Garden Design Styles

There’s something magical about designing a garden. Whether you’re tasked with designing a cozy courtyard, a suburban back garden, or a sprawling multi-acre landscape garden, the same garden design principles will apply. Although the sizes differ, the creative process follows the same pattern, which is why some form of garden design training is essential to […]

A well-designed front garden can transform the look of your home, boost curb appeal, and provide a welcoming space for visitors. But designing a front garden isn’t just about gorgeous garden design aesthetics—it’s about functionality, planting schemes, encouraging wildlife to our housing estates and making the best use of space. After all, the front garden […]

One question I get asked frequently on this site is, ‘Why is garden design expensive?’ and my answer is that garden design isn’t expensive; it’s good value for money given the vast multidisciplinary skills that go into making a successful garden design. Garden designers should not be cheap. Combining plant knowledge, design skills, project management, […]

Updated 2025: You’re ready to get stuck in to create your dream new build garden oasis. You have this brand-new green space that could become something amazing. It may look very similar to the new build example below. Then it hits you. You have no idea where to start, and every idea you have doesn’t […]

Garden design is both an art and a science, blending creativity with practicality to create outdoor spaces that are beautiful, functional, and sustainable with a strong focus on the right plant choices and hard-landscaping materials. However, learning the ins and outs of garden design can feel daunting—especially if you’re new to plants/horticulture, drawing up scaled […]

Garden Ninja recently visited one of the finest examples of Chinese gardens, the Nan Lian Garden in Hong Kong. Set in the busy and sprawling Kowloon district, it is a welcome relief from the excitement and exhaustion of the city. The gardens spread over 3.4 hectares and opened in 2006, though walking around them you […]

Designing a garden is an exciting journey that can transform any outdoor space into a lush, inviting sanctuary. However, creating a functional and beautiful garden can be challenging, particularly if you’re new to gardening or have specific goals in mind. This is where garden design templates, planting plans, and layouts of existing garden designs can […]

Learning how to design a garden can initially feel like a complicated or time-consuming skill. When designing a garden, there are an overwhelming number of moving parts to consider: plants, layout options, hard landscaping, soil type, and sunlight levels, to name a few! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a novice enthusiast, this how-to-design-a-garden guide […]

Designing a small garden can feel challenging, especially if you have never been a gardener or studied design principles before. You can be put off by a lack of plant knowledge, confusion over where to start, what features you need or the cost of implementing your own design. Take reassurance that I’m going to guide […]

Understanding colour schemes from the colour wheel can greatly enhance your ability to create visually appealing designs and artwork. Colour can evoke both positive and negative feelings and emotions in the garden. If you’ve ever looked at a garden and found the colours jarring or awkward, the chances are the colour wheel has been ignored. […]