Gardens are increasingly becoming an integral part of our lifestyle. They are no more seen only as an occasional outdoor space for a BBQ party or a convenient sunbathing spot. Their value now truly being recognized as a perfect remedy to our hectic lifestyle. But how to decide on the right style for you? With so many to choose from it is easy to get overwhelmed but here are some useful pointers to help you pick the right style for you.
Know your Garden Design styles
There are a few distinctive elements that make up a garden design style. Whilst they are so many styles to choose from, we talk about some of the popular ones that are often used in the UK and frequently requested by our House Designer clients. You can also view some of the garden design styles we have designed for our clients – ((garden portfolio))
Cottage Garden Style
(Image credit: Janet Roberts)
This romantic style puts the plants in the first plan. They are here to dominate and they will do so by charmingly spilling over each other, fulfilling every space, and creating one big, charming ‘’mess’’. It is all about soft edges, bursts of colours, and sweet fragrances that can be surprisingly well translated into the urban setting.
Traditional Garden Style
(Image credit: JR P)
A very formal, carefully planned and structured Traditional gardens will often have separate sections with their own function (e.g. vegetable garden, cut-flower garden). Lush lawns take a center stage here, framed with carefully planned herbaceous border, and mixture of often native shrubs and trees. This is the style that oozes tranquility and familiarity. It is usually seen in larger sized gardens but can be quite successfully implemented on a smaller scale, especially as it style can help with creating an illusion of space, crucial in a smaller setting.
Urban Garden Style –‘’The Outdoor Room’’
(Image credit: Harrington Porter)
As we wish to extend our living quarters to the outdoor spaces previously overlooked and not utilized to their full potential, this style has become increasingly popular in recent times. It is perfect for urban dwellings where an indoor space is already at a premium, and an outdoor space often difficult to come by. Careful planning is essential as every inch of space should be maximized. This brings the hardscaping part of this design in the prime position and extra attention should be given to it. Successful design should match the house and the immediate interior to ensure the flawless transition between both spaces, creating an outdoor room and therefore enlarging your living space.
Mediterranean Garden Style
(Image credit: Christopher Lee)
With the current weather changes and the difficulties in keeping our gardens lush during the increasingly hot and dry summers, this style is becoming frequently considered. It includes drought tolerant plants that will not mind the ‘’hose pipe ban’’ or the lack of rain, and will usually contain gravel a perfect mulch for conserving the soil moisture. It is also a perfect entertaining garden with a dining/seating area at the heart of it, enjoying the best Mediterranean lifestyle can offer. It is a garden for enjoying a lively family meals or for cooling off with your friends under a shady Pergola.
Tropical Style Garden
(Image credit: Christine Hanway)
If you are in a need of a sanctuary where you can escape to and forget about the hectic city lifestyle, why not loose yourself in your own little jungle? There are many tropical-looking plants, and even some hardy palms that could help you to achieve this style. It is all about layering of lush foliage with strategic bursts of bright colours. An intriguing style that is just a perfect antidote to our hectic lifestyles, and it is no surprise that it is steadily gaining in popularity.
Contemporary Garden Style
(Image credit: Huettl Landscape Architecture)
Arguably the most popular style that beautifully balances the cohesion of the hardscaping and softscaping. It consist of crisp, clean lines and a play of masses and voids. Simply, it is all about balance and harmony. The focus of this style is on enhancing what is already there and transforming it into an aesthetically functioning garden where the mantra ‘’Less is More’’ truly fulfills its promise.
Garden Design Services
At House Designer, we offer online garden design service which is extremely popular amongst homeowners all over the UK. Our services include garden design consultancy, bespoke garden design, landscape design, planting plan. We also offer full-design and build service for homeowners in London and surrounding areas. We hope to roll out this service to more areas soon.
Want to know more about our garden design services? See our Garden Design page
