The principles of design are guidelines that can be used to help translate general landscape design ideas into something tangible. With proper consideration, these 7 points will allow any design to create a concise, connected and beautiful project. These principles will also influence how the design will work in the future. What are the 7 principles of landscape design?

Simplicity

Elements that don’t enhance, or don’t affect the design in any way, can be eliminated. Prioritize what’s important and what’s not so the design stays clean, neat and concise. A simple, well-defined design is one that will be easier to maintain and expand functionality in the future.

Variety

The choice of shape, size, and texture should be varied to generate visual interest. However, you shouldn’t give up simplicity simply to create a variety of combinations. More often than not, it’s best to enlist the help of professionals. 

Balance

Everything placed in the design will have some visual weight. Balance is the concept of ensuring that the weight is felt evenly throughout the plan. In a plan with formal balance, both sides will mirror each other, while informal balance means equality, but not overlap. Both can work well.

Emphasis

Highlighting parts of a design with texture, shape or color will spark interest and direct the eye to the design, but too much emphasis will seem chaotic.

Consistency

Consistency refers to how transitions in plant size, shape, and texture elements are used. Gradual changes one element at a time provide a smooth and attractive sequence. Abrupt transitions from a tall plant to a low-growing plant or a plant with fine texture to a rough one do not work.

Scale / Proportion

The size of landscape components is scale, and their relationship to each other is proportion. The size of your landscape and the elements in it must be balanced. A wall or tree that is significantly larger than everything else will detract from the rest of the garden.

Unity

Unity is the concept that everything works together and is interconnected. Interconnectivity gains unity through the use of connections such as walkways, stairs, and fences to physically connect areas.

Repetition is when an aspect of the design meets more than one area. Repetition can be useful, but try not to overuse it. Dominance is when other areas seem to come together, maintaining a single focal point – perhaps a large tree.