Soften Modern Landscape Lines With Plants

Ever stepped into a stunning space that felt like something was missing? Walked into a room with too many boxy shapes, lines closing in from all sides? These spaces just need a little green. Even beautifully designed spaces read lifeless without curves and movement of plants. Here are eight great ways to break up all those lines.

This space is airy and light-filled, utilizing line and glass fully. Without plantings, the hallway would seem boxlike and lifeless. Spiky foliage emphasizes height while breaking sparseness.

Overhead, climbing vines do the work of a hundred canvases, creating breaks in horizontal lines of the arbor. Small creepers like thyme or 'dragon's blood' sedum in walk cracks break up large cement squares.

Horizontal lines are the focus here: fence, lattice above, planter below, house siding. Floorboards are a perpendicular echo. How to break up thick lines? Add plants. Varying textures, heights, leaf shapes give much-needed relief from the horizontal.

If a wide porch seems too heavy with vertical balusters, lean a simple trellis against the line and train a vine up and over. The trellis breaks the line; the plant creates curve and movement. Morning glory shown, but climbing roses, bean, or pea vine also work.

This architecture is stunning: weighted, balanced shapes; intriguing rectangular forms. Linear ribbing adds texture, but wispy grass lines tickling the bottom edge make the architecture nestle into its environment. Visually, grass movement breaks up exact architectural lines.

Metal ribbed panels could read industrial and cold, but whimsical grasses bring them alive. Vertical grass lines echo ribbing but move with wind. Bright green ground-hugging plants on wall's top and bottom.

This home highlights various rectangular shapes—simple squares to elongated rectangles—walls and windows fit into a perfect puzzle. Problem: squares read as too mathematical, sterile. Trees breaking into home lines make all the difference.

Long lines of pavement begging for curves? Try inserting circular soddings instead of traditional square plots—get lines of traditional garden bedding with ease of a lawn.

Whether whole house design, simple deck addition, or interior space, don't forget to add plants when you need to break up your lines.