Mike Selvon's portal will expand your knowledge on design landscaping. Visit us and leave a comment at our landscaping ideas blog where a free gift awaits you.
Design landscaping is meant to create a setting for your home and garden areas that reflect your personality and make people feel welcomed into your world. Whatever landscape design you choose will create a sense of style for the grounds that surround your home and will set the overall tone for your visitors. Landscaping that is well-done can also significantly raise the value of your property.
There are many ways that you can improve the landscaping around your home. Some people worry that to improve their landscape design properly, they need to hire landscape architects or contractors. This can be wonderful if you can afford it, but many people very successfully undertake the landscaping design for their homes on their own.
If you would rather do your design landscaping yourself rather than hiring a professional, then the first step is to learn the basics of landscape design. Good design is actually quite simple if you know and follow the four following principles. Combine these landscaping principles with your own tastes and preferences and you will quickly be able to create a plan for your home and garden exteriors that will be a reflection of you.
The first element of it is the concept of balance. If you concentrate most of your new plants in one area, then the rest of your garden landscaping area will look rather neglected. Distribute the plants around the yard or the garden at least somewhat evenly and with a sense of flow. This will help draw the eye though the entire landscape design and engage your visitors.
The second aspect of great landscaping is proportion. The idea here is to make sure that any design feature you choose fits in appropriately, in terms of size, to the surrounding areas, fixtures and structures. Trying to wedge an huge gazebo into a tiny back yard will end up looking almost comical, and will not provide a great effect. At the same time, if you have an enormous front lawn, then you will need to add larger elements in plantings or features that will be noticed and not overwhelmed.
Transition is the third principle you need to know for your landscaping project and is closely related to proportion. Even though your design can include flowers, plants, large shrubs, bushes and even trees, the way to make them really work together in a beautiful way is with the use of transition.
It is the smooth flow from one type and size of plant to another. You want to lead the eye from delicate plants to larger ones with some in-between sizes. Color transitions can also be a very effective aspect of your overall landscaping design plan.
The last of the four concepts of landscaping is unity and it is the ultimate sense that you are trying to express with your design. All of the choices that you make in how you balance, proportion, and transition the various colors, sizes and textures of your landscape elements should be governed by a unifying theme. This is what brings the design together to work in harmony and create a spectacular home and garden.
It is best to choose a theme for your design landscaping and make sure you stick to it throughout. If you want the look of an English garden, then choose only elements that will fit with that theme. If you prefer the ambiance of a Japanese garden, then only choose features, plants and accents that reflect that theme.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A




A Look At Some Of The Commonly Available Paving Materials
By: Pamela Jewson | 26/11/2009If you are trying to change the look of your outdoor living spaces, you may want to consider paving. This is not as cold and impersonal as it sounds. There have been so many advances in paving techniques and materials that it is now possible to create a comfortable living space that has permanence and is very easy to care for. Here is a look at some of the most common paving materials and some information that may make it possible for you to pick the one that suits your project best.
Best Indoor Water Fountains
By: Julian Robert | 26/11/2009These days there is a great trend to use good accessories at your house which can increase the all over look and charm of your whole house. These days there are a variety of designs and styles of fountains available in the market that have unique features, dazzling lights and are made of very good materials. They help in creating positive vibes and make the place look comfortable and pleasant. These days you will find them installed in many shops, malls, restaurants, offices, homes, health spas
Best Custom Water Fountains
By: Julian Robert | 26/11/2009I am sure you must have seen water fountains in various clinics, shops, malls, restaurants, offices, health spas, gyms and hotels. They really give a great touch of elegance and exquisiteness to your house. Custom made waterfalls can really increase the charm and appeal of your garden, house or office building.
An Outdoor Porch Swing Makes a Wonderful Gift
By: MJ Marks | 26/11/2009An outdoor porch swing makes the perfect, unique and generous gift. Here are some tips for picking the right swing for a gift.
Landscaping Ideas – How to Make It Work without Making It Difficult
By: Jo R Green | 26/11/2009Planning to do some landscaping? Unsure where to begin? My recommendation is to start on one area then move out from there as you start to see what it is you would like to do.
Outdoor Lights That Beautify Your Home
By: Michael Clark | 25/11/2009The term outdoor lights means different things to different people. If you float the term at a builders convention, most will tell you that they hang a light by the front door, one by the back door, and one under the carport if one is built on the home. They will also tell you the reason for the lights on the outside of a home is because they are required by code. The more high-end builders will, of course, have a different answer and will address the different aspects of lighting a property.
Tree Rot or Decay? To Cut or Not?
By: Brenna Hartmann | 23/11/2009Tree work. Is a tree healthy or not.
Seeding Secrets for a Sensational Lawn
By: Brenna Hartmann | 23/11/2009This article is on how to care for your lawn specifically the grass.
Can Phobias Be Dealt With?
By: MIKE SELVON | 15/10/2008 | HealthA phobia by definition means you are abnormally afraid of something.
Tips To Find The Best Driving Course
By: MIKE SELVON | 15/10/2008 | CarsDefensive driving is very important in one's day to day life.
You Have More Entertainment Choices With The Satellite Dish Services
By: MIKE SELVON | 14/10/2008 | Cable & Satellite TVSatellite dish programming can beam your favorite shows to you no matter where you live.
The Conference Call Is Widely Used By Many Businesses
By: MIKE SELVON | 14/10/2008 | Video ConferencingA few decades ago, the conference call was a business tool that very few companies used.
Do You Know How Does Credit Scoring Works?
By: MIKE SELVON | 14/10/2008 | FinanceThe Fair Isaac Company invented credit scoring in 1958 as a quick, easy way to assess the potential risk associated with lending to certain people.
Discover The Ballet Theatres Full Potential At New York
By: MIKE SELVON | 14/10/2008 | Art & EntertainmentLocated on Broadway in New York City, the American Ballet Theatre was launched in 1939.
What Does Nutritional Supplements Consist Of?
By: MIKE SELVON | 14/10/2008 | HealthNutritional supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
You Need To take Action To Deal With Panic Disorders
By: MIKE SELVON | 10/10/2008 | HealthThose who suffer from panic disorders are most often terrified about the possibility of triggering their next panic attack.