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More than any other design element, color
is what our eye is most attracted to in the garden. |
More than any other design element, color is what our eye is most attracted to in the garden. We know instantly when colors visually flow or are unsettling. Much of learning to design with color comes from trial and error. However, there are a few basic principles you can use as guidelines.
If you look at an artist’s color wheel, it is composed of all of the colors in the rainbow. Those that are positioned next to each other on the color wheel are called “harmonious”; they naturally combine well because they share a hue. Red, orange, and yellow are harmonious colors. Colors that are positioned opposite one another on the color wheel are called “contrasting” because they do not share any hues. Examples are red/green, orange/blue, and yellow/purple.
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| Warm colors like these add a feeling of warmth and passion to the garden. |
Warm colors such as red, orange, and yellow evoke a feeling of excitement and passion in the garden. Visually, they tend to advance or appear closer than they really are. Use them to draw attention to a special place in the garden, or at the front of the garden to make it seem more intimate.
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| Cool colors like these help to create a calming, serene space. |
Cool colors such as green, blue, and purple are calming, relaxing colors that make the garden seem quiet and serene. Visually, cool colors tend to recede or appear further away than they really are. Use them in places you don’t want to be so noticeable, or at the back of the garden to make it seem larger.
The color white draws more attention visually than any other color including warm ones. Use it sparingly in the garden to contrast with or separate other colors.
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