Less Is More: Going Minimal With Your Garden

This is a collaborative post.

Image – CC0 Licence 

When we’re trying to save money on doing up our garden, we may think that we can’t make the same impact with simpler items. However, there is a significant trend that could help, in the form of minimalism.

Minimalism is a way of life for many people, where you are only living with the essential things, and nothing more. But how can we apply this to our garden space? A minimalist garden uses a few design elements to create an uncluttered and relaxing appearance. Here are some tips to maximize your minimalist aesthetic. 

Keep Your Design Focused on Simplicity

It’s so easy to go overboard, but don’t allow the design of your minimalist garden to clutter up the space. The best way to begin is with a colour palette of neutral tones. You can consider these through furniture choices. For example, if you purchase garden parasols, you could keep the colour scheme simple, or offset neutral tones with a bit of colour here and there to make it a focal point. The key to minimalism is to stay simple, and create simple and clean lines. This will make it soothing to the eye. 

Opt for Hardscaping

If you want to create a very minimal foundation, hardscaping is all the rage at the moment. If you want to create a clean look, paving materials in the place of plants create a very simple, yet stunning design, all with minimalist overtones. You can also amplify this with some plants native to your area. You can choose flowerless plants, as they provide less colour, and are less distracting. 

Define the Space

With larger gardens, you can get away with creating separate areas. But it’s important to choose materials that either blend or contrast with your hardscaping. A larger garden means you can use different and distinct places for different purposes. When you define a space, remember that you can run the risk of cluttering your garden area. Go back to the idea of lines to keep it simple. 

Focus on Privacy

If you are truly going with a minimalist approach, you don’t want shrubs or hedges. However, if you want to create a barrier, you can use evergreens or individual plantings rather than big bulky hedges and shrubs. You could also erect a wall around a certain area or install a fence, but you need to weigh up how much privacy you want. 

A Simple Water Feature

A water feature like a little pool can be very relaxing in a small garden environment. Minimalist water features are the best way to ensure you inject tranquillity into the space. You could invest in a disappearing fountain or a modest trickling waterfall. 

The key to minimalism is to define your interpretation. On a basic level, a minimalist garden is laid out and requires little care. However, this runs the risk of it being a barren wasteland. You need to turn it into a peaceful and attractive environment and remember that less, in a garden environment, is more.