We've all seen them in Better Homes & Garden, Fine Gardening, Arboretums, Garden Tours--"Garden Rooms." They are easy to create as long as you follow a few basic guidelines. Below are the guidelines I use and some pictures to illustrate them. We'll examine each garden room and I'm sure in the end you'll be well on your way to visualizing your own. Big or small....reflective or public....all follow these design points:
1. Start with a purpose: What do you want to do in this room? Just like a house you eat in the dining room, fix food in the kitchen, sleep in the bedroom -- you get the point. Think about how you'd like to use your outdoor space. It can have more than one use. Your purpose influences the next two steps.
2. Define the boundaries: What will make up the floor, walls, & ceiling? Think of your outdoor room like your house. You can choose materials and decorate it. Create a floor that meets the needs of the use. For example you might want to consider an even and solid floor like concrete or pavers for entertaining and crushed limestone, grass or ground cover for a private reflective space.
3. Create a focal point: What is the view in your space? Where will your eye 'rest?' Will you have a 'borrowed view' (see example below)? Consider a water feature or simply use a decorative pot.
Roll over each picture below to see a description of how the garden room was created. As you look at each picture reflect on the purpose, boundaries, and focal point. Now you can create your own special space. Please reach out if you need ideas or have questions.
1. Start with a purpose: What do you want to do in this room? Just like a house you eat in the dining room, fix food in the kitchen, sleep in the bedroom -- you get the point. Think about how you'd like to use your outdoor space. It can have more than one use. Your purpose influences the next two steps.
2. Define the boundaries: What will make up the floor, walls, & ceiling? Think of your outdoor room like your house. You can choose materials and decorate it. Create a floor that meets the needs of the use. For example you might want to consider an even and solid floor like concrete or pavers for entertaining and crushed limestone, grass or ground cover for a private reflective space.
3. Create a focal point: What is the view in your space? Where will your eye 'rest?' Will you have a 'borrowed view' (see example below)? Consider a water feature or simply use a decorative pot.
Roll over each picture below to see a description of how the garden room was created. As you look at each picture reflect on the purpose, boundaries, and focal point. Now you can create your own special space. Please reach out if you need ideas or have questions.
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