Time was when a garden simply referred to a plot of ground where flowers, fruits, herbs, and vegetables were cultivated. As the relationship between people and their outdoor spaces developed and evolved into many forms, so did the purpose and appearance of gardens. Various types of garden and garden designs evince this changing nature of the interaction between humans and spaces. There are gardens meant for wildlife interaction (butterfly gardens, bird-attracting gardens), practical cultivation of nature (vegetable and herb gardens), relaxation (gardens with spacious areas designated for recreation and entertaining), or pure enjoyment (flower gardens).

Garden design endeavors to create planned spaces that allow property owners to derive maximum pleasure and benefit from their landscapes. Developing a garden design may seem like an ambitious effort, but you don’t need a professional certification in landscape design to come up with a garden design that you can live with. The good garden design allows for two basic considerations: the purpose of the garden and the personality of the owner. Keeping these factors in mind will help you create a garden design that is built around your dreams, objectives, and aspirations. Do you only want a garden that would make your property stand out in the neighborhood? Then raise your yard’s curb appeal with a garden design that emphasizes colorful flowers and a well-manicured turf.

Establish your purpose for garden design

Should form follow function? Although the functionalist philosophy of design remains a debatable point, it bears an undeniable significance to the process of garden design. After all, doesn’t purpose motivate human action, and isn’t “why” the weightiest three-letter word in the dictionary? When developing a garden design, it is important to determine the purpose or function that you expect your garden to accomplish. Write down your needs and wants, and carefully examine how your garden design can address them.

Do you wish you had a bigger space where you could entertain your friends and guests? Create a garden design that calls for an outdoor dining space, an expanded terrace, a landscaped pool, or a multi-level deck with clearly defined areas for cooking and conversation. Perhaps you’d like an outdoor space where your children can safely play and learn about the natural world. Encourage outdoor play and discovery in your kids by developing a garden design that includes some or all of the following elements: a hedge maze, a hiding bush, a sandbox, a running berm, an art area, or a butterfly garden.

Make your garden design reflect your personality

Have you ever wished you held a different job or owned the Trump Plaza? A popular theory of modern existence holds that many of us would rather be doing something else or driving a different car because much of what we currently do or own does not define us nor reflect our aspirations in life. Do not allow the garden design to fall under your list of could’ve and should’ve. Make your garden a living bastion of individual identity by creating a garden design that reflects your personality and character.

Are you the contemplative type who values the importance of spending quiet time alone? A Japanese-themed garden design that emphasizes meditative serenity would satisfy your hunger for solitude. Would you describe yourself as bold and passionate? A garden design that calls for blooms in flaming orange, dramatic red, electric blue and deep purple would reveal your zest for life. Do you take pride in honest labor and hard work? Opting for a garden design that requires a substantial amount of do-it-yourself effort would say that you are a person who is largely self-made.

Whatever garden design you choose, you can never go wrong with starting the task by determining your purpose and assessing your personality. Garden design trends may come and go, but the good garden design is like a timeless fashion classic-always in style and goes well with anything.