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Choosing the Style and Function of Your Garden Oasis

Many people feel perfectly comfortable redecorating the rooms in their house. The minute they try to redesign the garden or patio, they feel lost. If you begin to think about your garden or patio as an outdoor room complete with sitting areas or gathering spots, lighting, and focal points, the redesign process can be put into a manageable perspective. Ideally, your patio or garden should be as comfortable and maybe more attractive than any room in the house. 

One common mistake by beginners is designing a garden space that copies ideas that don’t suit the style and size of the space or tries to have some of everything. You, your family and your guests will enjoy the patio or garden more, and it will look much better, if you limit options and decide in advance on the main function and style of the space or spaces.

 What comes first – Function or Style? 

Well, both come first. The style of the garden space needs to add to or compliment the style of the house and the function needs to accommodate your life style. Young kids, raked rock gravel patios and water features might look great but don’t work with function. Older kids and teens, gathering spots, a fire pit and comfortable seating add functionality to the space at long at the style suits the size and flow. Carefully think about how you and your guests will use the space and what time of year the space will be used. 

How do you decide on the style of your garden oasis? 

List the top 3 functions of your garden or patio. Examples might be: a gathering spot, a dining area, a cutting garden, a vegetable garden, a play area, or a dog run. Next, pin down the style of your home. Is your home modern, tudor, traditional, rustic, or colonial. Now you can start to see a vision of the style, space and function of the redesign. Always try to have the flow between inside and outside in harmony. Obviously, the first thing to look at are the materials used in the construction of the house and to choose materials that are both practical and in harmony with the house. Sometimes contrast works and does wonderfully well, but it requires an expert design eye to make the right choices. 

Remember to visualize the space in both the vertical and horizontal. Maneuvering space might be critical in areas around BBQ grills, fire pits and water features. Vertical space can accent features in the garden or create separation between areas or your neighbors. Now refine your function list to only include the key items which will make the space flow with the style and harmonize your interior and exterior. You are now on the way to an ideal garden oasis. 

Picking the right components. 

With your final function list and style decision in hand, the fun starts. Components of the space fall into these categories: plants, lighting, seating, features, surfaces and maintenance. Picking from a wide selection of items in each category will impact style. Always keep in mind the style decision so the transition between inside and out flows. 

Maintenance is always something that many people neglect. Picking plants or surfaces that need a lot of attention or maintenance is fun for some but a pain for others. When you are deciding on each category, carefully think about how much time you want to spend enjoying the garden oasis versus maintaining it. Many plants require constant attention and watering whereas others are more independent. Always pick plants that require the same amount of soil preparation, water regiment and sunlight for each area of your garden oasis. Picking plants suited to your climate and soil conditions is critical. 

Major components of the space are also important. The old saying you get what you pay for is true for lighting, fire pits, BBQ grills, seating and surfaces. Deciding on quality products in these categories will save you in the long run. You will avoid additional expense in the future by deciding on long-lasting products. Replacing low quality lighting or watering systems can be expensive. It is better to try to pick the correct system the first time. 

The emphasis on your outdoor room is as much about structure, style and function as is it is on maintenance. Inspiration comes from planning and careful selection of lighting, features, focal points, watering, style and function. Do not be afraid to add your own creative touch to your space. I inspire and encourage you to think afresh about your garden oasis.

About the Author

Curt Roland is the President and Chief Product Designer at bentintoshape.net

Curt has over 20 years of product, manufacturing and landscape design experience.  

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