When we decorate the interior of our spaces, color plays a very important part. We look at painting the walls and ceiling of a room and bringing in color in furniture, window treatments, accessories, and perhaps even flooring. We aim for a “theme” or a harmony of color, and we often use color to set the mood or the function of a room. But when it comes to our outdoor space, we sometimes just choose colors that we are attracted to at the moment and throw them together. But in a garden, just as in a home, color can be used in strategic ways.
Let’s take a look, for a moment, at the division of warm colors and cool colors in a garden. Bold, bright colors, such as reds, oranges and yellows draw you right in, making it seem as if the garden is closer to you than it really is. A garden of warm colors can be seen from a distance. So these warm colors are ideal for spaces that are farthest away from your house or outdoor seating area.
In contrast, the cool colors, such as blues and purples end to retreat from the eye, making it seem as if the garden is farther away from you. Unlike the warm colors, a cool-color garden can get lost if placed to far away from your house or outdoor seating area. A garden of cool colors is ideal when it is placed close to the house to provide a soothing, pleasant and quiet garden.
Of course, you can blend warm colors and cool colors and even through in some neutrals. Combining warm and cool will give your garden a feeling of depth and movement. Contrast, when used correctly can be stunning. Think of how wonderful bold warm yellow flowers look against a cool purple background.
There are so many wonderful ways to use color in your garden.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
Related Articles
Plant A Spring Cutting Garden in The Fall
Landscape Design: Planing Your Zones