You probably have a garden, either an urban courtyard or rural retreat.

No doubt you require many things from the space such as an Al fresco entertaining area, playground for the children, exercise area for the dog, bike storage, a washing line, wheelie bin park, log stack, composting area, shed, and the list goes on! But most of all most of us want a beautiful haven in which to relax and unwind. How does that work?

With careful design, it is possible to incorporate all the boring stuff along with beautifully created areas, which become the feature, overall ‘feel’ of the garden, and ‘design out’ any potential problems at this stage.

Simple designs work best, keeping it clean gives it the ‘Wow’ factor. Using a geometric or circular theme you can interlock squares, circles or rectangles depending on the shape of your garden.

Careful consideration is essential when choosing the materials you will use, too many textures and colours can clash and look over done. Natural stone works well for paving and the added bonus is that when wet, the natural strata on the face is revealed and it takes on a whole new look. By blending colour tones, the whole garden effortlessly becomes an extension of your home.

Think also about the features that you want in the garden. Don’t be mean with the patio, it should be large enough to seat everyone comfortably and still be able to push the chair back and allow guests to pass behind you without falling into the plants! Soft lighting can really make a garden magical at night especially during the winter. Water features are lovely, but should be calming not gushing!

Be generous with the planting beds and use luxuriant planting blending texture, form and fragrance in a limited colour palette. By repeating some of the plants throughout the scheme, the design harmoniously flows and draws it all together.

Having your garden professionally designed and built is a luxury, so be realistic about the budget. Choose your garden designer carefully, designers have a style of their own so make sure it’s one that suits you. It is likely that you will only do this once!

http://www.thegardendesignco.com
© Kerrie John 2008