The mood created by an outdoor room is influenced by many details: color, scent, lighting, activity,
privacy, whimsy, sculpture and the list goes on. You can design a garden to provoke specific
emotions such as awe, cheer, amusement, serenity, drama or romanticism.
Although there are all sorts of elements that influcence mood, people tend to experience similar
reactions to certain colors; soft pastels soothe, while bold colors excite. And most people tend to
be slightly nervous if their line of sight is too short, so a view into the distance will make an
enclosed space more comfortable. Below are a few helpful hints to help you in creating the desired
mood in your garden.
Color
The use of warm and cool colors can affect the mood of your garden and create the illusion of distance.
Warm colors such as yellow and orange are eye-catching and stimulating. They will dominate the
scene and appear to advance or come to the foreground.
Cool colors, such as periwinkle blue, are calming and tranquil and will tend to recede visually.
The four basic color schemes:
Monochromatic, just as the name implies, is a color scheme based on one hue, including
all its gradations of shades, tints and tones.
Complementary color schemes create contrast by combining colors that are opposite one
another on the color wheel. For example, blue contrasts with orange. The intensity of the color
will dictate how dramatic and bold this color statement will be.
Analogous or Harmonious, colors directly next to each other on the color wheel, create
harmony.
Polychromatic schemes use any or all of the colors in the spectrum. Multicolor combinations
can be either bright and stimulating or subtle combinations of pale pastels.
Scent
Smells can bring us back to childhood memories, conjur up romantic notions, whet the appetite
or send us careening out of a space. Every plant has its own scent and different scents will
subtly alter your mood.
The scent of lilacs, roses, lily-of-the-valley and moonflower are generally relaxing
Heavy scents such as honeysuckle, jasmine and wisteria can make you feel sleepy
Lavender, rosemary and lemon verbena tend to energize and invigorate
Culinary herbs such as oregano, sage and thyme will often stimulate your appetite
Lighting
Sitting outside and enjoying the view seems like a wonderful idea until you step outside
and flick on the back porch light only to see your prized plants slink back into dark corners and
all eyes turn to the porch light and the frantic moth honing in on the light. Well-placed
lighting will turn a daytime patio into a nighttime entertainment spot.
Lighting Techniques
Spotlighting is useful to show off a focal point such as a fountain, waterfall, statuary
or specimen plant. Spotlighted items dramatically jump out at the viewer.
Downlighting refers to light that is cast downward from a height that illuminates a
certain hardscape item or plant. The light is elevated and placed out of view.
Uplighting illuminates tall plants like trees from the ground up, often making them
look impressive and formidable.
Pathway lights are located in strategic areas near steps and in transitional areas of
the yard.
Silhouetting is a technique that causes a tree or other plant to darken and form a
contrasting figure against a white background such as a house or wall.
Torches with their undulating natural flame will bring a warm magical
glow to the evening garden that no electrical light can obtain.
Activity
A garden can be designed to foster a certain activity. For instance:
Outdoor meals and entertaining
Lawn bowling, croquet, badmitton, soccer
Bird and wildlife watchers
Cooks will want a kitchen garden nearby
Fresh flowers lovers will want a cutting garden
Sculpture
Art in the garden can be formal or whimsical. A large garden sculpture used as a focal point
or a small piece of garden art tucked along a path are always welcome in the garden. Below
is a photo displaying a bit of whimsy my son created with two silhoutte garden stakes.
Privacy and Views
Creating intimate alcoves, screening and framing views can be easily accomplished with
hardscape such as trellises, pillars, arches and gazebos. A small bower positioned at the
end of a path or tucked into the corner of your yard surrounded by flowers and vines can easily
create a mood of intimacy and privacy. An arch placed over a large sculpture will definitely accent
and bring the eye to rest on the piece of art you choose to display.
Most of us like to create many rooms in our outdoor garden. Using the information above will
help you create the mood you would like to achieve.
