Garden Design IdeasGarden Ideas, Photos and Tips for Gardening at Home
This garden has it all , including formal line of merchandise , focal power point , transitional spaces , equaliser , weighing machine , and texture . Arlington Garden , Pasadena , CA . photograph by : Rebecca Sweet .
Unforgettable garden all share a common screw thread : they ’ve mastered the art of blending the chemical element and principles of garden figure . factor such as color , grain , line , and pattern provoke personal and aroused reaction , and localise the stage for an unforgettable journeying . Yet , it ’s the head hand of design principles that ensures these element are thoughtfully and in effect arranged . Together , component and principles ferment in harmony to produce stunning and memorable gardens .
1. LINE
line play a pivotal function when designing the garden , offering boundless opportunities to shape landscape and verbatim drift . In addition , the lines of a garden can also establish convention , set space , sculpt forms , and unify themes within a landscape . Lines are created in various direction : where contrasting material meet on the background , like a brick terrace next to a lawn ; where object edges are delineate against backgrounds , such as tree silhouette against the sky ; or through deliberate material positioning , such as fence .
directing lines can be quite effective in reach specific answer in the garden . For representative , true lines evoke formalities , precisely direct the eye to focal points . curving lines , on the other hired hand , appear more relaxed and informal , encouraging leisurely exploration of the garden . perpendicular lines produce a sense of up movement , drawing the eye skyward , while horizontal bloodline suggest lateral movement , bring in field appear larger than they actually are .
The winding , curving pathways of the Bellevue Botanical Garden in Washington make a sense of enigma and beckon the visitor to research what lie beyond . Photo by : Rebecca Sweet
2. FORM & SHAPE
Form and shape are find throughout a garden — from architectural feature to specific plant . These constituent build a garden ’s style and atmosphere , whether formal , with structured physical body , or loose , with constitutional lines . When used to report a plant life , shape name to the outline or silhouette , representing its two - dimensional qualities . On the other hand , a works ’s form , include its shape fuse with its profundity , making it three - dimensional . Another agency to define form is think of a plant when it ’s in leaf ( the leaves emphasize its depth ) .
The Kubota Garden in Seattle , WA , incorporate various evergreen form — from upright exclaiming level to tears , mounding , and cone-shaped bush . photograph by : Rebecca Sweet .
3. MASS/WEIGHT
In aim , mass refers to the visual size of it of an aim or group of objects , such as a planting bed , mansion , patio , or individual plants . The destination is to achieve counterbalance among different people , ensuring they harmonize with their surroundings ( i.e. , planting beds should be proportionate to adjacent lawn areas or hardscape feature . ) Do n’t forget to equilibrate the good deal of open ( void ) space with nearby filled spaces when think about mass . These emptiness ( often called minus space ) have their own visual hatful and play a key role in balancing and unify the landscape painting . design out your empty spaces , and find out how everything else falls into piazza effortlessly around them .
Additionally , the mass of single plants within a bottom should also align with the overall planting scheme . Each plant lend to the ocular free weight and balance of the landscape , so their sizes , shapes , and class should make for harmoniously together .
The oversized leafage of the giant Butterbur ( Petasites ) has mass and free weight like to the emptiness created by the pond , resulting in a harmonious combining . Stonecrop Garden , NY . Photo by : Rebecca Sweet .
4. COLOR
Color is a powerful design constituent , adding sonorousness , deepness , and visual machination to the garden . Whether it ’s vibrant hues of blossom plant life , the plushy park of foliage , or color from non - surviving elements ( like hardscaping or artwork ) , color plays a polar role in shaping the mood of the garden . By strategically selecting and arranging plants with complementary or contrasting color , specific emotions can be created . Warm colors such as reds , oranges , and yellows can energize and make a sensation of excitement , while cool colors like blues and purple can arouse quietness and calm air .
to boot , color can be used to guide the eye , make visual catamenia , and enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of the landscape .
Read more onusing semblance in the garden .
originative color combinations , like these blue , white , and purple flowers , can evoke a calm , refreshing atmosphere in the garden . pic by : Rebecca Sweet .
5. TEXTURE
Texture is an important design ingredient that influences the overall ambiance of a garden . It embrace the tactile timbre and surface characteristics of various cloth within the garden , including plants , hardscape elements , and artistic feature . By creatively immix unlike textures , gardeners can attain specific visual effects .
For instance , plants with coarse texture , such as those with big leaves or bold features , can create a signified of depth or ocular pursuit , while those with fine grain , characterized by touchy foliation or intricate details , impart a softer and subtler esthetical . likewise , hardscape materials like stone , brick , or Natalie Wood also possess texture , with rough or tranquil airfoil adding moments of line or repetition .
This tranquil garden brag a divers array of textures , thanks to the varied foliation and bark of the trees . Photo by : Rebecca Sweet .
6. BALANCE, PROPORTION, AND SCALE
Harmony in the garden is achieved through the interconnected and mutually reinforcing principle of balance , proportion , and scale . Balance is achieved through a blend of symmetry or asymmetry , depending on personal preference , lead in a sensory faculty of rescript and calm . Proportion and plate are two terms often used interchangeably despite the pernicious deviation between the two . Scale is the kinship of an item to a fixed object ( i.e. , a nearby house ) . Proportion , on the other hand , is the size of an object in relation to other surround element in the garden ( i.e. , plants , artwork , outdoor furniture . ) attain the perfect blending of these three principle makes your garden feel comfortable , ask over , and passive .
In this familiar court at The Cloisters Garden , NY , the large and build apple tree are in musical scale with the neighboring building , result in an bid garden . Photo by : Rebecca Sweet .
7. RHYTHM AND ECHOES
Rhythm and echoes are a vital unifying force out in the garden , establishing a consistent repetition of materials and constituent such as form , line , grain , and semblance . While incorporating a variety of contrasting textile and element sure adds interest group to the landscape , it is the repeat of these element that create beat and motion .
However , it ’s important to strike the right Libra between repetition and direct contrast . Using too much of a single constituent can lead to monotony , while using too many constituent can make topsy-turvydom and mental confusion . Yet , when the right counterbalance is struck between the two , the upshot is a garden that is rhythmic yet intriguing without overwhelming the grass .
At Innisfree Garden , NY , the colour yellow is echoed among the bloom and outdoor seating area , create a rhythmic and harmonious grouping . picture by : Rebecca Sweet .
8. FOCAL POINT
In garden design , focal point are like the jewels that make a quad spark , pull in the centre and infusing personality into the landscape . These unique feature include captivate artwork , elegant fountains , uncommon and interesting plant specimen , and breathtaking views .
no matter of the focal point chosen , its location is key . This does n’t intend the focal point want to be placed in the center of the garden , but wherever it ’s placed , it should wave exploration and ignite oddity , loan a unique appealingness to the garden ’s overall excogitation .
When elevate and placed in an telling container , the humble American aloe is turn over focal point in time status . Photo by : Rebecca Sweet .
9. FUNCTION
In garden intention , the rule of social function is making sure your outdoor space work for you , ensure your garden is as practical as it is pretty . It ’s giving thoughtful consideration as to how the blank will actually be used , meeting everyday require and body process . This includes comfortable seating country for unbend , arena for activity and games , and pathways that not only meander through the garden but also lead to functional areas such as pot bench , compost bins , or drivel cans . By consider the many different room a garden will be used , the figure can be both visually arresting but also operable .
This multi - purpose garden necessitate to serve a large number of function : a lounging area , a raise bottom for cutting flowers , a soothing fountain , and a series of vegetable beds . Photo by : Rebecca Sweet .
10. TRANSITION
The principle of transition in garden design call for creating seamless connections between different area of an outdoor place . The goal is to swimmingly lead people from one area to another , while feel effortless and natural . Whether transitioning from a sunny terrace to a shadowy garden nook or strolling from a formal area to a more naturalistic context , it ’s about making the journeying enjoyable and light . This can be achieve through meandering nerve pathway , using different materials or plants to distinguish transition geographical zone , or even playing with changes in lift to add interest . By meander these transition throughout the garden , a cohesive flow that invite exploration is create , make every corner feel connected .
Using different paving materials helps visually transition from the sunny terrace by the kitty to the louche pathway that leads throughout the garden . Photo by : Rebecca Sweet .
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