Summary

Everyone's ideal garden is different, here you can learn how to design your own ideal garden step by step.

“Happiness itself is a long patience, so I wait for a breeze in the garden to blow my worries away.”

Materials🧱

You can choose any one of these：

White paper,Pens (preferably in different colors)📄🖊️/

Tablet with drawing software(like Procreate,Sketch up etc.),Capacitive pen💻

Let’s begin!

Step 1:Learn about garden types and design principles⛲️

Chinese Garden

Deeply influenced by traditional Chinese philosophy and painting, pursuing the feeling of naturalness and ethereality, the garden landscape is like the Chinese painting of the landscape, condensing the natural landscape and revealing the thousands of mountains and rivers within a stone’s throw.

With its elegant garden design, meandering paths, ancient pines and cypresses and lotus in the pond, the Chinese garden demonstrates a harmonious blend of nature and humanity.

Jukkabrother, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Japanese Garden

The overall style of the Japanese garden is serene, simple, and even frugal, focusing on the use of simple materials and abstract techniques to express subtle and profound truths.

The Japanese garden is based on simplicity and nature, blending stone, water, vegetation and architecture to create a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

European Garden

European courtyard style is notable, more use of regular geometric elements, emphasising symmetrical layout, focusing on the overall balance of the courtyard and proportionality of the relationship, simple atmosphere, calm and elegant, often giving a strong visual impact.

With its elegant design, symmetrical layout and rich mix of plants, the European-style garden creates a quiet and romantic space for relaxation.

Mediterranean Garden

The Mediterranean garden is deeply influenced by the culture of the Mediterranean coastal countries, with distinctive and diversified features, fresh and natural colors, rich green levels, comfortable and open space layout, and unique charm.

The Mediterranean-style garden creates a laid-back, natural atmosphere with bright colours, rich plants, stone elements and comfortable seating areas, showcasing a unique Mediterranean feel.

Southeast Asian Garden

Southeast Asia is a full of tropical flavor and natural elements of the garden design style, with a warm relaxation, natural and rustic feeling, preferring natural log color, in addition to yellow, green, purple and so on is also reflected in the main colors of the Southeast Asian style.

Southeast Asian garden blends tropical plants, traditional architecture and a serene atmosphere to create an environment where nature and humanity coexist in harmony.

Design principles♻️:

Establishing the main subject: In garden design, a main element or focal point needs to be identified, which can be a tree, a sculpture, a pond or a unique architectural vignette. This main element can attract attention and become the highlight of the garden.
Maintain unity: The principle of unity throughout all aspects of garden design, including form and style, gardening materials, color lines and so on. The whole to the local should maintain a certain degree of uniformity to avoid appearing chaotic. But also to avoid excessive uniformity leads to monotony.
Generate contrast: Contrast is to put two or more different elements together, through the body shape, color, texture, light and dark, highlight or emphasize the local landscape, create a strong dramatic effect, increase the ornamental and interesting garden.
Strengthen connections: Strengthening the connections between elements in the garden allows eyes to move naturally from one element to another, creating a coherent visual experience. This helps to enhance the wholeness and hierarchy of the garden.
Control the scale: In the garden design, you need to determine the appropriate scale and proportionality according to the size of the garden and the surrounding environment. Too large or too small elements will spoil the overall beauty of the garden, so it needs to be finely controlled according to the actual situation.

Here are links to more specific explanations：

Garden Design Principles

12 Principles of Garden Design

Step 2:Analyze excellent garden design cases to extract design inspiration💡

1.🏡DreamGarden|Dutch Garden Designs🇳🇱

The garden has a distinctly recreational character. Organically shaped borders filled with richly flowering perennials and ornamental grasses provide a natural appearance. This character is enhanced by interlocking stepping stones in the grass and dry stone walls of old tiles and stones.

Een levendige stadstuin. by Taco Nas is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

For this small urban garden in a row house in the centre of Tilburg, the garden owner had many wishes. A place for cosy meals, a sitting area with an outdoor fireplace and a grassy area for the children to play. Above all, this south-facing garden had to be very green and attract a lot of insects. It is full of birdsong and greenery.🍃🍃

🌿Design Inspiration:

1. The garden is surrounded by an abundance of perennials and ornamental grasses to form a natural border, the lawn is staggered on the walkway, and the landscape wall is created with stones and old tiles around the garden, the overall garden style is on the side of simplicity and high coolness.
2. The outdoor fireplace made of weather-resistant steel makes the whole leisure space more practical, and even in the cold winter, you can have a chat around the outdoor fireplace.
3. The selected plants are also highly ornamental throughout the year, and you can see that the posture of the withered plants is still beautiful.

2.Athena Calderone Garden | USA🇺🇸

This is a gravel garden with a Mediterranean feel, using ABC Stone Renaissance Dolomite Flamed and Brushed tiles , which complement the travertine and blue marble tessellations on the terrace. They arranged the stone tiles in quadrilateral shapes and filled the centres with cobbles in mortar to avoid any instability when people sit or walk in the area. Brooke then laid thyme between the tiles to break up the monotony of the palette. The end result is a space that feels lived in and natural, while still being rooted in European sensibilities.

Mediterranean-inspired gravel garden
Rustic and vibrant

For inspiration, Athena and Klausing drew from Mediterranean tones. ‘I had just returned from Spain and was inspired by Mediterranean gardens, the texture of Mexican feather grasses, olive trees and their silvery, sage tones,’ says Athena. Gravel covers the yard, which is surrounded by cedar hedges with a whitish sheen and cleverly planted with trees, ivy and other plants to create corners that surround two seating areas. ‘I wanted the space to feel like it contracts and expands and has a sense of movement,’ Klausing says, ’like you’re in an organism with highs and lows.’

3.Suzhou – ‘䒻 Garden’🇨🇳

On the first floor, the designer opened many windows of different shapes to allow ventilation and a wide view. He basically did not design ‘doors’ in the interior, but used large glass as partitions.

450 square metre house built with a garden at a cost of over VND20 billion: I thought it would be expensive, but it turned out to be surprising, and I don’t have to turn on the air conditioning all year round © 2023 by Tran Tuan Linh is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Yu Vien is cleverly designed to capture natural light. The original lobby was separate from the main part of the building, with the entrance on the north side. However, Ton Nguyen Luong opened the door on the south side to create a corridor connecting the lobby to the main house to promote air circulation.

It is very clever in the use of space, when you step into it, walk forward, slowly there will be a beam of light in, and then forward, through a window you can see a small scene in the garden, close to the surprise that there will be a piece of landscape, landscape layers of staggered, borrowed from each other.

There is a five-story building on the east side of the garden, which is visually oppressive to the tea room, so we used the technique of ‘hidden’ to make a front gable, make the roof solid, and horizontally use a large piece of glass, which can be opened and closed, and the vision is wide open.

There is a ‘hole’ on the side, so that the park tree seems to grow out of the house, and the tea room and the garden are intertwined, which is very meaningful, and it is flourishing in spring and summer, and strong in winter. The tea room and the garden are integrated together, which is very meaningful. In spring and summer, it is flourishing, and in winter, it is strong and vigorous.

4.Some gerden plans🌳

Step 3:Pre-design work of your garden:plan the garden layout🥸

Get your paper and pen or tablet at the ready.
Consider key features:

Design principles to consider
Shape/scale
Material/Landscape/Site conditions/Location
User needs

Here is an example, you can use it.

Shape: Opt for a rectangular or square layout, which offers simplicity and ease in planning and maintenance.
Scale: The garden should ideally measure approximately 10 meters by 15 meters (approximately 33 feet by 49 feet), providing a manageable size that is neither too overwhelming nor too restrictive.
Pathways: Use crushed stone or gravel for pathways, which are cost-effective, permeable, and easy to maintain. These materials also provide a rustic, inviting aesthetic.
Borders and Edging: Utilize wooden stakes or low-growing hedging plants to delineate garden beds. Wooden stakes are straightforward to install and can be easily replaced, while hedging plants add greenery and provide a natural barrier.
Furniture: Introduce wooden garden benches or tables, which blend seamlessly with the natural environment and offer a durable, weather-resistant option.
Topography: Given the rectangular layout, create gentle slopes or level areas to avoid steep hills that might complicate maintenance. Use the natural terrain to your advantage, perhaps incorporating a small, shallow pond or water feature at the lower end to enhance the visual appeal and provide a focal point.
Location:Ensure the garden is easily accessible from your home, ideally with a direct pathway to facilitate regular visits and upkeep.
User Needs:1.Accessibility: Design the garden with wide, clear pathways to accommodate wheelchairs or mobility aids if needed. Ensure that all areas are accessible without stepping on garden beds.2.Simplicity: Keep the design uncluttered, with a clear focal point and balanced planting arrangements.

More details here:

Step 4:Use hand-drawn or digital tools to sketch designs and label major areas and elements🎨

1.Drawing a flat bubble map: planning your garden

2.Draw the outline of each part

3.Refinement of each element within the garden

PS:Here Are Some Landscape Plant Plan Details

Large set with symbols of trees and shrubs in plan view whithout shadow. Hand drawn ink and colored sketch. Hand drawn ink and colored sketch isolated on white background. Vector illustration. © 2024 by Zhanna Turetskaya is marked with CC0 1.0

4.Of course, if you have the means and time you can color it in

Check to see if your design meets the SMART criteria!

(1) Specific, (2) Measurable, (3) Achievable, (4) Relevant, and (5) Time-bound

Step 5:If you want, you can share your work below👇

https://discord.com/invite/hE8ST3UbrY

https://www.reddit.com/r/LandscapeArchitecture/

You’ve finished everything！

Additional:

If this inspired you, these are next recommended steps to develop

1.Set a study plan and review learning regularly.

2.Follow industry trends and learn the latest design techniques and trends –

https://www.thespruce.com/landscape-design-for-beginners-2130815

https://alison.com/course/landscape-architecture-and-site-planning-introduction-to-landscape-design

3.Join the design community and share ideas with peers. -https://land8.com/

4.Outline the basic uses of CAD, SketchUp and other design software and provides quick tips for learning how to design software, such as using online tutorials, shortcuts, etc via teaching videos. –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhYDvfu95z4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3CZjAf0RQ8

Reference:

https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn. “Chi Hơn 20 Tỷ Đồng Chỉ để Xây Sân Vườn Trong Ngôi Nhà 450m2: Tưởng Đắt Mà Thành Quả Gây Bất Ngờ, Quanh Năm Không Cần Bật Điều Hòa.” Suckhoedoisong.vn. https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn, August 23,2023.

https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/chi-hon-20-ty-dong-chi-de-xay-san-vuon-trong-ngoi-nha-450m2-tuong-dat-ma-thanh-qua-gay-bat-ngo-quanh-nam-khong-can-bat-dieu-hoa-172230823143502788.htm.

Lowe’s Home Improvement. “How to Design the Perfect Landscape | Landscape Design 101.” YouTube Video. YouTube, March 9, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-wO-LqEQb4.

Nas, Taco. “Levendige Stadstuin.” Studio Nas, November 22, 2023. https://www.nastuinontwerp.nl/tuinen/levendige-stadstuin.

Xie, Jenny, and William Jess Laird. “Step inside Athena Calderone’s Brooklyn Backyard Oasis.” Architectural Digest, November 16, 2022. https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/step-inside-athena-calderones-brooklyn-backyard-oasis.

(Garden with Flowers and Trees near House by Field Cottage is marked with CC0 1.0 )

(Jukkabrother, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

Posted by s2630494

17 November 2024

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Create Your Ideal Garden

Summary

“Happiness itself is a long patience, so I wait for a breeze in the garden to blow my worries away.”

Materials🧱

You can choose any one of these：

White paper,Pens (preferably in different colors)📄🖊️/

Tablet with drawing software(like Procreate,Sketch up etc.),Capacitive pen💻

Let’s begin!

Step 1:Learn about garden types and design principles⛲️

Chinese Garden

Deeply influenced by traditional Chinese philosophy and painting, pursuing the feeling of naturalness and ethereality, the garden landscape is like the Chinese painting of the landscape, condensing the natural landscape and revealing the thousands of mountains and rivers within a stone’s throw.

Japanese Garden

The overall style of the Japanese garden is serene, simple, and even frugal, focusing on the use of simple materials and abstract techniques to express subtle and profound truths.

European Garden

European courtyard style is notable, more use of regular geometric elements, emphasising symmetrical layout, focusing on the overall balance of the courtyard and proportionality of the relationship, simple atmosphere, calm and elegant, often giving a strong visual impact.

Mediterranean Garden

The Mediterranean garden is deeply influenced by the culture of the Mediterranean coastal countries, with distinctive and diversified features, fresh and natural colors, rich green levels, comfortable and open space layout, and unique charm.

Southeast Asian Garden

Southeast Asia is a full of tropical flavor and natural elements of the garden design style, with a warm relaxation, natural and rustic feeling, preferring natural log color, in addition to yellow, green, purple and so on is also reflected in the main colors of the Southeast Asian style.

Design principles♻️:

Establishing the main subject: In garden design, a main element or focal point needs to be identified, which can be a tree, a sculpture, a pond or a unique architectural vignette. This main element can attract attention and become the highlight of the garden.

Generate contrast: Contrast is to put two or more different elements together, through the body shape, color, texture, light and dark, highlight or emphasize the local landscape, create a strong dramatic effect, increase the ornamental and interesting garden.

Strengthen connections: Strengthening the connections between elements in the garden allows eyes to move naturally from one element to another, creating a coherent visual experience. This helps to enhance the wholeness and hierarchy of the garden.

Here are links to more specific explanations：

Step 2:Analyze excellent garden design cases to extract design inspiration💡

1.🏡DreamGarden|Dutch Garden Designs🇳🇱

🌿Design Inspiration:

2.Athena Calderone Garden | USA🇺🇸

Mediterranean-inspired gravel garden Rustic and vibrant

3.Suzhou – ‘䒻 Garden’🇨🇳

There is a five-story building on the east side of the garden, which is visually oppressive to the tea room, so we used the technique of ‘hidden’ to make a front gable, make the roof solid, and horizontally use a large piece of glass, which can be opened and closed, and the vision is wide open.

4.Some gerden plans🌳

Step 3:Pre-design work of your garden:plan the garden layout🥸

Get your paper and pen or tablet at the ready.

Consider key features:

Design principles to consider Shape/scale Material/Landscape/Site conditions/Location User needs

Here is an example, you can use it.

Shape: Opt for a rectangular or square layout, which offers simplicity and ease in planning and maintenance.

Scale: The garden should ideally measure approximately 10 meters by 15 meters (approximately 33 feet by 49 feet), providing a manageable size that is neither too overwhelming nor too restrictive.

Pathways: Use crushed stone or gravel for pathways, which are cost-effective, permeable, and easy to maintain. These materials also provide a rustic, inviting aesthetic.

Borders and Edging: Utilize wooden stakes or low-growing hedging plants to delineate garden beds. Wooden stakes are straightforward to install and can be easily replaced, while hedging plants add greenery and provide a natural barrier.

Furniture: Introduce wooden garden benches or tables, which blend seamlessly with the natural environment and offer a durable, weather-resistant option.

Location:Ensure the garden is easily accessible from your home, ideally with a direct pathway to facilitate regular visits and upkeep.

User Needs:1.Accessibility: Design the garden with wide, clear pathways to accommodate wheelchairs or mobility aids if needed. Ensure that all areas are accessible without stepping on garden beds.2.Simplicity: Keep the design uncluttered, with a clear focal point and balanced planting arrangements.