Garden Design IdeasGarden Ideas, Photos and Tips for Gardening at Home
This garden has it all , including formal origin , focal tip , transitional space , balance , musical scale , and grain . Arlington Garden , Pasadena , CA . Photo by : Rebecca Sweet .
Unforgettable garden all partake in a common thread : they ’ve get over the art of flux the constituent and principles of garden excogitation . constituent such as color , texture , line , and form raise personal and emotional response , and determine the stage for an unforgettable journey . Yet , it ’s the take hand of design principles that ensures these component are thoughtfully and effectively arranged . Together , element and principles exploit in harmoniousness to create sensational and memorable gardens .
1. LINE
Lines play a pivotal use when design the garden , offering boundless chance to forge landscape and direct movement . In addition , the lines of a garden can also establish patterns , define spaces , sculpt forms , and mix themes within a landscape painting . Lines are created in various ways : where contrasting materials meet on the ground , like a brick patio next to a lawn ; where objective edges are outlined against backgrounds , such as tree silhouettes against the sky ; or through deliberate fabric placement , such as fencing .
Directional line can be quite effective in achieve specific event in the garden . For exemplar , square lines fire formalities , on the nose directing the eye to focal peak . Curved lines , on the other hand , seem more relaxed and intimate , boost leisurely exploration of the garden . perpendicular line create a sense of up movement , drawing the eye skyward , while horizontal line propose sidelong movement , make areas appear big than they actually are .
The winding , curve pathways of the Bellevue Botanical Garden in Washington create a gumption of mystery and beckon the visitor to explore what dwell beyond . Photo by : Rebecca Sweet
2. FORM & SHAPE
signifier and conformation are found throughout a garden — from architectural feature to specific plants . These elements establish a garden ’s style and ambience , whether formal , with structured SHAPE , or informal , with organic lines . When used to describe a plant , shape mention to the schema or silhouette , representing its two - dimensional qualities . On the other hand , a plant ’s form , include its form combined with its depth , making it three - dimensional . Another way to define flesh is mean of a plant when it ’s in folio ( the leaves accent its deepness ) .
The Kubota Garden in Seattle , WA , incorporates various evergreen forms — from upright exclamation point to weeping , mounding , and conelike shrubs . pic by : Rebecca Sweet .
3. MASS/WEIGHT
In design , mass refers to the visual size of it of an object or group of objective , such as a planting seam , house , terrace , or individual plants . The goal is to attain balance among different mint , ensuring they consort with their surroundings ( i.e. , planting bed should be proportionate to adjacent lawn areas or hardscape features . ) Do n’t forget to poise the mass of assailable ( null ) space with nearby fill spaces when thinking about sight . These vacuum ( often called negative space ) have their own visual mass and play a central function in reconciliation and unifying the landscape painting . Plan out your empty spaces , and watch how everything else come into place effortlessly around them .
to boot , the lot of individual plants within a bed should also align with the overall planting strategy . Each plant contributes to the visual weighting and equaliser of the landscape , so their sizes , shapes , and form should work harmoniously together .
The outsize foliage of the jumbo Butterbur ( Petasites ) has mess and system of weights similar to the vacuum make by the pond , ensue in a harmonious compounding . Stonecrop Garden , NY . exposure by : Rebecca Sweet .
4. COLOR
Color is a powerful design element , adding sonority , depth , and visual intrigue to the garden . Whether it ’s vivacious chromaticity of flower plants , the lush green of foliation , or color from non - surviving chemical element ( like hardscaping or artwork ) , color plays a pivotal part in shaping the modality of the garden . By strategically pick out and coiffe plant with complementary or contrasting colors , specific emotion can be created . Warm color such as red , oranges , and yellow can excite and make a gumption of excitement , while nerveless color like blue and purples can paint a picture serenity and composure .
Additionally , color can be used to lead the oculus , create visual flow , and enhance the overall esthetical appeal of the landscape painting .
translate more onusing color in the garden .
Creative color combinations , like these naughty , white , and purple flowers , can evoke a calm , tonic atmosphere in the garden . photograph by : Rebecca Sweet .
5. TEXTURE
Texture is an significant innovation element that influences the overall ambiance of a garden . It encompasses the tactile quality and aerofoil characteristic of various material within the garden , including industrial plant , hardscape elements , and aesthetic features . By creatively blend different textures , gardeners can attain specific visual event .
For instance , plants with coarse texture , such as those with declamatory leaves or bold features , can create a sense of depth or visual sake , while those with o.k. textures , characterized by ticklish foliage or intricate detail , impart a softer and subtler aesthetic . likewise , hardscape materials like Oliver Stone , bricks , or wood also possess texture , with harsh or fluent surface adding moment of contrast or repetition .
This serene garden boasts a diverse raiment of textures , thanks to the wide-ranging foliage and barque of the tree diagram . pic by : Rebecca Sweet .
6. BALANCE, PROPORTION, AND SCALE
Harmony in the garden is achieved through the interconnected and reciprocally reinforcing precept of symmetricalness , proportion , and scale . Libra the Balance is achieved through a blend of symmetry or dissymmetry , depending on personal predilection , result in a sense of orderliness and calm air . Proportion and scale are two terminus often used interchangeably despite the subtle differences between the two . Scale is the kinship of an point to a fixate physical object ( i.e. , a nearby house ) . Proportion , on the other handwriting , is the size of an object in relation to other surrounding elements in the garden ( i.e. , plants , nontextual matter , outdoor furniture . ) reach the perfect portmanteau of these three principle makes your garden feel comfortable , inviting , and peaceful .
In this intimate court at The Cloisters Garden , NY , the large and plant apple trees are in scale with the neighboring building , resulting in an invite garden . photograph by : Rebecca Sweet .
7. RHYTHM AND ECHOES
Rhythm and replication are a lively mingle force in the garden , install a consistent repetition of material and elements such as form , line , grain , and color . While incorporating a variety of contrast materials and elements for certain adds interest to the landscape , it is the repeat of these elements that creates rhythm and motion .
However , it ’s important to strike the good balance between repeating and contrast . Using too much of a single chemical element can lead to monotony , while using too many ingredient can create topsy-turvyness and confusion . Yet , when the right balance is struck between the two , the outcome is a garden that is rhythmical yet intriguing without overwhelming the senses .
At Innisfree Garden , NY , the people of color yellow is echoed among the blossom and out-of-door seating , make a rhythmic and harmonious pigeonholing . Photo by : Rebecca Sweet .
8. FOCAL POINT
In garden excogitation , focal points are like the jewels that make a space sparkle , drawing the eye and inculcate personality into the landscape . These unique lineament let in enamour artwork , graceful fountain , rarified and interesting flora specimens , and breathtaking views .
Regardless of the focal point choose , its placement is primal . This does n’t mean the focal point needs to be placed in the shopping centre of the garden , but wherever it ’s placed , it should beckon exploration and ignite curio , lend a unique charm to the garden ’s overall design .
When elevated and placed in an impressive container , the humble agave is cave in focal point position . Photo by : Rebecca Sweet .
9. FUNCTION
In garden design , the rationale of function is making certain your outdoor quad solve for you , ensuring your garden is as practical as it is pretty . It ’s give serious-minded circumstance as to how the space will actually be used , meeting everyday call for and activities . This includes comfortable seating areas for relaxing , area for natural action and games , and pathway that not only meander through the garden but also lead to functional country such as potting benches , compost binful , or garbage derriere . By considering the many dissimilar style a garden will be used , the design can be both visually sensational but also operational .
This multi - purpose garden needs to service a multitude of functions : a lounging domain , a raised layer for cutting blossom , a soothing outflow , and a series of vegetable layer . Photo by : Rebecca Sweet .
10. TRANSITION
The rule of transition in garden design involves creating unlined connections between dissimilar area of an outdoor space . The end is to smoothly leave people from one arena to another , while feeling effortless and innate . Whether transitioning from a sunny terrace to a shadowed garden nook or saunter from a conventional orbit to a more naturalistic context , it ’s about making the journey enjoyable and well-situated . This can be achieved through wander nerve pathway , using different materials or plant to grade transition zone , or even playing with changes in lift to add together involvement . By weaving these transition throughout the garden , a cohesive flow that invites geographic expedition is created , making every corner feel connected .
Using different paving stuff help visually transition from the cheery patio by the puddle to the shady pathway that leads throughout the garden . picture by : Rebecca Sweet .
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