Great focal point ideas for your new garden
It’s a busy time of year, but I thought I would share some ideas from some of my recent Garden Design projects to fuel your imagination.
What is a focal point? Why should you look to include them in your Garden?
Focal points in a garden are a fantastic visual tool that enhance your garden space. Remember, ideally you don’t want to see all your garden in one go, so these focal points attract the eye and help guide you round your space.
Trees - my favourite things!
For this garden design in Lymm, in a north facing shady spot, an Acer provides the perfect focal point. Planting it in a Corten effect stunning planter, that contrasts beautifully with the original 19th century wall, just amplifies the effect.
For this garden in Urmston, we added an architectural multi stemmed Osmanthus. It looks even more stunning when lit up at night and provides a framed night time picture from the glass fronted Living area.
The multi stem Amelanchier in this contemporary garden design in Lymm, is framed by the pergola walk and draw you down the pathway to explore the space further.
An inviting seating area
Using a terrace as a focal point works perfectly. This seating space in Urmston entices you into your garden with the added promise of a place to sit, rest and cast your eye back and around your space. Being surrounded by planting adds a nice feeling of enclosure, bringing a calmness and cosiness to the space. It’s also nicely framed by the feature cedar wall. Remember, if your seating area is away from your house, include views and focal points when you are looking back towards your house.
Sculpture
You could say that we have layered the interest in this garden in Lymm. A modern sculpture compliments this contemporary garden design. It in turn is framed by the pergola walk, with leads you to the tree focal point.
Framing a focal point
It’s a good design trick to frame your focal points, as earlier examples show. The ultimate framing though comes when you view your garden from inside.
New extension? Bi fold doors? Invested in a beautiful oriel window? Window seat? You are not only architecturally enhancing you house and its design aesthetics, you have also inadvertently, created a picture frame for your garden. Don’t forget to fil that that picture frame with an enticing view.
When I design a new garden space, I always include a visual of what that filled picture frame will look like. After all, despite a lovely sunny Spring, I am writing this with a June back drop of pouring rain…for the vast majority of time, actually 80%, we enjoy out gardens from inside. Have a look at these current and very soon to be garden builds in Sale, Warrington and Heaton Chapel and their plans. Happy summer and hopefully long garden days.
