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Whether you want to spruce up your front yard to boost curb appeal or design a backyard retreat for personal enjoyment, learning the basic principles of landscape design will prove helpful. The goal of landscape design is to create aesthetic harmony through the use of elements such as color, line, and texture. By following the basics, you can design your own landscape and achieve a sustainable, balanced, and beautiful yard.
When you plan your landscape layout, consider all six basic principles for the best results. The first three principles of garden design (proportion, transition, and unity) apply to the overall feel of the landscape. The second group of principles (rhythm, balance, and focal point) deals with controlling the movement of the viewer's eye. These principles are achieved by using the five elements of landscape design: color, form, texture, line, and scale.
Proportion means that the size of individual components (landscape plants or structures) or groups of components within the landscape fits the overall landscape.
An out-of-proportion garden design will be marred by abrupt or a lack of transitions. For example, a 5-foot stone wall may lend an air of elegance to a large home but that same wall will make a small home look even smaller because the height of the wall is too close to the height of the house. Taller plants are needed in transition between the house and the wall to create a gradual change.
A garden design that is conscious of proportion also exhibits unity. The thoughtful arrangement of landscape plants in terms of form is one method of promoting a sense of unity.
Rhythm is the patterned repetition of a motif. For instance, in your home landscape design, the motif could consist of the types of landscape plants used. One type of landscape plant could be planted in a row or hedge, which will effectively lead the viewer's eye in one direction rather than another.
Balance refers to the consistency and visual weight of sights within the yard. For example, balance can be achieved through the repetition of plants of the same size, shape, and color placed evenly around the property or garden. For instance, a large tree on either side of the house can balance the yard.
Conversely, understanding balance is important for understanding focalization. While this goal can be achieved in many different ways, greater focalization will be created through the use of a balanced, consistent arrangement of elements.
When planning both hardscape and softscape for your property, consider the five basic elements that should be incorporated into landscape design, including:
Color: Color is often the most important element in a successful landscape design. Combine flowers with warm and cool colors to create contrast.
Form: The element of form is defined as the shape of the plant and the structure of its branching pattern. Plants come in many shapes (especially if pruned), including columnar and spherical. The form of individual components of the plant also needs to be considered. For example, the leaf form of one plant may be quite different from the leaf form of another.
Texture: Texture is primarily a visual issue in landscape design. For example, the texture of a plant is often determined by its leaf size. The plant texture of a broadleaf plant can be considered coarser than or less fine than the texture of an adjacent plant due to the difference in leaf size.
Line: The element of line refers to the way you arrange borders to dominate the movement of the viewer's eye. For example, a straight row of trees can be used as a wall to indicate boundaries and direct the viewer's gaze.
Scale: Scale is simply the size of one component in relation to adjacent components.
By studying landscape design pictures, you'll begin to see examples of the principles and elements of landscape design at work. You can then have a better understanding of a realistic budget for landscaping your home.