How Landscaping Affects Property Value in Brisbane: The Data Behind the Returns
When Brisbane homeowners consider renovation investments, landscaping is rarely the first item on the list. Kitchens, bathrooms, and extensions typically take priority — yet the evidence consistently shows that well-executed landscape design delivers some of the strongest returns of any home improvement category.
In Brisbane's competitive property market, where buyers in suburbs like Ascot, Hamilton, New Farm, Paddington, and Teneriffe are making decisions based on lifestyle as much as floor area, the outdoor space has become a primary driver of perceived value. A landscape that extends the living area, creates privacy, and reflects the quality of the architecture can add tens of thousands of dollars to a property's sale price — and in some cases, significantly more.
This article examines the data behind landscape investment returns, identifies which elements deliver the strongest value uplift, and provides a framework for thinking about landscape investment in the context of Brisbane's property market.
What the Research Says
Australian property research consistently identifies landscaping as one of the highest-return renovation categories. A 2023 analysis by CoreLogic found that well-presented outdoor spaces were among the top five factors cited by Brisbane buyers as influencing their purchase decision, with 68% of respondents indicating that the quality of the outdoor space significantly affected their willingness to pay a premium.
The return on investment for professional landscaping in Australia typically ranges from 10% to 20% of the total property value — meaning a $1.5 million Brisbane home with a well-designed landscape could command $150,000 to $300,000 more than an equivalent property with a neglected or underdeveloped outdoor space.
In premium Brisbane suburbs, where buyers are specifically seeking architectural homes with considered outdoor living, the premium can be even higher. Real estate agents in Ascot, Hamilton, and New Farm regularly report that properties with professionally designed landscapes sell faster and at higher prices than comparable properties without them.
The Brisbane Lifestyle Premium
Brisbane's property market has a characteristic that makes landscape investment particularly valuable: the city's climate and lifestyle culture mean that outdoor space is genuinely used, not merely admired.
Unlike Melbourne or Sydney, where outdoor entertaining is seasonal and often weather-dependent, Brisbane's subtropical climate supports year-round outdoor living. Buyers in Brisbane aren't just purchasing a garden — they're purchasing an additional living room, a dining room, a children's play space, and an entertainment venue that can be used 365 days a year.
This means that a well-designed outdoor space in Brisbane functions as genuine additional floor area — and is priced accordingly by buyers who understand the lifestyle value it delivers.
Which Landscape Elements Add the Most Value
Not all landscape investments deliver equal returns. Based on our experience working on projects across Brisbane and the data from property transactions in premium suburbs, the following elements consistently deliver the strongest value uplift.
Outdoor Living Areas
A well-designed outdoor entertaining area — covered or uncovered, with quality paving, lighting, and integrated features — is the single highest-return landscape investment for most Brisbane properties. Buyers understand immediately what they're getting: additional usable space that extends the home's living area.
The key is quality. A cheap pergola with basic paving delivers minimal value uplift. A considered outdoor room with architectural roofing, premium stone or timber flooring, integrated lighting, and an outdoor kitchen can add $80,000 to $150,000 to a property's value at the top end of the Brisbane market.
Front Garden Presentation
First impressions are disproportionately powerful in property transactions. Research consistently shows that buyers form a strong emotional response to a property within the first 30 seconds of arrival — and the front garden is the primary driver of that response.
A well-presented front garden — with quality paving, considered planting, and good lighting — signals to buyers that the property has been cared for and that the owners have invested in quality. This signal carries through to their perception of the entire property.
In Brisbane's inner suburbs, where properties often sit close to the street, the front garden is particularly important. A $20,000 to $40,000 investment in front garden design and construction can deliver returns of two to three times that figure in added property value.
Pool Surrounds and Integration
Brisbane's climate makes a pool a genuine lifestyle asset rather than a luxury — and buyers price them accordingly. But the value of a pool is significantly influenced by the quality of its surrounding landscape.
A pool that sits in isolation, surrounded by basic concrete or cheap pavers, delivers far less value than one that is integrated into a considered landscape design — with quality stone coping, thoughtful planting, privacy screening, and lighting that makes the pool area usable and beautiful after dark.
Explore our approach to pool landscaping for more detail on how to maximise the value of pool surrounds.
Retaining Walls and Level Changes
Brisbane's hilly topography means that many properties have significant level changes that, if not properly managed, become liabilities rather than assets. Poorly built retaining walls — cheap timber sleepers, basic concrete blocks — signal maintenance issues and structural concerns to buyers.
Well-designed retaining walls in quality materials — natural stone, off-form concrete, corten steel — transform level changes from problems into design features. They also signal to buyers that the property has been properly engineered and that the landscape will not require expensive remediation work.
Landscape Lighting
Professional landscape lighting is one of the most cost-effective value-adding investments available to Brisbane homeowners. The cost of a well-designed lighting system — typically $15,000 to $40,000 for a residential property — delivers a disproportionate impact on perceived value, because it transforms the property's presentation in the evening hours when many buyers are viewing properties.
A garden that is beautifully lit at night signals quality, consideration, and investment — and creates an emotional response in buyers that is difficult to achieve through any other means.
The Cost-Value Framework
Understanding the relationship between landscape investment cost and value return requires thinking about three distinct categories of expenditure.
Foundation Investment (High Return)
These are the elements that buyers expect to find in a premium Brisbane property and that deliver the strongest value returns:
- Outdoor entertaining area with quality paving and roofing
- Front garden presentation and entry sequence
- Pool surround integration (if a pool exists)
- Basic landscape lighting
- Quality retaining walls and level management
For a $1.5 million Brisbane property, a foundation landscape investment of $80,000 to $150,000 typically delivers returns of $150,000 to $300,000 — a ratio of approximately 2:1.
Enhancement Investment (Moderate Return)
These are elements that add significant lifestyle value and contribute to the overall quality of the property, but deliver more moderate financial returns:
- Feature planting and mature trees
- Water features
- Outdoor kitchen and BBQ area
- Automated irrigation systems
- Advanced lighting design
For the same $1.5 million property, enhancement investments of $40,000 to $80,000 typically deliver returns of $60,000 to $120,000 — a ratio of approximately 1.5:1.
Luxury Investment (Lifestyle Return)
These are elements that deliver primarily lifestyle value rather than financial return — though they may contribute to the overall premium positioning of the property:
- Custom water features and sculptures
- Advanced smart home integration
- Bespoke outdoor furniture and furnishings
- Rare or specimen planting
These investments are best made when the primary motivation is lifestyle enjoyment rather than financial return.
Timing Your Landscape Investment
The timing of landscape investment relative to a property transaction is an important consideration. There are three primary scenarios:
Pre-Sale Investment
Investing in landscape improvement immediately before selling is a well-established strategy for maximising sale price. The key is to focus on high-impact, high-return elements — front garden presentation, outdoor entertaining area, lighting — rather than comprehensive landscape redesign.
A targeted pre-sale landscape investment of $30,000 to $60,000 can deliver returns of $80,000 to $150,000 in Brisbane's premium suburbs.
Long-Term Investment
For homeowners who are not planning to sell in the near term, landscape investment delivers both lifestyle value and long-term financial return. The advantage of long-term investment is that planting has time to mature, creating a more established and valuable landscape by the time of sale.
New Build Investment
For new builds, integrating landscape design from the beginning of the project delivers the strongest outcomes — both aesthetically and financially. A landscape that is designed in parallel with the architecture, using consistent materials and a coherent design language, creates a more resolved result than one that is added after the fact.
At DG Gardens, we work with builders and architects from the concept stage to ensure that the landscape is integrated into the project from the beginning. Learn more about our process.
The Brisbane Suburbs Where Landscape Investment Delivers the Strongest Returns
Not all Brisbane suburbs deliver equal landscape investment returns. The strongest returns are typically found in:
Inner-city premium suburbs: Ascot, Hamilton, New Farm, Teneriffe, Paddington, Bardon, Kenmore — where buyers are specifically seeking architectural homes with quality outdoor spaces and are willing to pay a significant premium for them.
River suburbs: Indooroopilly, Toowong, St Lucia, Chelmer, Graceville — where larger blocks and river views create opportunities for landscape design that significantly enhances the property's lifestyle appeal.
Bayside suburbs: Manly, Wynnum, Cleveland — where outdoor living is particularly valued and well-designed gardens command strong premiums.
Key Takeaways
- Professional landscaping delivers returns of 10–20% of total property value in Brisbane's premium suburbs
- Brisbane's subtropical climate makes outdoor space genuinely usable year-round, creating a lifestyle premium that buyers price accordingly
- The highest-return landscape investments are outdoor entertaining areas, front garden presentation, pool surround integration, and landscape lighting
- A targeted pre-sale landscape investment of $30,000–$60,000 can deliver returns of $80,000–$150,000 in premium Brisbane suburbs
- Integrating landscape design from the beginning of a new build project delivers the strongest aesthetic and financial outcomes
- The strongest returns are found in inner-city premium suburbs, river suburbs, and bayside areas
Ready to Maximise Your Property's Value?
Whether you're preparing to sell, planning a new build, or simply want to make the most of your outdoor space, DG Gardens can help you develop a landscape strategy that delivers both lifestyle and financial returns.
Book a design consultation to discuss your property and your goals. Our team works across Brisbane and South East Queensland, and we bring together design expertise and construction capability to deliver landscapes that add genuine value to your home.
