Art in the Garden is a personal choice and can be displayed in lots different ways in and around your home. This article will help you to understand how to display and use Art in the garden.

Gardens that introduce Art are the result of a thoughtful partnership between art and nature. Neither element should overwhelm the other.

In most cases, the goal with landscaping seen from indoors is to create a seamless and practical flow from inside your home out into your outdoor spaces, this flow should tie in colour, theme and style.

The same applies with art in the garden. The art and the garden should work together – whether it’s a focal piece, a color echo, or a piece that whispers for attention tucked amongst the foliage and spotted on a journey through the garden.

One of the most important elements our landscape design team considers when starting a new garden design is Shape and Structure. Initially we shape out the properties hard and soft landscaping areas, separating hard surfaces, turf and gardens. Once the hard landscaping decisions have been decided up, we then move on to and consider the soft landscaping.

We start with the trees that will provide shelter & focal points, keeping them in a size and scale that complements the residence & property size. Then move on to the shrubs that will provide screening, framing & texture, then finally the smaller shrubs, perennials & ground-covers to provide color, shape and contrast.

Art and Sculpture can give a similar sensibility with their contrasting materials, colours and interesting shapes that draw the eye in. When displaying Art in the garden, you can generally use anything that takes your fancy, though it should be weatherproof, durable and provide seasonal interest. Low-maintenance and interesting outdoor Art is the answer.

Here are some tips on selecting & using Art in the Garden.

Personal style – Pick something with a personal connection, Garden art doesn’t have to be sculpture; it could be an outdoor Acrylic or Oil Painting through to Canvas Prints.

Complimentary pairings – Like the now passé notion that meat dishes must be accompanied by red wine, and fish and chicken by white wine, barriers are being broken down about matching artwork to the garden’s style.

There’s no reason why a classical piece of art cannot be placed in a contemporary garden. However, think about how the art will be paired with the garden. You wouldn’t choose a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon for a delicate fish appetizer—it would be overpowering.

Consider the view – Think about how you would like to view the art. Consider whether it will be seen from the house year-round or if it will be hidden in a secret spot in the garden. Will it be viewed from only one side or from many? Does the object need to be shown off on a pedestal? Before buying a costly piece, such as an Italian urn, experiment with a less-expensive stand-in to check the scale and establish just the right placement.

Size it up (or down) – The size of the artwork or sculpture should relate to the setting. Don’t pick a piece of art that will overwhelm the space, unless that’s the look you’re going for, but avoid choosing something that’s too small either, or it will look lost.

The journey around the garden – A garden is a journey with a destination. Small pieces of sculpture, such as a bird bath placed next to a pathway, can guide that journey. “You’re using sculpture to slow the pace of visitors, inviting them to stop at certain points along the way.

Keep it simple – Don’t go overboard. A garden crowded with attention-grabbing plants and bold colours is not necessarily the best setting for a wonderful piece of art. Think of how art galleries and museums place their art; the background is less important than the piece itself.

The magic of art in the garden – There is something wonderful about the changing nature of art in the garden, Copper develops a soft verdigris patina, steel rusts into warm orange-brown hues and wood turns silvery grey over time.

We don’t appreciate beauty enough, Monet said his garden was his greatest work of art—we should all strive for that in our own gardens. Consider adding and displaying Art in your garden today.