It is important to pay so much attention to your yard aesthetics while working in the internal spaces.

“At the end of the day, your yard should feel like a natural expansion of your home; couraged, comfortable and built to develop with you,” says Vyanca Soto, the founder of the Interior Study. “When you invest in timeless materials and thoughtful design, not just build a yard, build a lifestyle.”

It turns out, there are several design decisions that can make your external space growly dated, the pros. Here, they elaborate five different choices especially that are no longer considered in mode. Say hello to these prospects and hugs more contemporary, simplified approaches.

Busy planters

No yard is completely without several planters, but some designs make better opportunities than others if you want to create a aesthetically pleasant space (and who is not?).

Skip hard detailed seedlings and instead greet some designs that are modern and minimalist, Mary Clair Cumbaa, founder of Cumbaa Design Co., says. He explains how many more compositions of this nature seeing that appears in today’s courtyards.

Cumbaa recommends that it is set for simpler options that will make a big impact, not the seedlings that are excessively detailed and busy. At the end of the day, sometimes it is less true more.

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Red Mulch instead of a natural shade

You can see Mulch as an exclusively practical addition to your yard, but you might want to think again. It turns out that the color of the mulch you use in the yard can affect how your yard looks like.

Red Mulch is out, Cumbaa says, proving it one more time, less is more.

When buying for Mulch, Cumbaa advises a natural color selection that will complement your existing landscape. If you do, you will add the overall simplified appearance of a serene victory in your backyard, Cumbaa says.

There is not enough greenery

If your yard does not contain enough greenery, you want to change it immediately. Just say not what Sarah Brady, the founder of salt design company refers to “excessively hardcaping” when you plan your yard.

“Yard dominate concrete, stone and small greenery pavers can feel sterile and outdated,” says Brady.

Instead, it recommends that it decides to mix this type of hard fastening, along with a lot of softer emphasis. Not sure from where to start? Brady offers several key suggestions. The aim of layered plantations, natural roads and external areas that feel lush and organic, not overly structured, says Brady.

Stamped concrete yard

If you can get down to the right stone, save your pennies and do so, according to multiple designers, which are not a branded concrete fan and consider it to make the look dated and overdue.

“Their repetitive samples, pale color and a crack tendency make them less attractive over time,” says Brady.

Soto feels similar, explaining that it is branded specifically lacking depth, texture and natural variations we are now looking for in elevated environmental regulations.

Need help deciding what to buy? Designers would rather decide for Bluestone, large format plates, gravel or oversized concrete slabs.

“These materials are photographed nicely, they spend gracefully and immediately give an area of ​​architectural edge,” Soto says.

Built-in barbecue

Soto is to skip traditional built-in barbecues from moderate from artificial stone veneers and heavy tiles.

“These installations often overwhelm space and don’t reflect how much we have a party more,” she says. “The alternative to the simplified external kitchen wrapped in the smooth Santa Barbara Stucco, poured concrete or steel powder, with thoughtful, integrated storage.”

This approach, Soto adds, is elegant and functional, but it is not the only reason why the designer also likes how this looks like a continuation of your interior, because that is exactly what we need to think about external spaces. ”

When Eryn Schultz was pregnant, her doctor recommended non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), blood test that can look for genetic irregularities and also discover baby sex. It would be covered by insurance, it was told and cost about $ 120 from your pocket. But when the account has arrived a few weeks later, in total it was a lot – $ 1,200 to be correct.

Insurance insurance Nipte area are confused, says Schultz, a certified financial planner that leads Her personal financesFinancial blog for women. The test can cost up to $ 1,700 in some Anecdotal casesAnd many patients report to get conflicting pricing information before the final account appears.

“The cost of a test can ultimately be a limiting factor in preventing all pregnant women to have NIP early in pregnancy,” says Sherry Ross, MDOB-GYN in Santa Monica, California.

Here is the disintegration of the cost of NIPT and how you can save. (Spoiler: Schultz did not have to pay the whole account.)

What is NPT?

NIPT is a blood test that can detect chromosomal irregularities for 10 weeks of gestation, explains Dr. Ross.

Using a mother’s blood sample, the test requires fetal chromosomal irregularities, including those who cause conditions like Down syndrome (Trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 13), says. The test can also determine baby sex.

Although the NIPT does not need a part of prenatal care (you have the ability to be tested), the American Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends all pregnant women to offer NIPT, regardless of your home age or risk of chromosomes or chromosomal carnivores.

How much does NIPT cost?

Anecdotal, the cost of Testing NIPT is spreading. Moms in the Bebecenter Community that came in July 2025. Years report That their costs from pockets range from 50 to $ 1,700. The average cost without insurance is about $ 795, according to the words National Institutes for Health.

How much will you pay depend on the test you receive (different brands of tests charge for different prices), how many tests of your insurance exams and what is your deduction.

How does he start paying during pregnancy?

Nipt is done through private genetic test companies. The three most commonly used companies in the US are attacked by (panoramic test), LabCorp (The Maternit 21 Plus test and others), but there are many options available. Most supplier’s office has one test company with whom they work, so you can ask which doctor uses before you get it.

Most test costs are dedicated to these private testing companies, although you can also see a label for the laboratory or office where you have the blood drawn.

Does the insurance cover offer?

Nipt is at least partially covered about 80% of persons with insurance, according to survey from Acoga. For patients of high risk, the test was at least partially covered in all cases. Many insurers require you to get Previous approval first for the test.

Insurance is most likely covered by a test for high-risk patients, including those 35 or older, and anyone who has a family history of genetic irregularities, says Dr. Ross. Expected moms that don’t fit into those buckets may need to pay a pocket test. Even if insurance covers the test, you may still face a trademark, especially if you haven’t met your deductible yet.

“Work is still needed to ensure 100% coverage (for NIPT), regardless of the insurance status or the risk of chromosomal abnormality, and is free of administrative burdens and delays,” says Acog.

The cost of the test can ultimately be a limiting factor in preventing all pregnant women to have NIP early in pregnancy.

– Sherry Ross, MD, OB-GYN

Is there anything you can do to lower your expenses?

Seeing such a series of costs can be intimidating, but there are ways to avoid a surprise account and save money on NIPT.

Take advantage of Schultz’s experience: When she saw an account for $ 1,200, she called her NIP and said, “The medical office told me that it would be $ 120 – can you help me understand what’s going on?” After watching through his account, the company dropped its account at $ 120, which was the price she originally quoted, no questions.

Here’s how you can save money on your NIPT:

• Get estimates before time. When Mom two Megan song did his testing, “the nurse gave me a reference / order to use to call insurance to find out the exact cost of the test,” she says. Some companies also offer online cost estimates, such as This one from LabCorp.

• Think about paying out of your pocket. Many NIPT providers offer cash pay prices, which can be cheaper than passing through insurance. You can call the company that your provider uses to compare your payment options.

• Obtain previous approval. Many insurers require prior approval for NIPT coverage. Your service provider’s billing department can usually help make it easy to know before the time your insurance will actually cover.

• Pay with the Transfer Account: Because these are the medical costs, you can use your FSA or HSA to pay for costs, whether you have used insurance or not.

• Ask for financial assistance. Many NIPT companies offer financial assistance. For example, the attack offers a test for Only $ 149 For those who qualify, something that is based on the size and income of the household.

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• Challenge your account. If you are surprised by the charge, say, says Schultz. Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount. “Everything is largely in agreement,” she added. “It never hurts to ask.”

• Use payment plans. Call your NIPT company and ask if you can establish a payment plan to an interest rate so that your payments spread over several months or a year.

Remember, these tests offer valuable insights into your pregnancy and baby health, and there are ways to save money on NIPT. “Having a baby is definitely expensive, so a good muscle is building asking questions, advocating and asking for a discount,” says Schultz.