Focal Points in the Landscape

July 18, 2013 | By webadmin

When we design landscapes for our customers, we work to create focal points in the design that lead a viewers perspective. Often we're trying to bring attention to a sculpture, water feature, arbor or even an existing vista. The focal point can even be a certain area of a home's exterior architecture, such as the entrance, arches or specific windows. There are many garden accents that can be used as focal points in a landscape.

When you look around your landscape, does anything specific catch your eye? Or does the entire view just seem to blend together without any high points? If nothing in particular jumps out at you, then what you're probably missing is a few good focal points. So how do you, or we, create the right focal points in your landscape?

Realize that a good focal point doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. But it should be reflective of your personality or the architecture of your home. Pottery is a simple and effective way to create attractive focal points. Even just one striking piece can do the job. Here is a great example of how one colorful piece of pottery planted with an architectural agave transforms this front yard foundation bed.

A special piece of sculpture, found items, water features and even specimen plants can be used in exactly the same fashion to create a unique focal point.

Water features make excellent focal points because they will capture a viewer's attention on many levels; not only are they beautiful, but they generate sound and movement within a garden. This peaceful series of small waterfalls in a pond and stream we created are an ideal focal point, as they draw your eye through the entire landscape.

Specially selected boulders and even river rock, arranged in the right way, can also be very attractive and effective focal points. Stonework is an excellent way to create natural borders and boundaries around a landscape or to frame water features and plantings.

If you're looking to increase the drive up appeal or value of your property, remember that a few good focal points that "grab" someone's eye from the street are highly effective. So take a look around your landscape and see if it could benefit from a "focal point makeover". Then give us a call! 214-824-7036