Mediterranean Style Garden Design Ideas
Filed Under Exterior Decoration, Outdoor decor, Garden | Posted on August 13, 2009
If you are out to have some serious fun in your garden, you should consider going Mediterranean, albeit in a small way. All you need is some sunny space, the basic concepts and lots of creativity.
Create a Mediterranean garden wherever you live with bright colors and hot hues from flowers like coreopsis, blanket flower, sedum, and sunflower.
Set these off with contrasting plants in shades of blue along with silvery-gray foliage plants.
Artemisia, catmint, blue fescue, Mexican-bush sage, and lamb’s ear are good choices. Include a variety of fragrant herbs like lavender, rosemary, and thyme.
Olive and citrus trees also provide a Mediterranean touch. Lightly colored boulders placed within the garden will also help mimic the Mediterranean landscape.
If your home’s architectural style doesn’t quite fit in with a Mediterranean style garden, you can try painting the garden walls a soft pinkish-beige or terra cotta. Finish off your Mediterranean garden with a layer of gravel mulch.
Mosaic tiles are commonly used in Mediterranean gardens, seen decorating walls, tables, and pots, regardless of size. Substitutes for mosaic tiles can come from broken dishes or stained glass. Simply use mosaic adhesive and sanded grout found in craft and tile stores. Instruction manuals will provide an array of design ideas as well. Alternatively, seashells can be implemented. If space permits, add a small table and chair or two to create your very own sanctuary, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. For further ambiance, as well as privacy, grow climbing crops (grapevine) or fragrant flowering vines (honeysuckle) on rustic-looking vertical supports, such as a trellis or an arbor. This will allow you to make the most of your available space, even in the smallest area. (Text By Nikki Phipps, photo: trunko)
Here are the basic components of a Mediterranean-style garden:
Expansive hardscapes
Entertainment is at the heart of a Mediterranean garden. Hardscapes such as patios, terraces, paths and paved surfaces dominate over lawn. Such spaces and structures support a wide range of recreational facilities. A swimming pool and shady shelters for dining and wining, for instance, are common features. They provide lots of enjoyment and much needed respite from the hot sun.
Hardscapes are softened with container plantings. The planters are in themselves strong expressions in the design. They are drawn from artefacts associated with Mediterranean cultures.
Planting materials
Sun-loving and drought-tolerant plants dominate traditional Mediterranean gardens. Olive and citrus trees are specimen plants in these gardens. You can, however, find similar alternatives if they don’t grow too well in your region. Other worthy inclusions include palms, sunflower and sedum.
Plant colour is an important component. Vibrant colours are placed against a background of blue shades and silvery grey foliage to contrast and stand out. Fragrant delights such as lavender, rosemary and sage also give the garden a characteristic aroma.
Water features
Elaborate fountains, cascades, pools and other water features depict the value attached to the scarce commodity. Besides its functional qualities, other aspects of water are equally critical in this garden. Its cleansing and purifying qualities are symbolic. The sound it makes as it flows or trickles down a cascade creates a serene environment for relaxation and contemplation.
Hardscapes like patios and paved surfaces are a common feature of the gardens.
Art and decor
Terracotta was traditionally the most dominant hardscape finish in Mediterranean gardens. Lately, however, other types of finishes have been used effectively to substitute it and to maintain harmony with contemporary architectural finishes. If, for instance, terracotta does not quite fit in with your architectural finish, it is perfectly in order to apply paint to the garden walls to match the house. The paint should, however, be plain and preferably bright.
Mosaic tiles characteristically cover garden walls and furniture. Besides giving the garden identity, this form of art also gives a year-round colour even when all the flowers are gone. (Text by By Hosea Omole)
All products are available from Homebase (0845 077 8888)
Landscaping
Choose mid-stoned paving for a sun-bleached look, walls painted in soft terracotta, pergolas, arches, borders for planting Mediterranean herbs, chillis, olives and splashes of bright colour.
Furniture
Go for sturdy, rustic wooden table and benches, or, for a more upmarket treatment, decorative cast iron.
Ornamentation
Clay chimenea, terracotta urn.
Planters
Mosaic, blue-glazed Malay ceramics, square, scroll-top or Tuscany terracotta pots.
Plants
Cytisus, lavender, geraniums, vines, olive trees, chillis, peppers, rosemary, yucca, palms.
Small And Irregular Interior Design – Traditional Mediterranean Interior
Filed Under Home Decoration Pictures, Decoration Design | 2 Comments
Diatomaceous earth , natural materials used for the wall.
A small and Irregular home, The spacious modern interior combines the traditional Mediterranean style with the french country style.Designing And Building An Outdoor Fireplace
Filed Under Bathroom, Bathroom Pictures, Exterior Decoration, Outdoor decor, Garden | Leave a Comment
An outdoor fireplace is an essential ingredient for getting longer use out of a patio or outdoor entertainment area. But how to design and build an outdoor fireplace?
Though there are many types of outdoor fireplaces that you can purchase and have built, many times the style or design does not quite fit into your idea [...]Small House Blue Decorating – Blue And White Home Decor
Filed Under Home Decoration Pictures, Decoration Design | 1 Comment
Of course, blue is one of the best color for home decor. Blue brings down blood pressure and slows respiration and heart rate. That’s why it’s considered calming, relaxing, and serene, and is often recommended for bedrooms and bathrooms.
A lovely small blue and white living room.
Small And Irregular Interior Design – Traditional Mediterranean Interior
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8 Responses to “Mediterranean Style Garden Design Ideas”
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One thing you won’t see Europeans doing is buying cheap patio furniture that needs to be replaced every few years. Quality is par for the course for a Mediterranean style garden.
muy bueno
i dont really get d idea of coming on this site when i dont even know what is a medeterranean garden……..humphhhhh
what we have on garden furnitures are bamboo chairs and rattan based tables`:”
outdoor furnitures should have a protective clear coat so that they would last longer-~`
outdoor furnitures should be very well coated with protective varnish to ensure a longer lasting outdoor furniture -`’
do you have any free catalogs
i would like to review and order mosaic tiles
Very informative and useful post. You have good command on the post and have explained in a very great way. Thanks for helping .Nice work,hope your blog be better!I just want to make a blog like this!