The Key to Designing Your Garden Space like a Pro

What on earth you may well ask is a garden decor vignette ? and rightly so if I could of thought of a more a appropriate word I would of used it ,literally from the dictionary a vignette can be a photograph whose edges fade away gradually,another  definition defines a vignette as it is associated with poetry writing, it is a brief, impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or one character in order to give a strong impression about that character,  idea, or a setting.

Anyone who has ever read any magazine or internet article about  interior or exterior design has of course come across the term focal point focal points and their use in planing interior and outdoor spaces that is precisely the role that traditional pieces of garden decor  such as fountains, statues,  and garden arbors fill . Think if you want a garden decor vignette to be a mini focal point .You see here this beautiful garden ,obviously the focal point ,the point that the eye is immediately drawn towards, is the pergola in the distance. Of course the very purpose of the focal point is to draw us into the garden, towards what ever piece of garden decor that is being used as the focal point.

The garden in this picture looks to be of fairly good size it may indeed have two or three focal points ,larger gardens usually do ,where as  smaller gardens tend to just  have only one. The purpose of garden decor vignettes in the case of larger gardens are as distractions on the way to ,or between the centerpieces of the garden. Little scenes to beguile us ,and make us linger awhile longer, that capture our imaginations. It can be something as simple as a well situated garden sign.

A  colorful plant in a background of less showy ones that just shines out and demands closer inspection.

Simple small vividly colored ornaments that shout hey come over here and look at me all of course purposely placed to seize the attention of visitors to the garden just little touches to increase the visitors pleasure and inspire the imagination .Tiny scenarios or vignettes of decorative accessories that may not occupy more than a few inches of physical space but that delight and enchant the visitors eye .Focal points are used in garden areas to draw and guide the eye in certain directions . Imagine  a yard , big or small, that is just a belt of foliage and plants. Your eye would sail through its expanse very quickly, unable to land on any particular spot. A feel of continuity is always certainly desirable , but devoid of focus, your garden space is not really taken in by the senses and completely appreciated by the mind . Without small artistically positioned garden decor features between a large gardens key displays the eye too quickly passes on to the next large focal point. This is where medium and small items of garden decor come into play in the form of little vignettes tiny spotlights of interest to catch the eye and spark the imagination .

Now conjour from your memories  the best garden you ever saw, one that perhaps had  a wonderful water fall, a climbing bright red rose  tree or a drama queen ornament full of presence and grandeur. The centerpiece  items  you of course noticed first as was the intention  Once your mind  was concentrated in the area of the focal point were there other smaller less obvious items insinuated into the back drop of the large item of garden decor that was grabbing  center stage, did your senses,  start to branch out and notice other plants and elements of garden decor around the prima donna piece  ,were there not  smaller pieces of similar themed  garden decor  subtly placed around it as its supporting cast small items of garden decor used  to slow down the eyes progression to the gardens next big spectacle. Small items of  garden decor allow  a garden to be more slowly discovered and enjoyed rather than just a mere cursory glance as the eye whizzes from one key focus piece to the next. You don’t have to create mini focal points or vignettes with garden decor, but your garden will appear more thought  out and thought inspiring if you do.

Home owners can  sometimes find it more difficult or challenging finding a centerpiece for a small garden space.  They don’t want to loose their entire yard to one huge plant or overpowering statue in a smaller yard it is necessary to rescale the size of  garden decor items selected as focal points . But even the smallest yard should have one unusual, or showy plant or larger piece of unique garden decor that attracts attention to itself as star of the garden show but it is just as important if not even more crucial for a small space to have a supporting cast of garden decor characters to back up the star, without the lesser players the audience will view the star of the show  from the theater doorway rather than being drawn in to stay awhile as they will know your little show only has one cast member.