Garden Design Fundamentals: How Shape and Pattern Define Style

Shape and pattern are simple words, but how do they relate to garden design and personal style? Understanding how shapes interact is central to garden design—these underlying abstract forms give a design its strength.

In smaller gardens especially, the shapes and patterns must suit your situation. Curves, circles, right angles, and squares are all used, but how and where they're incorporated sets the garden's tone.

The Use of Curves and Circles

The patterns you create must tie together all garden functions. You're not thinking in terms of paving or planting alone, but how the shapes they produce form the scheme's tone.

Curves and circles can look forced in small gardens. Here, arcs and circles entwine the patio's functions—a round fire pit and curved bench seating.

Generous curves need purpose—perhaps leading the eye to a garden feature or an outside vista.

Clipped planting enforces this design, but its character stems from the underlying pattern. Circles and curves work especially well arranged within a right-angle paving grid.

Using Simple Geometric Shapes

The pattern basis depends on site suitability—levels, views, and building style. The simplest shape is the square or rectangle, as house walls and boundaries suggest a 90-degree pattern.

A single shape type creates movement. Here, it moves the eye through the garden to the front door.

A regular pattern carries through this scheme with varying heights, materials, and textures—all based on 90-degree geometry.

Differing sizes of regular shapes unify a design and, in smaller spaces, confirm its use as an outdoor room.

Giving shapes differing heights adds definition, as does the depth of this sunken area.

Bringing Two-Dimensional Patterns to Life

Regularity extends to chaise longues fitting the scheme. Two-dimensional patterns come alive with a third dimension. Box plants define rectangular shapes here.

This asymmetrical layout uses linear and rectangular shapes creating an abstract pattern relating perfectly to the modernist building it fronts. Simple planting, including strong strip planting of Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'), strengthens shapes without detracting from the pattern.

Materials Mold the Tone of Your Garden

Regular paving could overpower, but green strips between blocks visually link areas and create a composite pattern.

Materials complete your chosen shapes and mold the garden's tone. Hard and soft landscaping complement strong shapes in this front garden.

Dynamic paving patterns create movement, but regular paved squares separated by gravel provide restfulness.

The curve of Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale, zones 3-11) border planting and cylindrical planters emphasize the square paving's formality.

Nature sometimes helps create patterns from manmade shapes. Standard square pavers gain emphasis from clipped evergreen runners. Strong linear shadow lines from an overhead pergola add to the whole design.