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Does your outdoor space need a makeover? Maybe you’ve been researching landscape design ideas and are considering hiring a landscape architect or designer. Maybe you hope to learn more about the overall concept of landscape design (which, in many ways, is similar to interior design). The first thing to know is that it’s essential that your landscaping project reflects your priorities. Do you need a pergola to help provide shade? Or maybe you envision flower beds overflowing with annuals and perennials?
“Let your lifestyle and the way you want to use the space drive what you put in it, whether that means an outdoor kitchen for a cook, or a fire pit for someone who wants to entertain frequently,” says Melissa Gerstle, founder and principal at AD PRO Directory–listed Melissa Gerstle Design in Dallas. With your list in mind, you can really dig (pun intended) into the principles of landscape design.
Types of landscapes
Before you get too attached to a certain landscape design for your living space, says Kristin Monji, founder and principal at Birch and Basil Design in New York City, take a look at the United States Department of Agriculture’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map to determine your local zone. “There is a huge variation even within a state, but if you know your zone, the staff at your garden center can direct you to plants that will be hearty in your space,” says Monji. You might consider ones that are low-maintenance or drought tolerant, for example, or choose to focus on only native plants. Here are some typical backyard landscaping design ideas to consider.
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English
An English garden tends to have a more formal vibe, with sharply defined hedges, water features, walkways, and structures like pergolas and trellises covered with climbing vines. “You see a lot more plant material, such as perennials, and it’s going to feel a bit fussier,” says Gerstle.
Modern
A modern garden usually has a spare, uncluttered look. “It’s driven by shapes of spaces and the materials you use, and the number and types of plants—you really want to use a carefully curated selection,” explains Gerstle.
Woodland
Lush ground cover, dense foliage, and shade from trees help evoke the feeling of being in the woods. This type of garden may also attract more birds, and many people appreciate that its untamed look often requires less maintenance than a more formal garden. “Woodland gardens feel special because, when done right, they can transport you to a seemingly wild, secret garden,” says Candice Bertalan, founder and principal at Tropic of Capricorn in Austin. “There is something romantic about the lush, shady greenery I think we all long to get lost in.”
Eco-Friendly
Sustainable gardens come in all styles, but they tend to have eco-conscious features such as native plants, especially those that attract pollinators; rainwater barrels; vegetable plots; and untamed lawns, rather than ones that are heavily watered and manicured. You might also have heard the term “xeriscape” used for these types of spaces. “Xeriscaping is a style of landscape where plants selected are drought tolerant, reducing or removing the need for irrigation,” says Bertalan.
How to design a landscape
Admittedly, the design process can seem overwhelming at first—so here are three basic steps to help you get started.
1. Make a short list of must-haves
To avoid overwhelm, begin by making a list, but keep it short. “I ask people to come up with five things they really want,” says Monji. Anything past that can be marked as “nice to have,” she suggests, and a talented landscape architect or landscape designer can help you narrow down the list. “Besides the must-haves, I also consider what site-specific conditions someone has, their budget, and their personal taste, and ideally the final result is the sweet spot that incorporates all of these things,” she says.
2. Create a master plan
Gerstle always tries to tease out how someone imagines using their outdoor space over the long term, and create a full design plan that incorporates each area. “This road map helps you avoid backtracking and making costly mistakes. For example, let’s say you eventually want a fireplace or outdoor kitchen—we know you’re going to need a certain foundation and the space to run a gas line, so we can plan accordingly. Even if you don’t want it now, you can implement in phases,” she says.
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As she plans, Monji tends to first consider what she calls “basic building blocks,” such as the hardscape, grass, and raised planting beds; then structures such as pergolas, water features, outdoor sheds, or extras like bocce courts; and finally the dining and seating areas. “The real design aspect is the spatial planning, just like interior designers who start with laying out the furniture because it dictates how the room is going to look,” she says.
Bertalan also emphasizes the importance of figuring out how much you can spend in advance.” The best way to start a project is to have a clear overall and starting budget. Your designer can then propose what your best options are,” she says.
3. Plan for plants
It’s best to choose plants at the end, after the landscape design plan is complete. “This surprises people, but we usually don’t know the exact placement of plants until we know where the planting beds, power sources, and seating will be,” says Monji. “[The client] might come into the first meeting saying ‘I really want lavender,’ but as we get to the end I might ask them, ‘Do you still need that, or are you open to something taller and more structural, like an evergreen that’s going to look as good in December as it does in June?’ Sometimes people are more flexible at this point in the process.”
When combining plants, you should aim to have them fit together both visually and ecologically. “I look at things like how much sunlight someone has, the size of the space, the type of soil and drainage, and other factors like mature trees and the existing hardscape,” says Monji. You should also think about how the plants fit together visually and ecologically. “A rose and a cactus, for example, are going to have totally different water requirements—your plant combinations should feel appropriately matched, authentic, and like they emulate nature,” adds Gerstle.
Tips and advice for landscape design
Landscape professionals share their best strategies for how to approach the design process of a landscaping project.
Honor your house
You’ll want to think about the style of your home, and make sure that your front yard and backyard complement it. When conceiving a landscaped setting, Chris LaGuardia, founder of Water Mill, New York-based AD PRO Directory firm LaGuardia Design Group, and his team pay careful attention to the residence it’s complementing. “Typically, the architecture will dictate the landscape, so we speak to the language that’s already present,” he says. “Looking at a property in terms of space and light first will often set any preconception of style to the side.” Gerstle concurs: “You’ll want your landscape design to tie in with the interior and style of your home, and the house and garden should feel like they’re in conversation together, as opposed to the garden competing with the house.”
Spend time in your outdoor space
Monji says that she sometimes works with homeowners who have either just moved into their home, or they’ve asked her to help with a backyard landscaping makeover because they don’t tend to use their outdoor space. As a result, they haven’t physically spent time just being in the garden, which she says is important to do before jumping into the design process. “Being in the space can help you clarify what you want. I tell people to buy a cheap lawn chair and just get a feel for what it’s like to be out there. Maybe you want to sit under a tree, or in a certain corner, or close to your house—if you take that time in the beginning, you’re more likely to end up with a plan that makes you happy,” she says.
Stroll the neighborhood
Not all plantings are suitable for all climates, so knowing which ones will thrive in the temperature range of your specific hardiness zone is essential. “We always prefer native plants for all the benefits to the environment,” says LaGuardia. “A walk around the neighborhood should also give you good insight to which plants like growing there. This is important because many environments like waterfront areas can be difficult for many plants to grow due to salt and wind.”
Consider multiple seating areas
It’s easy to start planning around one central seating area, but Gerstle suggests adding another option if you have space. “When you have more than one place to sit and gather, it encourages you to use your garden at different times of the day,” she says.
Lean towards deeper, richer hues
As you’re choosing colors for things like furniture and textiles for your landscape design, try to look at things in outdoor lighting. “When you’re outside, things can look bleached out in the sunlight—everything looks three shades lighter than it does inside,” says Gerstle.
Think into the future
Since things don’t wear the same indoors as they do outdoors, Gerstle suggests choosing materials that will age gracefully, keeping in mind your own personal style. “Think ahead five or 10 years: Do you want a porous limestone that will withstand wear and tear and patina over time, or something like porcelain tile that will always look clean? And these two would age differently if they’re placed together. Wood also expands and contracts, and may need to be stained regularly to keep its finish—these are all things to consider,” she says.
Trends in landscape design
The common themes and requests outdoor experts have been seeing among their clients.
People are increasingly concerned about sustainability
Worries about the environment and climate change are likely reflected in today’s garden design. “More and more people are asking for native plants, low-water plants, and ones that are good for pollinators, and they’re seeing the garden as an ecosystem and wanting to be more informed about how they can help bee populations and butterflies,” says Monji. Gerstle also sees that many clients are more willing to invest in outdoor furniture that can withstand the elements. “As people become more ecologically conscious, they don’t want to throw things away, so they’re willing to invest in quality pieces so they last longer,” she says.
Brooklyn-based AD PRO Directory practice Our Temenos prioritizes sustainability and ecological contributions, and as a result, many of its clients “share similar values and are requesting creative reuse of materials and onsite resources. This used to be something we had to encourage people to do—now, clients come to us asking how they can upcycle what they have on hand,” says founding principal Rosemarie Miner. She cites a pendulum shift from tailored, form-focused gardens to function-based landscapes. “A timeless and lived-in garden is very much a garden of the moment and reflects the collective desires for respite and rest. The best designers are increasingly tying beautification in with strategies for stormwater management, biodiversity, and long-term resilience.”
Kitchen gardens are still popular
Raised beds for vegetable and herb gardens are another popular request, perhaps as a holdover from the pandemic lockdowns when many people took up new domestic hobbies. “There’s just an overall good feeling about eating food you grew yourself,” says Gerstle.
Lawns are less of a focus
In keeping with the above, Gerstle is seeing a movement away from verdant patches of grass. “I’m not declaring the end of lawns, but people are more open to eliminating them due to water concerns, and thinking about other ways to create open spaces for play,” she says.
The naturalistic look is having a moment
There’s more of a demand for low-maintenance spaces, and Gerstle is noticing what she calls “softer, wilder and more elevated expressions of nature,” as opposed to more formal gardens that require precision and heavy upkeep. “I think of it as the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, or the perfectly imperfect, and not everything has to be so controlled and managed,” she says.
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What are the three major principles of landscape design?
Landscape designers refer to some key concepts when planning a space. Here’s an overview.
Proportion
In garden design, proportion refers to the size relationship of the different parts within a landscape plan. It’s important to consider how the plantings (also called softscape), hardscaping (such as pavers and walkways), buildings, and other elements (like water features) work together as a whole. Gerstle says that when planning an outdoor space, you can often scale up in size. “Bigger is better outside. Inside you have a ceiling, but outside it’s the tree canopy or the sky, and everything is more open, so you can often afford to make things a little larger,” she explains. Want to make a strong visual impact? “Use fewer types of plants and bigger areas of them,” she suggests.
Order
Landscape designers and landscape architects consider order, which refers to the balance and symmetry that exist with a landscape design. You can opt for a symmetrical look if you want to go more formal, but it isn’t required. “An entryway with two shapely evergreens gracing the entrance feels more formal because it is very symmetrical,” says Monji. But you can also achieve balance by aiming for what she calls “the happy medium,” or a mix of structure and softness. “You do want some evergreens and you do need plants that have a defined form or shape because that is what will define space, whereas if you only have meadow plantings, there won’t be a point of contrast.”
Gerstle also mentions the importance of having some juxtaposition in your landscape design. “With your plants, you can try to create visual tension or contrast between form and shape, so we might pair two with the same leaf shape, but one droops more and one stands up,” she says. Another way to create contrast is by balancing the overall style of both the house and the garden. “For example, a lot of people see a modern home and assume the landscape has to be super modern and rectilinear, but I tend to make things a lot softer, whether through the lines or the plant material,” Gerstle continues, adding, “A modern home that looks like it’s in the middle of a forest or something naturalistic creates a contrast that highlights the architecture.”
Unity
When a landscape design is unified, it means that the overall look is cohesive, and could refer to things like color, shape, or size. Monji suggests that although many people say they want to incorporate lots of color, it’s better to limit the options. “Don’t try to have every color represented—shrinking the color palette will make it look much more intentional and like a designed garden,” she says. Using a tool like the color wheel can help to narrow down options. “You might go cool, like purples and blues, or warm, like pinks and reds,” Monji adds.
Another way to unify your landscape design is to consider views from both within the garden and also from inside your home. “This is something I see many people forgetting, but it’s important to create views both to direct the viewer towards areas that have visual impact, but also design in a way that unsightly things might be hidden from view,” says Gerstle. (For example, you could choose to use a screen, wall, or fencing to hide air conditioning units, utility boxes, or garbage bins.)