It would seem, well, what is difficult in creating a beautiful garden? He grew a lot of beautiful bushes, paved paths, equipped a recreation area ... However, not everything is so simple. To the garden plot looked beautiful and harmonious, it is worth starting with choosing a style.
Styles of landscape design are divided into two types: traditional (coming to us from the depths of past centuries) and modern (created by the efforts of designers of the ХХ-ХХI centuries).
Which one is right for you? Let's understand together!
Traditional styles in landscape design
The styles of landscape design, which we will now talk about, came to us from different countries of Europe and Asia. They were created and perfected over the centuries, and therefore there is no reason to doubt their relevance and reliability. What to choose - East or West?
French style in landscape design
French, classical or so-called regular style is worthy of kings. Its magnificent examples are the parks of the Tuileries and Versailles, Peterhof and Tsarskoye Selo. This is a luxury, symbolizing the victory of the human mind over the natural elements.
If you are a perfectionist by nature and adore ideal geometric shapes - this is your option.
Have enough patience, ruler and a compass!
Regular style canons:
- Large, even garden area.
- Perfect symmetry, clear geometric proportions and shapes.
- Straight wide alleys - ideally laid out, without a visible visible flaw.
- Figuratively trimmed trees; Low bushes, also trimmed "under the line."
- Carpet flower beds in the form of circles, ovals, rectangles or stars.
- Lawns must certainly prevail over flowering plants.
- The pool is of regular shape, with a fountain in the center.
A clear layout of the space, regular care of plants and the irreproachability of every detail - these are the three pillars on which the idea of the French landscape design is held. If you like such a subtle conservatism - forward, create and get up!
Tip: The house should be an organic part of the regular garden. This is appropriate for a mansion in the style of classicism or baroque - with columns, a wide front staircase and other attributes of the "royal" life.
Landscaping in Italian style
The Italian garden is another example of strict European conservatism. In fact, it is the predecessor of the French regular garden, its earlier variation.
Italian landscape design is the imposition of correct geometry on the mountainous terrain with seasoning of the Mediterranean Mediterranean flavor.
Its features and stylistic canons:
- Symmetrical layout.
- The location of the garden on the terraces.
- The underlined architecture and abundance of natural stone: walls for soil retention, ladders for connecting terraces, paved stone path.
- Many sculptures in antique style.
- Required availability of a pond of the right form with a fountain.
The garden in the Italian style should surprise the guest with perfectly clipped shrubs and trees in the form of a ball, cube, antique column or even a strange bird.
Luxurious flower beds are dominated by juicy, bright colors: orange, red, yellow, blue. These are roses, azaleas, irises and anemones. Popular trellises from roses, as well as plants in ceramic tubs and flowerpots.
Semi-ruined ancient columns and graceful sculptures create a special atmosphere, where everything breathes history.
Tip: an Italian garden with a terrace can be broken even in a small area. A stone wall with lobed grapes or a hedge will serve as a fencing. To your house become part of the historic oasis, plaster the walls and paint them in white or cream color, and cover the roof with terracotta tiles.
Landscape (English) style in landscape design
In the 18th century, landscape parks appeared in England - a new word in the high garden art and a complete denial of the French regular style. The English appreciate the natural, not miraculous beauty of nature. The park becomes part of the surrounding natural landscape, preserving all its features.
The main features of the landscape style:
- Natural forms of the landscape: hills, winding trails.
- Branch trees with a natural shape of crowns.
- Ponds of natural outlines: picturesque streams with overgrown shores, slightly waterlogged ponds.
- There are few garden flowers, they are planted in groups near the house or pond. But this is a real riot of colors!
- Further from the house - thickets of low-scented meadow and forest flowers.
If your garden plot is rich in hills and other irregularities - use it for your own good. Decorate the garden in English style and enjoy the beauty every day!
Tip: in the English park is appropriate brick house, whose walls are covered with thickets of ivy. Simple and natural!
Landscaping in Chinese style
The Chinese are people who have nothing to do with kondachka. Their gardens - a whole philosophy, deepened in that, you will find peace of mind and harmony. It was China that made natural naturalness the dominant of garden art and taught the rest of the world.
Let's start with the fact that Chinese gardens are divided into three types:
- Laughing (they give joy, pleasure and fill the soul with warmth);
- Menacing (they show the true, mighty power of nature);
- Idyllic (calms and tunes into a meditative mood, restores vitality).
The Chinese garden has a lot of stylistic subtleties:
- At the heart of the garden, as required by Eastern philosophy, there must be five elements: fire, water, stone, air and wood.
- The central composition of the garden is a gazebo. This is the main point of concentration of the vital energy of Qi.
- The site must be extensive, hilly, with smooth lines and winding paths.
- It is necessary to create the impression that the garden has no end and no end. Therefore, the fence is hidden from the eyes.
- Humpbacked bridges are an unchanging decorative attribute of the Chinese garden. They serve as a ferry across the pond, which must certainly look very natural.
- It will be beautiful if you plant live fish in a pond. It can be mirror carp or golden crucian carp.
- Flowers grow not on flowerbeds, but in chaotic thickets. Or in wooden and stone tubs.
Special attention should be paid to stones. In the eastern culture, they are considered to be living, energy-filled custodians of the past. From the stones of bizarre forms you can create excellent artistic compositions.
Each of the plants planted in the eastern grove also has a certain value. For example, needles - a sign of longevity, and any fruit trees - a continuation of the human race. Berezklets, forcing, honeysuckle, climbing roses - all this will become a charming filling of the garden in the Chinese style.
Landscaping in Japanese style
The Japanese traditional garden is filled with sacral elements, and every blade of grass in it is in its rightful place. It is a complex sign system that has been formed over the centuries. The initiate can read it as a book.
The stylistic foundations of the Japanese garden:
- Laconism and asymmetry. You know, the Japanese consider symmetry to be the death of beauty.
- Attention to the smallest details, nothing superfluous or accidental. Discreet beauty, full of profound philosophical and poetic meaning.
- The garden should be beautiful at any time of year, therefore in it evergreen coniferous plants dominate.
- The game of color is based on an abundance of shades of green. Flowering plants are few, but they are expressive color strokes in the overall composition.
- Favorite plants: umbrella pine, sakura, plum, oriental maples, peonies, irises, rhododendrons and grasses.
- Crowns of trees and bushes are often trimmed in a spherical shape.
- Virtuoso stones of different shapes and shades are used.
- In the garden must be present water in the form of a pond, stream or waterfall. But a small garden can do with its imitation in the form of a dry stream or a lake of sand and stone.
Landscaping in country style
Country, or rustic style, is best suited for the landscape design of the suburban area. This is a very cozy, cheerful and uncomplicatedly decorated space where you will feel free and at home.
All that could lie around in your barn, for country style - a godsend. Old wagons, wooden troughs, rocking chairs, woven knapsacks and even broken shovels - all this will become an adornment of your wonderful summer cottage.
The idea: use old tin cans and garden buckets as vases for lovely forget-me-nots or other rustic colors.
Read also: Landscaping of the courtyard of a private house - 30 photos and tips on decorating
Modern styles of landscape design
Art Nouveau in landscape design
The Art Nouveau style is relatively young, because it's only 100 years old! Modernists considered the house and garden to be a "car for habitation", so everything should be convenient and without frills.
In the garden in a prominent place usually located sports grounds, tennis courts, swimming pools.
Signs of Garden Art Nouveau:
- Modernist laconic, loves geometry, but not symmetrical.
- The garden fences are clear and simple, usually of black wrought iron.
- The paths are paved with slabs of contrasting tones that form a geometric pattern.
- Garden furniture of strict lines, wooden or from modern materials (plastic, aluminum).
- There are few plants, but they are very bright and expressive, they attract attention to themselves.
Thanks to the French artist Claude Monet, the flower of modernism is considered iris. Iridariy in Art Nouveau style is a riot of colors, refinement of forms and an incredible number of varieties. Usually, irises are surrounded by other decorative cultures, which effectively shade them. Complementing the picture is a pond with small boulders and pebbles on the banks.
Landscaping in high-tech style
Hi-tech is the most modern, almost cosmic solution for your garden. Urbanization in combination with laconic green plants creates an absolutely alien atmosphere. Bold high-tech solutions of this style come to replace the classical canons. If you are not afraid of audacious experiments - boldly stylize your garden in the spirit of high-tech!
As you can see, the styles of landscape design can be listed for almost eternity! The fact that each of them is magnificent in its own way is a fact. But only you decide how it will look exactly your garden site. Consult with trusted designers, but only listen to your own heart.
The garden of your dreams is in your hands! Remember this and create, putting maximum of imagination and love. Only this will fill your garden with harmony, warmth and comfort.