When designing a garden, most people tend to focus on just the plants. However, incorporating statues and fountains not only add charm and elevate the beauty of your garden, but the placement and surrounding you choose for your statue can enhance its visual appeal as well. Read on as we discuss ten tips to get you started.
#1 Place Statues Appropriately
Where you put the statues in your garden should be carefully considered. As part of this, mull over the impact you want to create and the angles from which someone might see the statue before making your decisions. Also, recognize that the style you choose for the largest statue will likely set the tone for the rest of the space.
You may discover, for example, that large garden statues fit in well in the center of tall waving grasses—or it’s intriguing to put them where they appear to be emerging from a small gathering of trees. Or, if you’re working towards a different style, you might place a large statue in a spot in your garden where it stands alone and serves as the central piece of the space.
#2 Size Matters
As the examples of the placement of large garden statues indicate, consider the size of a statue or ornament. Will it overwhelm the space? Or will it get lost among tall plants and shrubs? Don’t leave it to experimentation for choosing the right size statue. Measuring the actual space will help you visualize and determine how much of it you want to have occupied by a statue. Just because you have a certain amount available doesn’t necessarily mean that you want a statue of that size.
#3 Consider Clusters
If you love the look of a garden statue but know it’s too small for the impact you want, you might decide to use a cluster of garden ornaments in an area. Even though none are especially large by themselves, you’ve got an array of interesting objects that collectively look significant. If you’re creating a fairy garden, for example, you might have relevant ornaments delightfully peeking out from plants and flowers. Try placing them in unexpected places for touches of surprise.
#4 Choose Colors Strategically
If you plant a variety of flowers in gorgeous hues, you may pick a stunning white statue. That will cause the beauty of the floral colors to stand out in contrast, and cause the statue to also clearly stand out from the riot of colorful blooms surrounding its base. As another example, rustic shades may feel soothing to you; a slightly weathered look can hint that the statue or ornament has been in your garden over the ages (even when it’s really brand new).
#5 Add More Flowers
After you’ve laid out plans for your garden and its statues (or even after you’ve put it all together), you may discover that there aren’t enough flowers in the garden. Having more of them can surround a monochrome statue with a blast of lovely color or allow you to place your garden ornaments more effectively among them.
Consider the size of the plants once they’re fully grown; the hues of their blooms; and how well they’ll grow in your plant hardiness zone. How effectively does your plan come together? Remember that Decker’s Nursery experts love to help you select the right flowers for your garden and figure out how the space will be laid out.
Also, consider the shape of the flowering plants. Will they complement your statuary well? Are there additional options that might add even more beauty to your garden arrangement?
#6 Consider Herbs and Greenery
Flowers add stunning pops of color to any garden—but don’t forget the greenery. For example, you could use ivy or mother-in-law’s tongue around the base of your large garden statues. This will add beautiful greenery around the statue and help to incorporate the statuary into your garden. You can also add intriguing bits of color at the base of statues by planting herbs. This allows you to add a bit of interest to the base (along with herbs’ wonderful scents) and to enjoy flavors of fresh herbs in your cooking.
#7 Include Fountains
There’s just something magical about adding fountains to your garden. Just like statues, you can plant climbing vines and/or herbs by the bases. You can plant colorful flowers that will add contrast to the hue of your fountain. You can also add a cluster of garden ornaments around the fountain—perhaps angels, gnomes, or the moon. Options are broad.
#8 Strategically Add Lighting
Make it easier for everyone to enjoy your garden at dusk and nighttime by putting landscape lighting around your statues and fountains. Get creative by highlighting the space by either using white light or multiple colors to create your desired effect. You can pick from battery-operated lights, solar-powered lighting, or wired lights.
#9 Provide Seating
As another way to relax and enjoy your outdoor space, add a hammock and take a nap, read a book—or just breathe deeply and enjoy your space. As another idea, strategically add benches to the garden. Family and friends can appreciate what you've created as they spend time outdoors.
#10 Continue to Innovate
During your first year of adding garden statues and garden ornaments to your area, you’ll likely make good progress. At the end of the year, though, you’ll probably have additional ideas on how to personalize your garden. That’s perfectly normal, and allows you to continue to enjoy creating for more than one year.
Choose Decker’s Nursery For Garden Statues and Garden Ornaments
We offer a wide selection of garden statues, fountains, garden ornaments, benches, and more. Our retail garden center team looks forward to helping you brainstorm and create a unique outdoor space. So, stop by anytime during our open hours; contact us online; or call (631) 261-1148. Perhaps you already have a plan in mind or you need to build one from scratch. Either is just fine, and we look forward to seeing you!