Four Design Blunders to Avoid When Building a Japanese Garden

The façade and the lawn canvas of your home are among the things that build the impression of your property. These are the first things that onlookers and even property assessors check when they look at your home. As such, many homeowners have resorted to various ways when it comes to beautifying their property’s front. Many of them invest heavily in the beautification of their garden. However, some people actually make the mistake of thinking that the more ostentatious the garden is, the better. This is not always the case, knowing an extravagant garden can be difficult to maintain, not to mention, it will look garish and messy, especially when you just let it thrive on its own.

If you are looking to up the elegance and beauty of your garden without taking away the attention from your home, consider integrating Japanese aesthetics into your patch of land. But to get its maximum aesthetic benefits, you should learn to avoid a few mistakes. Here are some of them, as recognized by a leading provider of high-end landscape design in Grand Prairie, Canada.

Going Overboard with Colors

You may be tempted to put a lot of flowers into your garden. After all, you are inspired by the beautiful and colorful patterns of kimonos and yukatas. However, Japanese landscaping follows a different set of design principles. Your objective here is to make your garden look as natural and balanced as possible. And incorporating a lot of colorful flowers will defeat the purpose. Instead, focus on the philosophy of yin and yang. Heavy-colored flowers will be complemented by lighter ones and vice versa.

Making it too Obvious with Decorations

fountain in the middle of a gardenJust because it is Japanese aesthetics does not mean that you will spam your garden with lots of Japanese design hardware. Do not be tempted to bring in a large Buddha bust. Similarly, you are not obliged to build a torii or a wooden bridge just to make the space look oriental or Japanese. Focus instead on the principle of designs, where wood and nature are the main characters. Should you use accessories, go for accents, such as small Japanese fountains and lanterns.

Picking the Wrong Rocks or Stones

Japanese people are very attentive to details—including stones. This is why you should also focus on the colors and aesthetics of these hardware when designing your garden. For most Japanese gardens, it is unacceptable to use multi-colored stones. Instead, go for muted and subdued ones, such as cream, white, and shell. Always go for natural options.

Not Focusing on Lights

You may be too consumed by the design of the yard, but do not forget the other accessories. You can still make your Japanese garden beautiful at night by illuminating it. The most obvious lighting means here may be the hanging Japanese lanterns, but you can always go for path lights, which are housed in pagoda lamps.

Japanese aesthetics is muted, minimalist, yet appealing. It is not loud; it does not seek attention. It is content with its own beauty. It focuses on function. These are among some of the things that you will learn should you decide to build a stunning Japanese garden.

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