Top Ten Garden Design Ideas!

Pergolas

​Pergolas bring vertical lines to a garden and a height which can be lacking in vast areas of lawn, patio, decks and planting. Pergolas give you the opportunity to suspend new landscape elements such as hammocks and wind chimes. Climbing vines can be grown up pergolas to boost fruit production or add more colour to a garden.

Screens

​Every garden has spaces which need to be hidden. Screens give you the opportunity to hide areas such as bin stores but they also give you the ability to create suspense and build a journey. Not all screens have to be completely solid they can be a row of tall grasses creating visual segmentation than a complete barrier.

Rendered walls

​Many facades in modern building interiors or spaces in general have clean lines and soft bright surfaces which give a contemporary feel.  In landscaping these elements can be an amazing backdrop to natural elements such as planting however external materials require a more robust choice of material than most interior spaces. Walls rendered with a weather resistant mortar admixture can create a robust external surface with a modern finish. Rendered brick or block work are a handy tool in the garden design arsenal and a great garden design idea.

Contrasts

​Whether you have a five figure budget or relying on recycled materials. The way to create interest especially in a small space is contrast. A sea of yellow blooms across a meadow is a powerful aesthetic however if you add a sea of blue blooms to accompany it the contrasting textures create a complete picture! There is loads of information about accompanying colour schemes online.

Water

Water gives you the ability to create atmosphere in any space. An expanse of water can create a low maintenance area with a wild or formal theme. The use of electrics can allow movement and light which can enhance any landscape or landscape feature.

Lighting

​The fact that most external spaces have different spiritual ora at night means lighting can capture landscape atmospheres in a time where normally there would be total darkness.  Lighting can be used to accentuate features in the garden and direct the eye. Lighting usually allows you to both access and enjoy the garden after dark where many unexpected pleases show themselves like local wildlife.

Raised planters

Raised planters are a great garden design idea, not only do they look good they give you a deep growing medium for robust healthy plants and vegetables.
​Soil always being a restrictive factor to the quality of a gardens growing ability is always made easier by having raised beds. The most popular garden options for raised beds are either Concrete block with a painted render or timber sleepers. Raised beds can always be planned for accidental garden seating and installed to make growing plants easier at waist level.

Visual textures

​In my early days of landscape architecture I would be seduced by certain surfaces and textures up close but would be disappointed when installed on a scheme on mass! Textures give the eye an energy and vibration which excites but think about what texture you want to create and at what scale of the area is. This comes from experience but visual textures are most effective from a distance that makes you appreciate them so if using gravel aggregate for a  larger area use 20-30mm aggregate on a smaller area use 10mm aggregate. Either way visual textures are the key to landscape aesthetics.

Transition

​Most stories or movies have a beginning middle and an end. If you want to be successful at designing spaces you should understand narrative plots! Think of the best novel you have ever read pick each chapter and try to create a garden that represents each one but you have to make the ‘transitions work!’ create a story with your design work it will create an emotional response and a pleasurable journey experience.

Focal points

​Most spaces have a hierarchy, any time you have been captivated by a raging fire or a beautiful tropical fish tank realise these places of excitement and contentment contain two things: energy and intrigue. Every story has a climax or intense segment your focal points should be a place you realise, weather that’s a colourful out door oven where your family congregate and cook or an explosive water feature with fountains and lights. Most gardens benefit from a great climax or focal point!  

Thank you for reading Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners Top Ten Garden Design Ideas for 2018. If you wish any more ideas please feel free to contact us. Most of our landscaped gardens are local to Buckinghamshire and the Chiltern area. Some of our project examples can be found across Amersham, High Wycombe, Aylesbury, The Chalfont's, Beaconsfield and Great Missenden. Please do not hesitate Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners to transform your garden into an enjoyable paradise this summer. 

​For more information visit:
https://www.buckinghamshirelandscapegardeners.com/​