If you’ve ever tried revamping your outdoor space, for sure, you know well how true it is to say that the project is taxing. It’s not only the actual work that’s tough. It starts with the planning of the garden’s aesthetics.
How exactly can you prettify the area? Which should be your priority? What are the things you can tweak and make the biggest difference? The way to answer these questions is simple: go back to the principles of design. When you have the basics in mind and reflect it in your yard makeover project, the aesthetics will come naturally.
Balance
This is necessary to create a sense of order in the space. A visually neat garden is an aesthetically pleasing garden. There are two major types of balance: symmetrical and asymmetrical. You can achieve a symmetrical balance by mirroring identical elements on each side of an imaginary center line. Examples include a path in between two box hedges or an outdoor coffee table in the middle of two wicker sofas.
The other type of balance is asymmetrical. With this, you’re also mirroring elements on either side of the central axis, but this time, the features aren’t exactly identical—only the same in visual weight. The classic example of this is the natural, irregularly shaped ponds, common in Japanese gardens, lined by bonsai on one side and by small round hedges on the other.
Harmony
Every element in your garden design must have a sense of belongingness to each other. They should fit a certain theme, mood or aesthetics. Otherwise, the elements you introduce will look like they’re just thrown there randomly.
It’s quite easy to achieve harmony in the garden. Colors can help. Find a palette you’re most comfortable in and stick to it as you choose flowering plants, hardscaping materials, outdoor furniture and dividers (pergola, arbor, gates, etc.). You can also focus on textures.
If you’re into having caustic, luminous feel in the space, introduce water elements throughout. Install a water wall near the patio or alfresco area. Then, have a pool, even a small one, at the far end of the garden. Create a bridge in between such, building a pond underneath the pathway. Work with a custom pool contractor in Utah and a professional landscaper. The dominance of water elements can help tie the entire design together, improving the sense of harmony in the space.
Rhythm
This is what most garden spaces lack. As a result, people entering the area feel like the garden is static or boring to look at. Your goal is to arrange elements in such a way that people’s eyes will be guided to move through the space. That’s what rhythm is.
There are plenty of ways to do this. For example, you can vary the sizes or colors of plants leading to different areas in the garden. Or, you may also use intriguing focal points, say pergolas or solid black metal fences.
If you can also add more seating areas throughout, that will not just be functional, but also contribute to rhythm, as the eyes naturally gravitate towards lounge or relaxation spaces.
It’s not easy to get into a makeover project for an outdoor space. There’s so much to think about (not to mention the pressure of creating a renovation show look-a-like). But don’t worry, with these principles in mind, you can surely pull this off.
