Find Your Perfect Landscape Design Style

While many of us can easily describe our interior design style, it’s often trickier when it comes to explaining our landscape design style. Maybe it’s because you’re not familiar with plant names or aren't sure how different styles come together—but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Understanding your preferred style can make the process of updating your yard exciting (and less intimidating).

In this post, we’re diving into eight key landscape design styles—from modern to naturalistic—to help you figure out which one speaks to you. Plus, once you know your style, it’s easier to collaborate with a designer to create the outdoor space of your dreams!

What are landscape design styles?

Bower & Branch groups landscape design and garden styles into 8 main categories: 

• Modern 
• Cottage
• Classic 
• Eclectic
• Formal 
• Tropical 
• Southwestern 
• Naturalistic 

There are many sub categories that can be achieved through the right style furniture and decor (think Modern Farmhouse, Mediterranean, etc.). There are also styles across the globe, such as Japanese gardens (zen gardens). However, in this particular post we'll delve into the style and principles around Bower & Branch's main 8 design styles.

Keep in mind that your garden reflects your personal style - so combining principles from two styles or mixing and matching is perfectly okay! However, this overview will help you understand what you are communicating when you say you prefer one style garden over another!

Modern Landscape Design

If you’re drawn to sleek lines, simple layouts, and a touch of elegance, then modern landscape design might be your jam. It’s all about minimalism with a focus on clean lines and functionality.

The elements that are usually included in a modern landscape design are:

• Use of clean lines, geometric shapes, and minimal ornamentation.
• Architectural hardscape with a preference to materials such as concrete, wood, or metal.
• Use of neutral colors
• A smaller plant palette that is designed in repeating patterns
• Striking focal point
• Careful and intentional organization

Cottage Landscape Design

While cottage gardens are unique to their owners, there are some common design themes that tend to unify this loose and informal design style. Cottage gardens often have the feel that they have been cultivated over years and can evoke a romantic feel.

Key cottage landscape design elements include:

• A wide and free-styled plant palette
• Free and organic planting, paths, and more—no carefully planned organization here
• Bright and colorful flowers and accents
• Cozy and intimate spaces that feel tucked away from the world
• An abundance of flowers, fruits, and vegetables filling every available space
• Cheerfully ignoring the “rules” of traditional landscape design

Classic Landscape Design

A classic garden refers to a garden design that is balanced and symmetrical. Classic designs, like their name, will never go out of style. They repeat forms and are well planned.

The elements that are usually included in a classic landscape design are:

• Use of symmetrical and balanced design
• Simple color palette
• Create interest through texture diversity
• Use of classic plants such as roses, lavender, and boxwood
• Create focal points at the end of site lines, such as topiaries at the end of hedges
• Use of paths, walls, and other hardscaping elements made of materials such as brick, stone, or gravel, that are often arranged in a geometric patterns

Eclectic Landscape Design 

Do you love to mix it up? Eclectic landscape design is all about blending various styles to create something uniquely you. The elements included in an eclectic garden can vary widely (there are really no rules!), but they may include things like:

• A mix of styles and influences
• Incorporate a variety of plant textures
• Mix colors, patterns and textiles that compliment each other (for furniture, rugs, planters, etc.)
• Juxtapose new with vintage
• Large color palette
• Incorporate fun accessories

Formal Landscape Design

If structure, order, and symmetry are your thing, then formal landscape design will suit you perfectly. This style is often centered around a grand axis or focal point, with neatly trimmed hedges and perfectly manicured lawns.

Elements that are often featured in a formal landscape design, include:

• Balance and symmetry
• Clearly defined lines and linear beds
• Structure within the garden bed
• Defined borders, through hedges or hardscaping but should be present all year
• Smaller color palette focusing on greens and whites
• Perfectly manicured lawns and lines
• Trees or shrubs that have been sculpted into geometric shapes
• Ornamental sculptures are frequently seen in this style design

Tropical Landscape Design

Tropical gardens typically evoke images of lush, exotic plants and vibrant colors, creating an atmosphere of warmth and relaxation.

The elements that are usually included in a tropical landscape design are:

• Lush layers with large glossy leaves and vibrant blooms
• Incorporate large trees and canopies to create a sense of scale and to provide shade
• Use of bold and bright colors like red, orange, yellow, and pink which are commonly found in tropical plants
• Use of large leaves and fronds, that can be arranged to create a sense of movement and flow
• Incorporation of water features such as a pond or a stream, a pool or a fountain
• Use of natural materials such as rocks, stones and wood to create a sense of natural environment

Southwestern Landscape Design 

Inspired by the deserts of the southwestern United States, southwestern landscape design is perfect for dry climates and those looking to conserve water. Think cacti, succulents, and earthy tones.

The elements that are usually included in a southwestern landscape design are:

• Reduce lawn space (or have no lawn at all)
• Use of native plants such as cactus, succulents, and drought-tolerant shrubs, that are able to survive in the dry and hot climate
• Incorporate natural materials such as rocks, boulders, and gravel, that are used to create features such as a rock garden or dry stream bed
• Use of earthy, warm colors, such as shades of brown, beige, and gray, that are inspired by the natural colors of the desert
• Incorporate of sustainable practices, such as using drought-tolerant plants, rainwater harvesting, and incorporating permaculture elements
• Southwestern gardens do not need to be sparsely planted, but should have a thoughtful layout

Naturalistic Landscape Design 

Want your garden to blend seamlessly with the natural world? Naturalistic landscape design is all about mimicking nature, with wildflowers, native plants, and a relaxed, organic feel.

The elements that are usually included in a naturalistic landscape design are:

• A wide variety of plants, including native species, that are arranged in a way that mimics natural plant communities and promotes biodiversity
• The use of natural materials such as rocks, boulders, and wood to create features like rock gardens, streams, etc.
• A natural layout that follows the contours of the land, rather than using straight lines or geometric shapes
• Use of wild flowers, grasses and other herbaceous plants that are left to self seed and spread
• Minimal use of hardscaping elements, such as paths or walls, and if used, they should be made of natural materials that blend into the environment
• Using color, texture, and form that mimics your surroundings to create a sense of depth and movement, much like in nature

How to Determine Your Style?

Our designers at Bower & Branch want to help bring to life a space that you absolutely love and that reflects your style and home. That is why we want to see your space in real time on a video call and talk through some major points with you before proceeding with your design.

There are a few things you can do on your own time to determine your garden style:

Take a Walk & Observe

Walk around your neighborhood and see what beautiful landscapes and garden styles inspire you! Also equally important, make note of what you don't love. This includes plants, plant colors, walkways, house colors - and more.

Pinterest Landscape Browsing

Browse social media sites like Pinterest to see what styles you gravitate towards. Bower & Branch has fun Pinterest boards for different styles and different regions of the US. 

An eclectic landscape design in a small backyard

How Does My Landscape Design & Garden Style Help My Designer?

Once you nail down your landscape design style, it makes communicating your vision to your designer so much easier. Knowing whether you lean towards modern landscape design with its clean lines, or the lush, layered look of a tropical landscape design, helps your designer choose the right plants, hardscaping, and overall layout.

Knowing your style can be a crucial step in designing a space that you and your family will love. Why?

Knowing Your Landscape Style Helps Identify Proper Plant Choices

If you or your designer understand your garden style it allows you to narrow down your plant selection, flower choices and design elements that best suit your personal taste and create a cohesive aesthetic. Designers understand what plants can be grouped together to achieve a certain garden style and how to coordinate hardscape to create a certain mood. Sharing your garden style will help portray if you are drawn towards straight lines, shrubs trimmed neatly, or minimalist plantings! Being able to clearly communicate to your designer will make this process easier.

A Yard that Reflect Your Lifestyle

Every space that comes across a landscape designer’s desk is as different as each client. The best landscapes are not only beautiful, but work with your life in particular. Therefore, understanding your lifestyle is also key to understanding your landscape and garden style. The way your designer will approach a cottage style yard or a formal yard will be different depending on how you use your space and who is using it. Having the words to describe both will help the design process go smoothly.

Garden Maintenance

Knowing your garden style may also inform a maintenance regime. All landscapes need some kind of maintenance. But what exactly that entails depends greatly on your style goals.

A modern or contemporary garden design row of ornamental grasses may need to be cut back a couple times a season in order to keep lines visually clean. On the other end of the spectrum, a naturalistic garden may appear to run wild, but truly needs a deep weeding a few times a season to keep invasive species at bay.

Maintenance is a big and ongoing part of the design of your space, so establishing a system that aligns with your style is a must.

Updating an Inherited Landscape & Yard

Unless you are moving into a new build, you are purchasing a home from a previous owner. The first thing most homeowner’s do is update the interior. Perhaps the walls are a questionably loud color, cabinetry is not to your liking, or other aspects just don't seem right to your eye. While we are often quick to apply an update to the interiors with our personal touch, the same should go for our landscapes!

You do not have to keep that hard-to-tame creeping juniper just because it has been there forever. Sometimes removing plants that you don’t love and leaving a space blank will help you envision a whole new look for your yard - perhaps something that works better with your personal aesthetic. A garden can be just as much of a reflection of your style as the updated floors you knew you had to change as soon as you moved in.

Your Evolving Garden

Every design needs a refresh every now and then! Having a particular style in mind can help guide you as your garden evolves over time. Whether you need to replace one shrub that died suddenly, or desire a total overhaul after a while, knowing your garden style can be an extremely helpful tool to guide you through these changes and truly make it your own garden.