envisioning will vary in price based on size and material. A 10-foot-by-10-foot patio, for instance, will cost less than a 3,000-square-foot patio. And modular concrete stone will typically cost less than natural stone. 
Patios are priced per square foot. So modular concrete patios will range from $16 to $20 per square foot, while natural stone patios will usually range from $35 to $45 per square foot. The cost of landscape design -- maybe you’re interested in patio patterns, for instance, as well as labor -- is included in those price ranges.
Outdoor Kitchen Costs
An outdoor kitchen is a portion of your landscape that involves multiple elements to create that one special exterior “room.”
When it comes to determining your cost of landscape installation, here you want to start by looking at the components you want to purchase. For example, an outdoor grill can range from $2,500 to $15,000 or $20,000, depending on the type of grill you want to buy. A higher end gourmet grill will cost more.
Other components you want to consider are vents, outdoor beverage centers, ice makers, pizza ovens, smokers, etc. For instance, an outdoor kitchen we’re working on now costs roughly $80,000 for just the multiple components involved. Anything is possible in an outdoor kitchen.
Once you have your components, you have to consider the housing or cabinetry needed to create the structure for your grill, refrigerator, etc. This can be a simpler L-shaped structure or a massive U-shaped bar area with granite countertops.
A total outdoor kitchen, therefore, can start at $35,000 and go up to $150,000. The sky’s the limit, so there’s almost no end to what you can add.
Landscape Lighting Costs
When you invest in a great patio or outdoor kitchen, you want to spend all of your time enjoying these special areas.
Landscape lighting is one way to extend those outside enjoyment hours.
The cost of landscape lighting installation starts at $335 per fixture and can go up to $500 per fixture. This pricing includes the transformer and any wiring and timing devices necessary as part of the lighting package.
Pergola Costs
A pergola is a way to add some cover from the sun or a unique visual structure without totally blocking out light and wind.
Pergola pricing can fluctuate based on the materials used and the size of the structure. For instance, a 12x12 pergola can start at about $7,500. With other details, such as masonry or modular block pillars and power or lighting, your pergola can rise in price to $25,000 to $35,000.
Pavilion Costs
A pavilion brings an element to your landscape similar to a pergola. But a pavilion is a fully roofed structure.
Like pergolas, the cost of landscape installation here will vary. Costs can start at $25,000 and rise to $65,000 or more depending on factors such as structure and roofing materials, size, lighting, fan, or power.
Outdoor Fire Feature Costs
Bring a little warmth and ambient light to your backyard with a fire feature. They are so popular today because they bring a soothing environment, along with practicalities like being able to have s’mores, to your space.
There is a wide range of residential landscape design costs when it comes to fire features. A simpler modular brick fire pit built to burn wood can start around $3,500. Feed that fire pit with gas and the additional plumbing and gas line from your home can increase your fire pit to around $7,500.
Have dreams of more of a grand outdoor fireplace that is a vertical structure built of stone? You can get an extravagant, detailed work of art that offers ambiance and even privacy, ranging from $15,000 to $50,000-plus. Some fun extras can include a place for wood storage, outdoor TV mounting, a see-through fireplace, etc.
Pottery & Seasonal Color Rotations Costs
Looking to add some grand, fun garden containers to your landscape in Claredon Hils, IL? Nothing beats a gorgeous floral arrangement full of color and texture spilling from an elegant urn.
Pottery typically ranges from $250 to $1,500 per piece. The grander or larger the pottery, usually the higher the cost. Then to plant these pretty pieces with colorful flowers typically takes about $150 to $550 each. Tropicals are usually on the higher end, for instance. The cost of landscape design here is well worth it because an expert eye is putting together the best combination and look based on your needs.
Outdoor Water Feature Costs
The sound of trickling water can bring such a calming and soothing element to your outdoor space.
Get a small pond for $2,500 or create a more elegant trickling feature with a waterfall and rocky structure with a surrounding patio for $50,000-plus.
Backyard Entertainment Costs
Want to watch the game outside and enjoy the sunshine while rooting on your favorite team in Downers Grove?
Outdoor-rated televisions start around $3,500 installed but can go up to $8,500.
Want surround sound in your pavilion? Sound systems start at $3,500 and can go up to $7,500, depending on how much sound you want.
Furnishing Costs
A patio wouldn't be complete without some great outdoor furniture. Like other residential landscape costs, the sky is the limit on furnishings.
Most suburban Chicago homeowners plan to spend $5,000 to $10,000 on furnishings, but this can go up to $50,000 depending on how many outdoor rooms you have and the scope and scale of the space. It’s very comparable to buying indoor furniture.
Plant Costs
Of course, trees, shrubs, and plants complete the look of your outdoor space.
The cost of landscape design and installation on the plant component can range from between $2,500 to $50,000 and up depending on whether you have a 40-foot wide backyard space to fill or a 15-acre estate, as well as the types of materials you’re interested in planting.
Budgeting For Your Dream Backyard
Hopefully this helps give you a better idea of the cost to hire a landscape designer based on the material you like best, the size of your space, and the extent to which you want to take each area. If you’re a gourmet chef, your outdoor kitchen may be the place where you want to maximize your budget. If you enjoy privacy and relaxation, maybe a pavilion-covered patio that has some great trees for screening and a fire pit for evening entertainment is more of what you’re envisioning.
Either way, you want a space that’s going to work best for you and fit your unique needs. A landscape design professional should be able to take the time to learn about how you want to use your yard, as well as educate you on materials and space considerations.
If you want to better understand all of your backyard landscape options and costs, KD Landscape can help. We can show you design and material options and inspire you with project photos, so you can get a better idea of what will work best for you.
Ready to see how KD Landscape can transform your suburban Chicago area landscape? We’d love to share our design and installation expertise with you and deliver a space that best fits your needs. Get started today with a free consultation. Together, we can create a solution that you’ll love.
