A garden is like a painting! The color palette you use will be your "creative touch". But to achieve a harmonious visual effect, it's best to follow a few basic principles.
When you think about it, gardens are all about color. Colors are everywhere. They can come from flowers, foliage, bark, pottery, furniture, fences and even the decorative objects you choose. It's all about color!
Color can be soothing or exciting, it can be the center of attention or much more subtle. Any color scheme can work. It's your garden, your choice.
However, understanding the basic principles of color use can help create a harmonious garden. Whether you prefer it calm and soothing or exciting and ready for a party.
Rules for becoming a "color master" in the garden.
When imagining your colorful garden, don't forget the foliage, which acts as a green hyphen between each color.
Choose colors to match your garden's exposure
Shady areas will look brighter if you use light-colored plants. And if you use dark colors, be sure to surround them with lighter plants.
Areas in full sun welcome brightly colored flowers. Pastels in full sun will look washed out. For best results, limit yourself to one, two or three colors. Repeating the same colors, even in different shades, gives the garden a unified look.
Mix colors subtly
A simple way to combine colors is to use analogous colors, which tend to blend well. Like red and orange, orange and yellow, yellow and green, green and blue, blue and violet, or violet and red. In addition to these duos, you can also consider red, orange and yellow or blue, violet and red trios.
If you like contrasts, opt for complementary colors, which give your flowerbeds plenty of sparkle. Like these three complementary pairs: violet and yellow, red and green, and orange and blue.
Muted or pastel colors, such as sky blue, lavender and pink, tend to create a soothing, serene atmosphere and will look fresh even in the worst heat. Perfect for creating a sanctuary where you can relax and de-stress. In a small garden, they make the space seem larger.
Bright colors draw attention and make spaces seem smaller. If you have a large garden, use bright reds, oranges and yellows in the distance. This will make the planting seem closer to you. Bright colors are also perfect for drawing attention to areas you want to highlight, such as an entrance, flower beds or artwork.
As for neutral colors, they blend equally well with pastels and bright colors to broaden the plant palette while maintaining the mood you want to create.
If you're a disciple of the single color, be careful not to create monochrome beds that are too large, as this will create a mass effect. This choice is preferable in small gardens, as the lack of distance allows you to appreciate the relief of each flower.
Create a garden of sensations
Each color has its own atmosphere and warmth. It's up to you to decide which sensations you want to experience. Sensory deciphering of the main tones:
- Red evokes strength and dynamism.
- Yellow brightens up a room. Cheerful, it blends with all other shades.
- Blue is colder, almost melancholy. Enhance it with yellow, white or silver-grey.
- Pink, tender and feminine, can seem mawkish if it's too present ("virilize" it with mauve, violet or yellow).
- Orange, energetic and generous, is used sparingly.
- White gives a light, restful feel to the garden. Ideal between two groups of brightly colored plants.
- Green is restful for the eyes. It creates an emptiness that lets you travel from one part of the garden to another.
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