It’s hard to deny that interior design is not only a rewarding practice, but one that can help emphasise the true inner character of whatever internal space you manage. This can be a lifelong or even professional skill, and it certainly helps you feel more at ease in the wonderful living surroundings you implement for yourself.
An interesting question arises concerning this – do interior design skills track to outdoor refinement, also? After all, the best interior designer in the world might not have any training in landscaping or gardening, which you may consider rather important skills for someone hoping to cultivate an outdoor area.
Well, while the skills aren’t entirely perfectly overlapped, that doesn’t mean you won’t have a great deal of opportunity to contribute some worth here. But what does that mean in practice? In this post, we’ll discuss a few ways you could implement your own designer skills to the great outdoors;
Spatial Arrangement & Flow Is Still Important
Just like arranging beautiful or even refurbished furniture inside your home, how you lay out your outdoor space can make a big difference in how it feels and functions, especially as the seasons shift. Think about how you’ll use different areas, like where you’ll gather for meals, relax with a book, or tend to your plants, it helps you create a sense of flow. This might be achieved by creating pathways and borders to guide movement and define each space, so it feels connected yet distinct from area to area. This can allow for comfortable use, but still provide an “untouched” aura to the garden.
Oddly, You Can Still Manipulate Light
Even though you’re outside, lighting can still set the mood and highlight the best features of your outdoor space, you just have to be more direct with it. You might try string lights, lanterns, and spotlights to add warmth and ambience – that latter option is also good for detecting motion as a security measure. Think about where you want to draw people’s attention – maybe it’s a favourite tree or a cosy seating area in the evening – and use lighting to make it stand out. Don’t forget about practical lighting too, like illuminating pathways for safety. There’s nothing quite like a tastefully lit garden.
Textures & Contrasts Are Still Wonderful Characteristics
There are still textures in our gardens like our seating area, or where we place our pergolas, or how we line our garden path in the best possible sense. You can mix things up with a variety of textures – rough stone, smooth wood, soft cushions – to create interest and tactile variety sure to be noticed. And don’t be afraid to play with contrasts, like pairing rustic furniture with sleek metal accents or mixing bold patterns with simple solids. This adds diversity for the eye but it’s also a great deal of fun to balance these in among a natural, hopefully green and open space.
With this advice, you can track interior design skills to outdoor refinement.
