Landscaping design is as varied and unique as a snowflake, and even a devoted student of landscaping design might never see two that are exactly the same. The size of the project, the land on which it sits, the budget used to finance it, the skill and talent that went into the design, all of those things - and more - play an important role in the finished product. However, there are constants in landscaping design; principles that can be found in nearly any aesthetically pleasing landscape. If you understand those principles then your foray into landscaping design has a much greater chance of success. A good landscaping design should embrace the principle of unity. Unity could be a common theme or consistent material or plant that is found throughout the design. A design that uses red bricks in one section and gray stones in another is a design that is missing the opportunity to unify the landscape with a common theme and color. The different textures and colors used in that example fail to give the design a cohesive look. Try to find a theme or element that you can repeat throughout your design. Doing so will pull your landscaping design together and help you avoid a haphazard, makeshift design. Keep it simple! A simple landscaping design may have only a few elements and a single theme. If you try to pack too much into your design you may wind up with a yard that looks more like a carnival funhouse than a well manicured oasis. Trying to do too much is the easiest way to undo all of your hard work. Limit your theme and color selection and you will be safely on your way to a good landscaping design. Speaking of colors, a well planned color selection can add depth and focus to your landscaping design. Be aware that bright colors can make things appear closer and more confined than darker colors, like blues and greens, so keep that in mind when analyzing the space with which you have to work. Colors can also direct the attention of your audience, so you might consider using groups of brightly colored flowers to grab and focus the attention of passersby and guests. Lastly, remember to keep an eye on proportion, line, and transitional areas. Proportion is a simple concept, and perhaps the most intuitive of all the principles; a small yard would look silly if it has a ten foot tall fountain in the middle. Keep the elements of your design in a similar scale and your design is sure to look well proportioned. The lines of your design are also a simple concept to grasp. Straight lines and hard angles are risky and they convey a forceful and rigid feel to your landscape. Rounded edges and curved lines are generally more pleasing to the eye and convey a softer and more comfortable feel. Transition areas designate where various elements of your design meet, and a smooth transition is integral to a pleasing landscaping design. Abrupt changes, such as one where one type of flower suddenly ends and a new one appears, are usually not preferred. Instead, gradual changes in texture, color, height, and theme can help provide the important unity and cohesion that is so important. Principles of landscaping design are not hard and fast rules that must be followed. Landscaping is a creative art and there is always license to defy convention. Further, even if you intend to adhere to the basic principles, it is not necessary to put all of those principles to work in your design. Use them as a guideline, and when in doubt you would be wise to follow them. If you do that then your landscaping design is sure to be a winner and crowd pleaser.
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