Photo credit: Stockandhill
Landscape design is not as difficult as it seems. You just need to grasp the basic ideas and your landscape design can be as eye-catching as the pros.
Here are some tips to help you makeover your landscape for a more pleasant stay in your house.
1. Consistency and Repetition
Trust me, you don’t want a haphazard landscape. Too many unrelated objects can make the garden look cluttered and unplanned.
Try to use repetition of plants or boulders throughout the landscape, though too much of one element can make the garden look boring or monotonous. It is up to the individual how many different elements they want to repeat.
Being consistent in height, size, color of the different elements is also important in creating a harmonious whole. You can use specific themes for easier design, like rock, butterflies, waterfall, ornaments, etc.
2. Simplicity
When it comes to design, especially for beginners, it is best to KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid!).
Just pick two or three colors and repeat them throughout the garden. Keeping decor and hardscape to a minimum.
3. Balance in design
There are basically two types of balance in landscape design. Symmetrical and Asymmetrical.
Symmetrical balance is like a mirror image where there are more or less equally spaced matching elements in the landscape design. With a garden equally divided, both sides could share the same shape, form, height, color, theme, etc.
Asymmetrical balance is slightly more complex. While textures, forms, colors, etc. may remain constant, shapes and hardscapes may be random. End result is both sides having different themes and contrasting attractions.
Contrast and harmony can also be achieved using plants. For example, fine vs coarse foliage, round leaves verses spiked leaves, etc. Plant height, color, and texture may be varied in different areas but each area should be consistent in its theme.
4. Color
Color makes the landscape come alive. Bright colors are full of energy and catch your attention while cool colors are more detached and make an object seem farther.
Grays, blacks, and whites are neutral colors and are best used in the background with bright colors in the foreground. However, to increase depth in a landscape, you can use dark and coarse textured plants in the foreground and use fine textured and light colored plants in the background.
5. Natural transition
Transition can be achieved by the gradual, ascending or descending, arrangement of different elements with varying heights, forms, or colors.
For example, a good transition would be a stair step effect from large trees to medium shrubs to bedding plants. This creates a sense of depth and distance, making the garden seem larger. Conversely, transitioning from shorter to taller plants make the plants seem closer to you.
A transition from straight lines which are forceful to curvy lines which are gentle and flowing is also easier on the eye.
6. Proportion
This refers to the size of elements (length, breadth and depth) in relation to each other. It is easy to achieve proportion using some common sense.
For instance, having a huge statue in a small garden will be out of place. Or placing a small waterfall and pond in the center of a large open yard make it insignificant.
Since proportion is relative, you can scale to fit the elements by creating different enclaves in the garden. A small water feature can be proportionate if placed in a corner or edge of a large area. It then becomes a focal point with its own distinct aura. An sitting area or theme can be created around it.
The choice of plants is also important so that they are not out of proportion.
