Issue 16The Beauty of Good Design

COLUMNIST: LYNN HILL
Garden Design: part 2 - The Beauty of Good Design
In the last issue, we began the journey of designing a garden by exploring the creation of a wish list for your ideal outside space. We then analysed the garden, and attended to some of the practicalities we need to consider. This is like collecting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle… and now that you have the pieces, it is time to set them out, and marry them together.
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Every Garden is UniqueGood design is all about attention to detail. How one element connects and flows into the other, and the relationship that they have with one another.
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There is no ‘one size fits all’ about how to do this. Every person and garden is unique, so there will be a fair amount of ‘try this and see how they fit’ during the design process. To get you started here are some pointers:

You have identified where the sun is, marry this with where the patio will be situated. It might not be where you expect it - do not be afraid to move the seating area a bit away from the house.

Move into the garden - a patio nestled in planting is much nicer than one squished up against a boundary fence, especially if it is on a street or beside neighbours. Being in the garden allows space for a buffer zone of planting between you and the outside world. It can add privacy.

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The Beauty of Good DesignConsider scale and proportion We tend to know instinctively when something looks right or not - and it is not just about how it looks, the ergonomics also come into play.
This is about the journey through the garden. Paths should be wide enough to traverse comfortably, and you will soon notice if the proportions are wrong with a set of steps.
That is the beauty of good design, it appears effortless. You will rarely traverse a set of steps and think ‘these are well designed’, but you will soon notice if they are not – and they could well be dangerous too!
Lead Lines It is not just about the physical journey through the garden, our eyes travel through it too. Lead lines are created by shapes and patterns that direct our eyes. Focal points act like punctuation. They are not only something nice to look at, they also give our gaze somewhere to rest.
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Less Can Often Be More A busy garden can be confusing to our mind as the eye does not know where to rest - we instinctively look for pattern and order in spaces.
This includes materials too. I always aim for no more than 3 types of materials - and if you can, repeat materials, colours, shapes, and textures across the garden to aid a sense of balance and flow.
Maintenance Do not forget to consider how your garden will be maintained – one of my favourite features is mown edges, where the relationship between hard landscaping and lawn allows for seamless mowing, with not a strimmer in sight!
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A Professional Eye There is a lot that goes into a garden design and the profession is multi-faceted and multi-disciplined - that is why it is a profession. Nothing can beat the skill and attention of engaging with a good garden designer and I would certainly encourage you to do so.
This is not always an option open to everyone though, and there can be a certain satisfaction in creating something for oneself by oneself, even if it is a bit DIY. The aim of this 2-part special on designing gardens has been to give you pointers, tips, and inspiration to help you avoid some of the pitfalls that can arise when creating a garden.
Everyone is different and there is no one size fits all in garden design - first and foremost is the importance of creating an outdoor space that you can love, cherish, and enjoy.
Lynn HilllogoDesigner and Director of Lynn Hill Garden Design, Lynn loves creating wonderful green spaces. She has been honoured with many awards, and has contributed to Chelsea Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show, and worked with the BBC as design consultant for Beechgrove Garden.Green spaces can be sanctuaries that nourish us, inspire us and even heal us. Lynn encourages us to view our gardens as an extension of our home and embrace the benefits they bring to our health and wellbeing. A member of the Scottish Ecological Design Association and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, Lynn has a 1st Class Honours Degree in Community Education from Edinburgh University, and an HNC with Distinction in Garden Design.You can follow Lynn on Instagram for more chat or find lots of professional garden design inspiration on her website.Scotland GrowsNavigationEditor's WelcomeContentsWhat's Gorgeous in the Garden?Scone Palace Garden Fair Ticket LinkThe Beauty of Good DesignLynn Hill Garden DesignA Pop of PrimulaDesign Your Garden For WildlifePrune for Drab to Fab Hydrangea BloomsWhich Plants are Wimps in the Garden?Scotland Grows TestimonialScottish Garden Design CompetitionGet Ready for Spring BloomsWhat's in a Plant Name?Grow Your BusinessDivide Ornamental GrassesThe Strength of AllotmentsFeature Your GardenThe Starter’s Guide to Growing VegResults with RadishSeed Sowing Without Fancy EquipmentScotland Grows Reader TestimonialGrow a BeanstalkThe Indonesian CookPlant a SuperfruitSupport Well-Being Through GardeningFractal FascinationGardening is Good for your Mental HealthCome and Chat about PlantsListen to Your BodyScotland Grows HoodiesTop 5 Houseplants for the BathroomScotland Grows WebsiteJobs AheadWhat's On In ScotlandIn Defence of the DandelionNext IssueArchives