Employ materials similar to those in the adjacent landscape

. This is particularly important in urban centers where the built landscape is dominant. For example, if the adjacent neighborhood is single-family brick veneer houses, brick or pavers will help blend structures into the setting.

Use similar colors

. Quite often it is impractical to use or attempt to match the materials of the adjacent landscape. In these cases, color becomes the single most important tool.

Use similar plant materials to blend the landscape

. In the rural setting, landscape materials can be used to supplement and link existing landscape features. Considerations of cost and maintenance prevent more large-scale changes to the dominant landscape. In urban centers, use plants to accent and visually connect with other landscape elements near the highway. For example, if there are street trees adjacent to the ROW, repeat the same trees to help blend the highway setting.

Be sensitive to the visual character of the landform

. Landform can be a dominant element of the roadway, particularly in hilly or mountainous terrain. Exposed rock faces, steep cut slopes, and high fills can be dramatic in scale but are often objectionable if they bisect existing landscape features considered visually pleasant or socially significant. It is important to consider the landform in the alignment stage of the design process and be sure that there will be no adverse reaction to the resulting landform. Cuts through white limestone or tall cut slopes that are silhouetted against the skyline will contrast sharply with the surrounding landscape and are usually objectionable from a visual standpoint. Dealing with these issues early in the design process will avoid costly aesthetic remediation activities later.

Use complementary street furniture

. The street furniture should be selected to blend with the architectural qualities of the adjacent properties. Remote regions tend to be less sensitive to the details of guardrails, traffic barriers, signs, light standards delineators etc. However, in urban areas there is often a need to develop details that will blend with surrounding architecture. This can be particularly important in sections of highway that go through special or historic districts of the city. In these situations, additional expense may be justified to achieve the desired results.