How to Turn Your Garden Into a Masterpiece
Channel your inner artist when planning your outdoor space and you can achieve your ultimate design vision in the garden
If you are considering designing a garden, it helps to think of your space as a canvas. After all, you are the artist and this will aid you in gaining a clear vision of what kind of garden you want to have. And whether you hire a professional garden designer to help you, or decide to go it alone, it should still primarily be your ideas and personal tastes that determine the outcome.
Gardens are living works of art and, as with all art, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Remember that this is your creation –your special place that, done well, can become a private sanctuary that reflects who you are and how you live. This guide outlines the basic principles of garden design and how you can use them to your advantage.
Gardens are living works of art and, as with all art, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Remember that this is your creation –your special place that, done well, can become a private sanctuary that reflects who you are and how you live. This guide outlines the basic principles of garden design and how you can use them to your advantage.
STYLE
Identify what style of garden appeals to you the most. This could mean classic or contemporary, formal or informal, dry gravel or water gardens, cottage, minimalist, naturalistic, Mediterranean or Japanese – the list goes on. It can be difficult to make this decision, especially if you haven’t had a lot of experience with gardens in the past, so gather ideas from neighbours and design experts before making your choice.
Identify what style of garden appeals to you the most. This could mean classic or contemporary, formal or informal, dry gravel or water gardens, cottage, minimalist, naturalistic, Mediterranean or Japanese – the list goes on. It can be difficult to make this decision, especially if you haven’t had a lot of experience with gardens in the past, so gather ideas from neighbours and design experts before making your choice.
If you are drawn to more than one style or contrasting feature, that’s okay, but always keep in mind the need to maintain harmony. The surrounding elements should harmonise with your garden, including the house and neighbourhood. This is often referred to as a ‘sense of place’, which essentially means it should feel like it belongs, is in harmony with the surrounding elements and suits the location and the architecture. A good example of this would be a streetscape with a very specific look of commonality. It would be inharmonious to install a super modern front garden in a street of classically styled federation gardens.
GETTING IT RIGHT: If your favoured style differs greatly to your surrounds, then try to discretely merge it into the back garden where your personal tastes can get more of a work-out. You could also, for example, use a modern-style letterbox and a modern sculptural element to contrast with a more classically styled entry garden.
GETTING IT RIGHT: If your favoured style differs greatly to your surrounds, then try to discretely merge it into the back garden where your personal tastes can get more of a work-out. You could also, for example, use a modern-style letterbox and a modern sculptural element to contrast with a more classically styled entry garden.
FUNCTION
One of the most famous principles of design is ‘form follows function’. In real terms this simply means what you plan to do with the space will naturally define how it is designed. Therefore, it is critical to take into account all the things you’d ‘like’ to and also ‘need’ to use the garden space for. This might include entertaining, growing vegies, a play area, meditation and yoga or even a swimming pool.
Once you decide on the uses you’d like for your garden, prioritise them to figure out what’s realistic given the site, your budget and maintenance requirements. This step in the design process is perhaps the most important because it will create a strong base for all other decisions.
One of the most famous principles of design is ‘form follows function’. In real terms this simply means what you plan to do with the space will naturally define how it is designed. Therefore, it is critical to take into account all the things you’d ‘like’ to and also ‘need’ to use the garden space for. This might include entertaining, growing vegies, a play area, meditation and yoga or even a swimming pool.
Once you decide on the uses you’d like for your garden, prioritise them to figure out what’s realistic given the site, your budget and maintenance requirements. This step in the design process is perhaps the most important because it will create a strong base for all other decisions.
SITE APPRAISAL
The nuances of each site are different and will not only determine obvious details, such as size availability, but will also give you important clues about how to maximise your results for a more successful design. Prevailing winds, slope, noise and views (good or bad) can all be addressed at this stage so you can forward plan to improve, remove, hide or reveal them as required. This amazing rooftop garden perfectly illustrates how a good site appraisal can make an oasis in any environment.
Start with the basics by measuring all useable areas and draw a simple plan that includes the following elements.
Aspect: Where does the sun rise and fall in relation to the property?This will tell you what sort of sun exposure you will get, and when. This, in turn, will tell you what sort of plants you can use.
Location: Is the site in a coastal area or a cool mountain region? Which plants suit the climate?
Soil: What type of soil do you have? Can it be improved? Your local nursery will be able to identify your soil type and tell you if it needs any improvement.
The nuances of each site are different and will not only determine obvious details, such as size availability, but will also give you important clues about how to maximise your results for a more successful design. Prevailing winds, slope, noise and views (good or bad) can all be addressed at this stage so you can forward plan to improve, remove, hide or reveal them as required. This amazing rooftop garden perfectly illustrates how a good site appraisal can make an oasis in any environment.
Start with the basics by measuring all useable areas and draw a simple plan that includes the following elements.
Aspect: Where does the sun rise and fall in relation to the property?This will tell you what sort of sun exposure you will get, and when. This, in turn, will tell you what sort of plants you can use.
Location: Is the site in a coastal area or a cool mountain region? Which plants suit the climate?
Soil: What type of soil do you have? Can it be improved? Your local nursery will be able to identify your soil type and tell you if it needs any improvement.
PALETTE
When you think palette, think colour, texture and contrast. The palette can be guided by the external or internal colours of your house, existing plants or specimen trees and, of course, your own personal preferences. I always advise my clients to practise restraint. Don’t be tempted to take a ‘one of each’ approach because, even if you like the look of them all, you’ll end up with a candy store look and absolutely no harmony. This applies to all aspects of your garden, from plants to paving, decking and furniture. Try to get them to work together. Restraint is the key.
GETTING IT RIGHT: Subtle colour combinations usually work the best and mass plantings work really well. The exception to this rule is more dynamic (planned) combinations such as red, purple and yellow, or the classic blue and yellow, which can give your garden a bold look.
When you think palette, think colour, texture and contrast. The palette can be guided by the external or internal colours of your house, existing plants or specimen trees and, of course, your own personal preferences. I always advise my clients to practise restraint. Don’t be tempted to take a ‘one of each’ approach because, even if you like the look of them all, you’ll end up with a candy store look and absolutely no harmony. This applies to all aspects of your garden, from plants to paving, decking and furniture. Try to get them to work together. Restraint is the key.
GETTING IT RIGHT: Subtle colour combinations usually work the best and mass plantings work really well. The exception to this rule is more dynamic (planned) combinations such as red, purple and yellow, or the classic blue and yellow, which can give your garden a bold look.
Be sure to use texture to your advantage – the contrast between fine- and large-leafed foliage looks good all year round. You can use this technique throughout the garden with different textures and contrasts to give the garden a real lift. Mix light and dark, different shapes, sizes and tactile experiences to add different dimensions.
See more of this backyard
See more of this backyard
SCALE
It is important to be mindful about proportions. If you get scale right you will feel comfortable in the garden, but get it wrong and the garden will never feel quite right. For example, an enormous lawn area with a petite patio that barely accommodates two small chairs will look and feel completely wrong, as will an oversized, majestic fountain placed in a tiny, humble courtyard.
The proportions of your hard-scaped areas, your features and your plantings should all be size appropriate to the site, the garden style and the needs of the occupants. The above water feature with its geometric surround is well scaled. If it were too small it would be dwarfed by the majestic scenery. Instead it frames and complements.
TELL US
Do you have a garden creation you’d like to share? We’d love you to attach a high-resolution photo and tell us about it in the comments section.
MORE
So Your Garden Style Is: Cook’s Garden
So Your Garden Style Is: Formal
So Your Garden Style Is: Natural
So Your Garden Style Is: Japanese
It is important to be mindful about proportions. If you get scale right you will feel comfortable in the garden, but get it wrong and the garden will never feel quite right. For example, an enormous lawn area with a petite patio that barely accommodates two small chairs will look and feel completely wrong, as will an oversized, majestic fountain placed in a tiny, humble courtyard.
The proportions of your hard-scaped areas, your features and your plantings should all be size appropriate to the site, the garden style and the needs of the occupants. The above water feature with its geometric surround is well scaled. If it were too small it would be dwarfed by the majestic scenery. Instead it frames and complements.
TELL US
Do you have a garden creation you’d like to share? We’d love you to attach a high-resolution photo and tell us about it in the comments section.
MORE
So Your Garden Style Is: Cook’s Garden
So Your Garden Style Is: Formal
So Your Garden Style Is: Natural
So Your Garden Style Is: Japanese
Different designers will use different methods and terminology, but most will consider these fundamental factors when designing a garden: style, function, site appraisal, palette and scale.