3 tips to help choose the right garden style for you

Italian Renaissance, Classical French and the Traditional English garden styles built on ideas and themes from each other, as indeed did the Persians, Egyptians and Romans before. Today this trend continues as designers take and blend ideas from around the world which can make it difficult to ascertain what style is right for you and your garden.

To create cohesion and a sense of place in your garden it is important to select a style or theme that can run throughout. The style you choose will naturally reduce the number of species of plants and the type of hard landscaping materials available to use, which is actually a large benefit in what can be a daunting market.

There are three main factors to consider when choosing a style:

1. Your Preference

It may seem obvious but this is your starting point. Seen a garden or image you like? Build on this with some light research to work out what it is you like. Is it the straight lines or curves? The colourful palette or perhaps the restricted use of tones? Or is the sense of calm or another feeling that it exudes?

Once you’ve worked out what it is you like then start to look through different styles such as Formal, Informal, Cottage, Contemporary, Coastal and Architectural, as a start. You’ll soon pick out which styles have the characteristics you enjoy.

Informal vs Formal

Informal and Formal gardens are not styles in their own right, but are descriptive of the layout of every other style.

Simply put, informal gardens have no lines of symmetry and none of the garden elements are reflected. The photo herr, for example, is strongly informal.

Formal gardens, on the other hand, have one or more lines of symmetry, usually running along pathways leading to focal points such as fountains or vistas beyond. Think of traditional English, Italian and French gardens with trimmed box hedges (Buxus sempervirens), gravel paths and impressive water features.

2. The Style of your House

Houses have different styles too, and it is important for the house and garden styles to complement one another. A traditional English cottage would naturally suit an English cottage garden style whereas a modern or architectural style with straight lines, a reduced colour palette and strong geometry may look a little out of place. When reviewing different styles make sure to take note of the house, as well as the garden.

The classic cottage look

This is a great example of a cottage house and garden combination, where the planting looks dense, wild and lush, overgrowing the paths and steps.

You’d normally expect a cottage garden to be more colourful but feels like a more mature, understated and calming space.

3. The Environment Beyond

This is the lesser of the three influences on style but it shouldn’t be ignored. This includes the neighbouring buildings, gardens and views of the landscape beyond if you’re lucky enough to have one.