Landscape Design
Pros Share Their Tips for a Great Landscape Layout
Stumped about where things should go when renovating your outdoor space? Let the experts guide you
Whether you’re planning a complete overhaul of your outdoor space or just hoping to improve it with some strategic tweaks, a great layout is key. An effective site plan addresses function and practicality while including all the nature you want to pack in. Knowing what to put where, however, is not always obvious. We asked seasoned landscape designers the questions below to get their insight.
Black and Milk
The first thing designer Nigel Gomme of Cityscapers does is take photos from every angle. Then he measures and draws the landscape as a blank box ready to be filled with ideas.
He also thinks beyond obvious boundaries. “A [landscape], however small, can be a portal into nature, somewhere to surround yourself in plants and scent,” he says. “The Japanese concept of forest bathing acknowledges that being among trees is good for well-being. The [landscape] doesn’t have to start at the back door. I advise clients to bring plants into the home too, and think of the whole home as a series of gardens.”
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The first thing designer Nigel Gomme of Cityscapers does is take photos from every angle. Then he measures and draws the landscape as a blank box ready to be filled with ideas.
He also thinks beyond obvious boundaries. “A [landscape], however small, can be a portal into nature, somewhere to surround yourself in plants and scent,” he says. “The Japanese concept of forest bathing acknowledges that being among trees is good for well-being. The [landscape] doesn’t have to start at the back door. I advise clients to bring plants into the home too, and think of the whole home as a series of gardens.”
Work with a landscape designer near you
Mom’s Design Build
What Are the Main Features You Like to Include in a Design?
Of course, the main features will vary greatly depending on the project, but Silva says he’ll generally include a patio for entertaining, the main body of the landscape — lawn or gravel — and the borders.
“The more integrated into the home the better, so it makes sense for the first zone, closest to the house, to be where you dine outdoors or sit and hang out,” Gomme says. “[The] key to getting the right feel is balancing out the hard surfaces — patios, fences, walls, decking — with plenty of planting and making it comfortable with seating, cushions, shelter from sun or rain, and so on.”
Lindsay says that although every layout varies hugely, she tries to include one universal thing: a sense of mystery. “Even the smallest [yard] should have an unrevealed area to create a destination,” she says. “The parameters should never feel finite — you don’t want to see your fence panels in their entirety, or you’ll be reminded of the limitations of your [yard].”
What Are the Main Features You Like to Include in a Design?
Of course, the main features will vary greatly depending on the project, but Silva says he’ll generally include a patio for entertaining, the main body of the landscape — lawn or gravel — and the borders.
“The more integrated into the home the better, so it makes sense for the first zone, closest to the house, to be where you dine outdoors or sit and hang out,” Gomme says. “[The] key to getting the right feel is balancing out the hard surfaces — patios, fences, walls, decking — with plenty of planting and making it comfortable with seating, cushions, shelter from sun or rain, and so on.”
Lindsay says that although every layout varies hugely, she tries to include one universal thing: a sense of mystery. “Even the smallest [yard] should have an unrevealed area to create a destination,” she says. “The parameters should never feel finite — you don’t want to see your fence panels in their entirety, or you’ll be reminded of the limitations of your [yard].”
Georgia Lindsay Garden Design
What Luxury Features Do You Recommend?
This has changed since the pandemic, according to Gomme. “In the past, I would have said water features, but with so many people working from home, me included, a garden studio is an attractive investment if you have the space and budget,” he says. “Nestled among [plantings], they can be a perfect home office, teenagers’ den or workshop.”
Silva always includes a feature wall, a water feature or some other focal point.
For Lindsay, the luxury item would always be a tree — even a small one if space is tight. “For the footprint they consume, they give the greatest surface area for pollinators to keep our planet alive,” she says. “A tree also adds a vertical pivot point to navigate around, creating division and a sense of journey. They create the most beautiful focal point to enjoy at all times of the year, a constantly evolving reminder of the connection to the seasons.”
Where to Invest Your Budget in a Landscape Renovation
What Luxury Features Do You Recommend?
This has changed since the pandemic, according to Gomme. “In the past, I would have said water features, but with so many people working from home, me included, a garden studio is an attractive investment if you have the space and budget,” he says. “Nestled among [plantings], they can be a perfect home office, teenagers’ den or workshop.”
Silva always includes a feature wall, a water feature or some other focal point.
For Lindsay, the luxury item would always be a tree — even a small one if space is tight. “For the footprint they consume, they give the greatest surface area for pollinators to keep our planet alive,” she says. “A tree also adds a vertical pivot point to navigate around, creating division and a sense of journey. They create the most beautiful focal point to enjoy at all times of the year, a constantly evolving reminder of the connection to the seasons.”
Where to Invest Your Budget in a Landscape Renovation
Dru Allan Design
How Does a Yard’s Orientation Impact Layout?
“Generally, a north-facing [yard] will be colder and darker than a south-facing plot, but even north-facing [landscapes] will usually have a sunny spot,” Gomme says. “Place shade- and sun-loving plants in their respective areas, as well as seating, and you have the beginnings of a layout that works with the orientation of your property.”
“Capturing the sun used to be our focus,” Lindsay says. But now, with hotter summers, she considers the significant appeal of a cool, shaded area. “Try to include spaces for both, to have the choice to retreat from the blistering heat,” she says.
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How Does a Yard’s Orientation Impact Layout?
“Generally, a north-facing [yard] will be colder and darker than a south-facing plot, but even north-facing [landscapes] will usually have a sunny spot,” Gomme says. “Place shade- and sun-loving plants in their respective areas, as well as seating, and you have the beginnings of a layout that works with the orientation of your property.”
“Capturing the sun used to be our focus,” Lindsay says. But now, with hotter summers, she considers the significant appeal of a cool, shaded area. “Try to include spaces for both, to have the choice to retreat from the blistering heat,” she says.
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What Are the Key Measurements and Proportions to Get a Layout Right?
Referring to what’s known in mathematics as the golden ratio, Silva says he’s usually guided by design’s rule of thirds and the golden spiral.
“Nothing beats mocking up the proposed space with furniture and markers on the ground to map out how the space might work for you,” Lindsay says. “Study it at all times of the day and watch how the sun moves around the zones. You don’t want to create a beautiful seating space under a tree where birds might perch, for example — it could get quite messy!”
Referring to what’s known in mathematics as the golden ratio, Silva says he’s usually guided by design’s rule of thirds and the golden spiral.
“Nothing beats mocking up the proposed space with furniture and markers on the ground to map out how the space might work for you,” Lindsay says. “Study it at all times of the day and watch how the sun moves around the zones. You don’t want to create a beautiful seating space under a tree where birds might perch, for example — it could get quite messy!”
DDLA Design
How Does a Yard’s Size Affect Its Layout?
Designing a small landscape “is like designing the layout of a small room — details matter,” Gomme says. “A minimal palette works best — not too many different materials, colors and plants jostling for your attention. Keep the layout simple and practical, but avoid it becoming too hard and sterile by balancing it with planting.”
Conversely, he says, “large [landscapes] allow you to paint with broader brushstrokes.”
How Does a Yard’s Size Affect Its Layout?
Designing a small landscape “is like designing the layout of a small room — details matter,” Gomme says. “A minimal palette works best — not too many different materials, colors and plants jostling for your attention. Keep the layout simple and practical, but avoid it becoming too hard and sterile by balancing it with planting.”
Conversely, he says, “large [landscapes] allow you to paint with broader brushstrokes.”
Harry Holding Studio
How Does Configuration Influence the Design?
The designers all say they love an unusually shaped landscape for pushing their creativity and inventiveness. “On the whole, though, most [yards] are a rectangular plot,” Lindsay says.
So how would they approach the following garden configurations?
How Does Configuration Influence the Design?
The designers all say they love an unusually shaped landscape for pushing their creativity and inventiveness. “On the whole, though, most [yards] are a rectangular plot,” Lindsay says.
So how would they approach the following garden configurations?
Silva Landscapes
Long and narrow. “This is the trickiest, as the borders can be very narrow,” Silva says, adding that this configuration can make it hard to create a good shape for the layout. “But it’s possible with clever planting. It also gives an opportunity to divide a [landscape] into ‘rooms,’” he says.
“Concealing the perimeter is key,” Lindsay says. “There’s a danger with a rectangular plot that it will feel narrow, so breaking up the space into sections will help this. Create a destination and perhaps don’t go for the obvious terrace connected to the house — use the light and shade to your advantage.”
Gomme feels the same way as both, saying that creating a long, narrow lawn in the middle and planting around the periphery would only emphasize the narrowness. The space “can be transformed by subdividing it into a series of zones or mini gardens,” he says. “Three seems to be the magic number for this. I use plants to define the different areas, and stagger the entrances to each zone from the left to right, to lead the eye and make the [landscape] appear broader.”
Long and narrow. “This is the trickiest, as the borders can be very narrow,” Silva says, adding that this configuration can make it hard to create a good shape for the layout. “But it’s possible with clever planting. It also gives an opportunity to divide a [landscape] into ‘rooms,’” he says.
“Concealing the perimeter is key,” Lindsay says. “There’s a danger with a rectangular plot that it will feel narrow, so breaking up the space into sections will help this. Create a destination and perhaps don’t go for the obvious terrace connected to the house — use the light and shade to your advantage.”
Gomme feels the same way as both, saying that creating a long, narrow lawn in the middle and planting around the periphery would only emphasize the narrowness. The space “can be transformed by subdividing it into a series of zones or mini gardens,” he says. “Three seems to be the magic number for this. I use plants to define the different areas, and stagger the entrances to each zone from the left to right, to lead the eye and make the [landscape] appear broader.”
Belsize Gardens
Wide. “Wide means the layout can have a wider border,” Silva says, “and the left and right side of the boundary have more importance. For example, instead of having a focal point at the end, the side can be used for this or for a feature wall.”
Wide. “Wide means the layout can have a wider border,” Silva says, “and the left and right side of the boundary have more importance. For example, instead of having a focal point at the end, the side can be used for this or for a feature wall.”
Jeffrey V. Riggs, Architect
Shallow. In a shallow landscape, “every detail is seen, so we have to aim for perfection,” Roberto says.
“Where the end wall or fence is close to the house, it’s good to make a feature of it,” Nigel says. “Painting a fence can make a huge difference, and panels of different materials can be used to break up long, uninteresting walls. Climbers are often floriferous and scented, and architectural plants such as palms and multistem trees look great with a wall close behind to act as a foil.”
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Shallow. In a shallow landscape, “every detail is seen, so we have to aim for perfection,” Roberto says.
“Where the end wall or fence is close to the house, it’s good to make a feature of it,” Nigel says. “Painting a fence can make a huge difference, and panels of different materials can be used to break up long, uninteresting walls. Climbers are often floriferous and scented, and architectural plants such as palms and multistem trees look great with a wall close behind to act as a foil.”
More on Houzz
Read more landscape design stories
Get landscape design ideas
Find a landscape designer or architect
Shop for outdoor products
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Where Do You Start When Designing a Landscape Layout?
“I always start by looking — really looking,” designer Georgia Lindsay says. “It’s essential for getting the best out of the space.
“You might think there’s nothing to keep,” she continues, “but when you look deeply, you might discover there’s a borrowed view in the surrounding [landscape] you want to capture, or even just a tree in the distance you might want to frame.”
She also advises considering how you want to use your yard and how you want it to make you feel.
Designer Roberto Silva of Silva Landscapes begins with a grid. “It instantly gives me a sense of proportion and measurements,” he says. “It can be used for a free-flowing layout as well.”
How to Get Started on a Landscape Redesign