Landscape & Garden Design Ideas

Ever thought about transforming your front or backyard into your own little paradise? Find inspiration from these beautiful garden designs from around the world.

The love for beauty and nature – this is what Sri Lankans are known for, and throughout the years, landscaping in Sri Lanka have been influenced by diverse cultures from different periods in time. From plants to irrigation systems, every region of this island nation has been influenced by the designs of the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British. Gardening ideas from ancient Sri Lanka have an influence as well.

In this article, we discuss landscaping ideas inspired by different countries. Each nation has a unique way of laying out flower beds and using ornaments as accent pieces. All create eye-catching gardens. Work your creativity and green thumb to extend the beauty of your house into an aesthetically pleasing outdoor area using the tips and tricks from these garden design ideas.

Go Zen

Bring Japan to Sri Lanka by incorporating the zen elements of yin and yang into your garden. Think of opposites: Place long slim vertical plants near a horizontal wooden platform. Plant bright flowers on dark green grass. Installing a simple fountain and creating a gravel walkway towards it is another way to achieve zen. The stillness of the rocks complements the motion of water. Zen literally means ‘meditation’, so your surroundings must feel as such. A zen garden must not look cluttered or busy, or else it would not be your place of peace and contemplation.

When planning your garden, do not overthink the design. You do not need to build a fish pond with a bridge or erect a small temple of statues. Mixing small pieces of quartz with random pebbles will suffice. A wind chime is an easy addition, yet it adds an auditory aspect to your garden. Remember that the key concepts of a zen garden are simplicity and tranquility.

Go Rustic

English designs are not new to Sri Lanka. Nuwaraeliya, also called Little England, is famous for its English-style homes, but whether you live there or not, you can easily achieve the rustic charm of English gardens by planting a lot of flowers and shrubs. Well-trimmed lots and perfectly manicured lawns go against this garden design, so the more rambunctious, the better. You also do not have to plant every variety of flower that grows in Sri Lanka; one or two is enough, but plant them in huge chunks. Do not be too concerned with structure, and let nature run its course in your design. Do not worry about a bit of dishevelment.

The landscape in Sri Lanka also lets you get into vegetable gardening. The hilly parts of the country are perfect for growing carrots, cauliflowers, bell peppers and cucumbers, while the low areas are perfect for onions, green chilis and even fruits like pineapples, bananas, papayas, and mangoes. A rustic English design goes for a naturalistic look, so organic gardening falls right into the theme. Now complement all these English garden ideas by taking it a step further and going even more country casual by installing an outdoor dining or lounge area with mismatching furniture pieces from flea markets and garage sales.

Go Exotic

Middle Eastern designs are some of the most beautiful in the world. They can even be considered as a form of art. In some countries, climate can limit one’s gardening ideas. Sri Lanka however is hot and humid for most of the year. Therefore, Middle Eastern plants can also grow here.

Sunlight is an important aspect in Islamic gardens and landscapes. Persian and Arabic garden designs tend to represent a form of paradise by playing around with shadows and water. Trees and trellises are an easy way to create shade. Fountains or small pools can cool off the area, and should be your garden’s centerpiece.

Middle Eastern gardens also tend to put aesthetics over function. This means that you should consider symmetry when planting your flower beds, and integrate architectural elements into your landscape design. The plants are typically simple but fragrant and the decorations are quite ornate. Arches, mosaic tiles, and potteries are good accent pieces. Do not forget to surround your garden with walls or fences, as this garden design idea also values privacy.

Posted Date: 9th March 2016

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