Gardens are a place of tranquillity. They’re the one place where you can go to take a break from your busy life or escape for some peace and quiet when you need it most.
Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t know how to make the most of their garden, which is a shame because there’s so much you can do!
While there are many different types of gardens, there are three main styles that people commonly adopt – traditional, contemporary, themed. So which type suits you?
Let’s find out.
Traditional Gardens
Traditional gardens come in many shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common; they’re quintessentially British. The average traditional garden has bright, colourful flowers and tasteful garden furniture, but different styles fall under the category.
Cottage Gardens
Cottage gardens are inspired by British country homes. They’re typically small and unkempt, with various flowers and shrubs popping up all over the place. While they may seem messy at first glance, cottage gardens have an incredibly calming effect on anyone who visits them.
If you’re looking for a less manicured and more quirky garden design, you’ll love the cottage theme, but keep in mind that these gardens often lack practicality, which is an issue if you have children or pets.
Formal Gardens
Formal gardens are most often found in lavish estates, and landscape designers take inspiration from European landscape design. Think stunning topiary, mazes and well-manicured lawns.
The gardens are streamlined to achieve a minimalistic appeal but still have tons of personality. However, it would help if you had a lot of space for the design and features, which is why formal gardens are best suited to expansive outdoor areas.
Country Garden
Country gardens are a mix of cottage and formal gardens because they have a little of both. The design features garden furniture and flowers, but they’re more organised than the cottage style.
The country garden is perfect for people who want something that’s not too messy or formal, making it ideal if you have children running around outside.
Contemporary Gardens
Contemporary gardens are a relatively new style and are inspired by modern architecture. The gardens often have clean lines and geometric shapes, with hard landscaping features such as gravel or decking taking centre stage.
While contemporary gardens can be quite striking, they don’t always suit every home – you need to have a particular type of house for it to work.
Let’s take a look at the different types of contemporary gardens.
Japanese Style Garden
Japanese style gardens are all about achieving a zen-like state. They’re often relatively small and use minimalistic features to create a calming effect.
While Japanese gardens aren’t for everyone, they look incredible and are perfect if you’re a fan of simplistic style, with design elements that complement each other.
Urban Garden
Urban gardens are just that – small, urban gardens. They’re typically used in spaces where large traditional or cottage garden designs wouldn’t work.
The beauty of the design is its simplicity; you can use a variety of plants to create an exciting effect without going overboard with decoration.
While some urban style gardens need maintenance, you can strip the design to the bare essentials, so you don’t have to worry about taking care of plants and mowing the lawn.
Dry Gardens
If you’re not a fan of garden maintenance but want to enjoy your outdoor space, a dry garden could be ideal for you. As the name suggests, these gardens don’t have any high maintenance plants.
Instead, you use rocks and gravel to create an interesting effect alongside drought-resistant greenery, including ornamental grass and cacti.
Dry gardens are perfect for people who want a low-maintenance outdoor space that still looks great. You can also use them to create accents in your garden, such as around a pond or water feature.
Themed Gardens
Themed gardens are perfect for people who want something unique and different, and they often require less maintenance than traditional gardens.
Just make sure the theme you choose is one that you’ll enjoy looking at every day!
Wildlife Gardens
There’s nothing like the sound of birds chirping and bees buzzing, is there? If you want to contribute to the environment and enjoy nature in your garden, a wildlife theme can help you achieve both.
The key to this type of garden is to use plants that will attract different types of wildlife and features such as birdbaths and nesting boxes.
You can also add things like a small pond or waterfall to make the space more appealing.
Mediterranean Gardens
Mediterranean gardens are inspired by the warm climate and stunning landscapes of Italy and Greece.
They typically have a low wall or hedge surrounding them, with trees, shrubs and flowers planted in between. The garden is then finished with some lawn for seating areas and features like fountains or statues.
Which Garden Is Right For Me?
If you’re unsure how to choose the right garden design, bespoke planning services can be beneficial. You can work with a professional landscaper who will understand the potential limitations of your garden.
While we all have style preferences, the type of garden you choose will depend on the size of your outdoor space, the plants it can accommodate and your budget.
Size: Small gardens have fewer options because of size limitations, but you can choose an urban design or cottage garden for a more traditional appeal.
Plant Options: If you live in an area that doesn’t get much sunlight, you’ll need to choose shaded plants or go for a dry garden.
Budget: Landscaping costs money, and most people can’t afford a formal British garden because it’s so intricate. Other designs, however, are easy to tailor to your budget.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you enjoyed reading this post, and you now have an idea of the type of garden you’d like. Your outdoor space might seem beyond help right now, but with a bit of planning and creative inspiration, you can transform it.
Don’t forget to check out our ultimate guide to designing and building a dream garden. You can read it here.
