Design Solutions
Take a minimalist approach to planting for a chic new look, says Louisa Gilhooly
Take a minimalist approach to planting for a chic, new look that’s easy to manage
Q
How can I make my small garden easier to manage?
WE ALL LEAD busy lives, but thank goodness our gardens represent a place to ‘get away from it all’! Gardening shouldn’t entail a long list of outdoor chores, and that’s where taking a minimalist approach to the design can help. Minimalist gardens have a simple, calming, slightly ‘Zen’ feel – and from a practical point of view, they don’t demand too much hard work or cash. They tend to use a limited number of elements – materials, plants, features – for a chic, uncluttered, relaxing scheme. Minimalism isn’t for everyone, but its guiding principle of streamlined organisation can be put to good use within other garden styles (save perhaps cottage-style gardens). It really does all depend on personal taste. For a successful design, the flow from inside to outside should feel seamless. Aim to complement the architectural style of your home and/or your interior style and colour schemes. You don’t need a modern home with bifold doors to get the look – if you use traditional materials (such as Yorkstone flags, reclaimed bricks, timber) you can have a minimalist garden even with a period-style property. Consider your lifestyle before you start designing. If your life involves children, dogs or a vegetable patch, your design will generally need to include a place for tools, a barbecue, toys and somewhere to sit. A minimalist garden should be beautiful, of course, but first and foremost it should be practical, inviting and comfortable. Incorporate storage to hide clutter away. Small town or suburban gardens lend themselves well to the minimalist style because they can be transformed into quiet and enclosed ‘outdoor rooms’, rather like a chic outdoor gallery space, where architectural evergreens are the exhibits. With a larger garden it’s best to define separate, smaller spaces by sectioning them off into zones with specific roles. In its purest sense, minimalism is about doing away with the unnecessary and making a conscious choice about the things
you want to include. Be sure to challenge yourself about every design decision you make. We live in a consumer society that encourages us to collect and amass; the aim of the minimalist garden is to reject this and free ourselves from clutter! The main thing to keep in mind here is that less, really is, more. ➤