One of the most important principles of landscape design is balance. There is more to creating a satisfying outdoor space than fulfilling your aesthetic preferences. To develop an area that is comfortable, attractive, and calm, you need balance. There are several ways to achieve this ambiance and you and your pro can work together to select the best choices.
1. Honor Simplicity
Landscape design doesn’t need to be complex to be powerful and beautiful. Using minimal, understated features is an art form and, when executed successfully, creates a peaceful environment. Wanting a simply designed outdoor space can be a tall order because it requires a dedication to a clear vision, so the final product is impactful and calm. Through repetition – whether it’s color, shape, hardscapes, textures, plants, or otherwise – elements are carefully chosen to improve and support the finished look. No element should compete with another.
2. Welcome Variety
If red is your favorite color, you may want a backyard overflowing with plants, trees, and flowering shrubs that are all variations of this palette. Listen to the guidance of your landscape designer when it comes to indulging one preference or another. Monochromatic landscape installations can make a statement, but variety adds contract, character, visual interest, and the all-important balance. Complement your favorite vegetation with other colors and textures to deliver an outdoor space that is beautiful, functional, and sustainable.
3. Visualize Scale
Depending on the plants, flowers, trees, and other softscapes you want to install in your outdoor space, some will come as full-grown versions of themselves while others need time and nature to grow and bloom. It’s important to work with a landscape designer who can naturally visualize the scale of a garden or backyard the way it will look in a few months or years. Proportion is critical to balance and the overall composition of a landscape installation.
4. Settle on a Focal Point
Where do you want the emphasis to be in your landscape design? The goal is to settle on that focal point – whether it’s a great view, a water feature, a doorway, a hardscape, or otherwise – and work with it during the entire planning phase. The focal point should capture attention in a good way and every other element added to the outdoor space should complement and balance this prominent element. If you feel like you can’t see the focal point yourself, your designer will have suggestions.
Find Balance Through Landscape Design
These elements and principles of landscape design work together to contribute to the balance of your outdoor living space. The pros at Visionary Landscaping use sophisticated design software and years of experience to create a map for every installation using clear and thoughtful choices that consider line, texture, form, and color to deliver interconnected elements.
Contact Visionary Landscaping in Shelby Township, MI, to schedule a consultation about finding balance in your outdoor space and landscape design.
