Landscape Design Tips

Whether you’re refreshing your garden or building a new one from scratch, there are some basic principles that you need to consider when designing your landscape.

Before you begin, think about your goals for the space and what you’ll need it for in order to get the most out of it. Also, take into account the sun and wind patterns so that your space will be a pleasant place to spend time.

Plan Your Space

If you’re ready to revamp your landscape, the first step is to plan your space. You can do this by drawing a base map on paper or with an online program.

Once you have your base map, start brainstorming about what you want in your yard. Think about how you use it, what amenities you need, and how long you want to keep your landscape looking good.

Your dream landscape can be built around your wants and needs, as well as environmental considerations, design elements, and a cohesive theme that ties it all together.

For example, your theme might be to make a strong statement with a new water feature or an elegant waterfall. This will create a focal point that can be repeated throughout the space, but is also flexible and versatile among the different seasons.

Create a Focal Point

Focal points draw your eye and make your yard more visually appealing. They also provide an anchor for your landscape design and help you see how it fits together as a whole.

Landscaping focal points can come in the form of any of a number of objects, structures or hardscaping. They can be as dramatic or subtle as you like, but they must complement your overall style and size of your landscape.

In order to create a focal point, start by looking at your current landscape as an outsider. Does it stand out and attract attention, or does it blend in and look cluttered?

Think About Transitions

Landscape transitions are a great way to add interest and excitement to your outdoor living space. This is especially true when they are designed well, with the big picture in mind.

One of the most important things to remember about transitions is that they should be gradual and natural. This means that you shouldn’t have drastic changes happening all at once in your landscape design.

A good example of a transition would be from a grassy area to a hardscape area. You want to keep the transition smooth and gradual, so that your landscape looks professional and appealing.

Another important consideration is to think about the proportions of your design elements. This is a key principle in landscape architecture, as it ensures that all your design elements are properly scaled to work together.

Create a Theme

A theme in your landscape design can offer guidance for choosing features, appropriate materials, and spatial organization. It can also help you create a landscape that expresses your personal style and is a space you enjoy.

A theme can be based on landscape forms, colors, materials, or ornamental features. Themes based on forms include geometric shapes, such as squares, rectangles, and circles, as well as naturalistic ones, such as arcs, tangents, and polygons.

Color is another major element in theme design. Warm colors like reds, yellows and oranges seem to advance toward the viewer, while cool colors such as blues and greens help to create perspective.

Rhythm is also an important aspect of theme design. Patterned repetition of a motif, such as landscaping plants or a statue, can create unity by controlling the direction and flow of the viewers’ eye movement.