The Basic Principles of Landscape DesignUsing the basic principles of landscape design requires careful attention to ensure the creation of a beautiful garden that showcases the elegance and style of your home, while providing you and your family with a relaxing and enjoyable outdoor living area,
These elements are then arranged and laid out with consideration to seven primary principles. The principles of landscape design work together to create the overall look of the garden. These principles interact with the elements of color, texture, line, form, and scale to develop a unified landscape design that blends the beauty of nature with the splendor of modern architecture.
Unity:Unity, or a central, unified theme, is an important part of an outdoor design that blends with the entire property. Plan every part of your landscape design carefully to ensure consistency. Choose materials, plants, and accessories that complement the theme you have selected and avoid any items that do not add to the harmony of the design.
Balance:Balance is the design principle that creates a layout that is visually pleasing. Your landscape plans should be built around a single center point and each side of this should balance the other side. There are three different ways to achieve balance: •Symmetrical balance duplicates the garden design on one side of a clearly defined central axis and repeats the exact same design on the opposite side. Each side of the design is a mirror image of the other with no variation in color, texture, or other elements. •Asymmetrical balance is less rigid with natural curves and more variety in the design. The center point may not be obvious and balance is achieved through mass and weight rather than color, texture, and plant types. •Radial balance works in a circular pattern from a center point to produce a balanced appearance. Sunflowers, wheels, and other round elements can produce radial balance.
Transition:One of the most important principles of landscape design to remember if you want to create a natural looking outdoor area is transition. Transition, or sequence, gradually changes patterns in the elements to assist in easy visual movement across the landscape. Transition is a logical sequence that introduces a change in style slowly rather than all at once. For example, use medium sized shrubs to transition tall trees to sprawling shrubs.
Proportion:A well planned outdoor space is designed with function in mind. Closely related to the element of scale, proportion means carefully selecting materials that are appropriately sized for the landscape and its purpose. A small fish pond, for instance, would appear out of place and insignificant in a large, estate style landscape with grandiose structures but it would be ideal for a private landscape design in an average backyard.
Rhythm:
Focalization:Perhaps the most important aspect of the principles of landscape design is creating and emphasizing a point of focalization which sets the tone and arrangement for the rest of your outdoor area. A decorative fountain, magnificent sculpture, or even a simple garden with a relaxing sitting area could become the focal point of your yard design. All elements of the landscape should work to emphasize this area.
Repetition:Careful repetition is an essential principle of landscape design. Too much repetition can destroy the atmosphere of an outdoor area by creating a dull appearance, but appropriate repetition of similar plants, colors, and textures bring a uniform, blended look to your landscape. Repetition can complete a garden design, tying all the parts and pieces of the plan together into a unified design that blends with your home.
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