Difference Between Formal and Informal Landscaping Design

If you have a green thumb, or really love the hobby of gardening and landscaping then you know that there can be a plethora of benefits to having a landscaped yard.  Not only is it beautiful to look at, and something many people have a lot of pride in, but it also serves a purpose.  Landscaping can make your house feel like a home, giving it personality, and protect it from water and weather damage when done correctly.  When it comes to landscaping styles though, there are two different types, formal and informal.  Do you know the difference between these two styles? 

Formal Landscapes

A formal landscape is very symmetrical, and can be described as very ordered.  It contains geometry, mirror images, symmetry, and perfection.  There are many right angles, lines, triangles and more.  The objective of a formal landscape design is to create beauty out of precision.   An example of formal landscapes can be found all the way back in history as the ancient Greeks, and is often used in Royal English courtyards and gardens. 

Formal landscaping for your home should incorporate a style that looks very ordered, symmetrical, and contains repetitive patterns.  The elements that are part of the landscape should follow specific patterns, and take for granted the size, color, and height of plants in the designs and patterns.  Also, the design takes into account the size, shape, and color of the tiles, stones, and concretes that are used to improve any element of symmetry and texture in a landscape. 

Informal Landscapes?

Informal landscape designs focus more on enhancing natural appearances, and using the contents of the area and space to create beauty that is less symmetrical and less structured.  There may be some symmetry in this style and design, but the focus is on allowing plants to grow naturally, instead of manipulating it.  An informal landscape is designed to be more relaxing, and attempts to preserve the natural look of plants, ornaments, and even materials that are involved in the process.  You could say it is a chaotic beauty to behold!

It is more common to see informal landscapes than it is formal landscapes because they are often easier to create, and don’t require as much maintenance.  The majority of gardens you see use this form of landscape design.   In order to create this type of design, you should consider how nature currently flows in a space, and enhance that look.  Mixing and matching plants and how they interact with each other, as well as experimenting with different flows of nature are also present in informal design layouts. 

If you are ready to get some much needed expertise and help, then please feel free to contact Landscaping Coquitlam Ecopros, we are the professional experts you can reach out to in the Coquitlam, BC area to help you attain the perfect landscape, and maintain it.  Set up a free consultation today!