There are a lot of ways to add value to your home, from putting on an addition to upgrading your appliances. And while some experts say the biggest bang for your buck is renovating your kitchen or adding a bathroom, there are certainly other, smaller ways to add value while creating something that you can cherish for a long time. If you have a home built with English cottage house plans, for example, just think of what you'll gain in both aesthetic beauty and home value by adding a garden. Of course, we're not talking about your run-of-the-mill ten-by-ten square of dirt with peas, carrots, and beans growing. No, a garden in this sense is more of a feature of the home than just a place to grow vegetables. And while gathering a bountiful harvest is nice, it certainly isn't a requirement to have a garden.

Many people start their garden by thinking about a particular design element the garden will revolve around. A pond works for some folks, complete with fish swimming around in calm, tranquil pools. For others, whose homes were built with house plans for log homes and likely prefer a more rustic feel, perhaps an area where wildflowers can grow is most important. Still other may simply like a stone path that runs through the various plants that dot their landscape. Whatever your garden looks like, it should be an extension of you and have unique aspects of your personality designed throughout.

For many, the vegetable garden is still something that holds a lot of appeal. And while more dramatic design elements certainly can catch a prospective buyer's eye when you're trying to sell, your beautiful property built with a country house plan can add value simply by making a vegetable garden whose harvest is second only to its beauty. The first thing any vegetable garden should have, if you're trying to make a good impression, is a weed-free environment. For most, that means getting down on your hands and knees and weeding. There's no way around it-it's backbreaking work, but at the end of the day, it's worth it. You also want to consider what the garden will look like on the outside. Sure, a simple plastic or metal fence will keep the garden enclosed and discourage rabbits and pests to stay out, but who wants to look at that? Plant leafy and flowering plants all around the perimeter of your garden, and you not only hide that practical (and ugly) fence, you've added beauty and value to your home!