The intricacies of landscape design are something that many people take for granted when appreciating the beauty of a yard, garden or another natural area. However, Rebecca Ford understands that there are certain rules and regulations that go into creating an appealing outdoor space and bringing all of the elements together. Here are a few landscape design principles to keep in mind.
Having Balanced Proportions
Proportions involve the ratio of one object to another in any given space. Those experienced in fields like interior design or fashion design tend to pay particularly close attention to how balanced the proportions are in landscape architecture. People in the former fields have experience with developing proper proportions, and large outdoor spaces bring an entirely new level to the principles of ratio and balance.
Some things to consider when it comes to proportions in landscape design include:
- How trees and flowers of all sizes look compared to the surrounding area
- What smaller plants look like next to larger plants and manmade structures
- How different sizes of shrubs look next to a fence or walkway
Balanced proportions go a long way toward making a yard look symmetrical and attractive.
Using Repetition
According to Rebecca Ford of New Canaan, patterns and the repetition of things such as colors, textures and lines are pleasing to the eyes and, as a result, are another important aspect of landscape design. There needs to be a balance when employing this principle, as overusing repetition can look tedious, while underusing repetition can cause a landscape to appear disorienting or incohesive. Examples of properly used repetition in landscape design include planting the same type of tree along a path and placing stones evenly along a pond or another water feature.
Applying Variety
While it is important to have some repetition for cohesiveness, a landscape should also be interesting to look at. One way to help ensure that outside spaces are stimulating as well as peaceful is to use some variety in their designs. For example, if there are lots of green trees and shrubbery, landscapers can select some colorful flowers to place among the simpler green vegetation. Trees also come in a variety of shapes, sizes and foliage, such as those that lose their leaves in the autumn and those that remain evergreen.
Rebecca Ford Bio
Rebecca Ford is a former fashion designer who grew up in Canada and now resides in New Canaan, CT, where she studies another type of design- sustainable landscape design. After launching a clothing label called Luscious, her items sold across North America, Europe and Asia, winning her an award as well as a mention in Montreal’s McCord Stewart Museum. In her free time, Rebecca Ford enjoys sports such as horseback riding and skiing.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.