7 Garden Design Principles to Transform Your Outdoor Space

At Diaco’s, we know that creating a garden isn’t just about sticking plants in the ground—it’s about designing a space that makes you feel good, works for your lifestyle, and looks blooming beautiful too. Whether you’re sprucing up a small courtyard or planning a whole backyard makeover, understanding these seven landscape design principles will help you create a garden that flows, feels balanced, and thrives in our unique Australian conditions.

1. Unity

Unity means everything in your garden feels like it belongs together. It’s all about tying different parts into one clear, cohesive design.

You can achieve unity by repeating certain elements across the space—things like colour, texture, or plant type. This makes your garden feel whole and intentional, rather than a mix of mismatched bits.

• Use repeating plants like Lomandra or Kangaroo Paw throughout beds.
• Stick with a consistent material—like timber or natural stone—for edging and paths.
• Choose a limited colour palette for pots and furniture.
• Echo shapes and lines—for example, curved garden beds and rounded foliage.

Unity helps your garden tell one story, rather than seven unrelated ones. When done well, it brings a lovely sense of calm and connection to your outdoor space.

2. Scale

Scale is about making sure the size of your garden elements works well together—and with your space. It’s what stops your garden from feeling cramped or empty.

It’s important to think about how big plants will get, and how they relate to nearby features like your house, fence, or furniture.

• In small spaces, use compact shrubs like Westringia or Correa.
• For bigger gardens, go for statement trees like Bottlebrush or Crepe Myrtle.
• Match furniture and pots to your space—tiny pots can disappear in big gardens, while oversized furniture can overwhelm a cosy courtyard.
• Consider the height of fences and buildings—tall plants next to a low wall can look out of place.

Good scale creates balance between all the pieces in your garden. It’s all about making sure nothing looks awkward or out of place.

3. Balance

Balance is about creating a garden that feels stable and pleasing to the eye. There are two main types: symmetrical and asymmetrical.

Symmetrical balance is when both sides of your garden mirror each other. It’s great for formal designs.

Asymmetrical balance is more relaxed—using different elements that carry equal visual weight.

• Plant matching trees on either side of a path for symmetry.
• For asymmetry, balance a large tree on one side with a few layered shrubs and a feature pot on the other.
• Mix plant heights and shapes, but make sure no side feels “heavier” than the other.
• Use contrasting textures and colours in balanced amounts—fluffy grasses and dense-leaved shrubs can complement each other.

Balance is what keeps your garden from feeling lopsided or awkward. It gives structure without making things feel too stiff.

4. Simplicity

Simplicity doesn’t mean boring—it means keeping things clean, uncluttered, and easy to enjoy. It helps your garden feel calm and inviting.

By limiting the number of elements you use, you make it easier to care for your garden and create a strong impact.

• Stick to 3–5 main plant varieties in any one area.
• Choose a small number of textures (like glossy leaves, soft grasses, or rough bark).
• Avoid mixing too many colours, especially in pots and garden art.
• Group similar plants together instead of scattering them randomly.

Simple gardens are often the most stunning—and they’re easier to maintain too. It’s about letting each element shine.

5. Variety

While simplicity keeps things tidy, variety keeps things interesting! It’s the spice that adds life to your design.

You want to include different shapes, colours, textures, and heights to create depth and movement. This keeps the eye engaged and adds seasonal interest.

• Combine strappy plants like Dianella with softer forms like native daisies.
• Use bold colours (like red Kangaroo Paw) against cooler tones (like grey-leafed Eucalyptus).
• Mix flowering times to ensure interest all year round.
• Add a mix of evergreen and deciduous plants to vary the look across seasons.

Variety done well stops your garden from feeling flat or repetitive, without making it chaotic. It helps your garden feel full of life.

6. Emphasis

Every garden needs a hero—a spot that draws the eye and gives your space a sense of purpose. That’s what emphasis is all about.

This is your garden’s “focal point”—a feature that anchors your design and gives it meaning. It brings focus and helps organise the space around it.

• Plant a dramatic feature tree like an Illawarra Flame Tree.
• Create a sculpture corner or birdbath focal point.
• Use a pop of bold colour in a feature pot or flowering bed.
• Position a bench seat beneath a shady tree to create a restful highlight.

Place your focal point where it can be seen from multiple angles—like from your kitchen window or seating area. A well-placed focal point gives your garden wow factor.

7. Sequence

Sequence (or flow) is what guides the eye—and the feet—through your garden. It’s about creating a natural path for people to move and for your design to unfold gradually.

You create sequence by using gradual changes in height, colour, or spacing. It helps everything feel connected and makes your garden a joy to explore.

• Line paths with repeating grasses like Poa or Blue Fescue.
• Gradually change plant height from groundcovers to shrubs to trees.
• Use curved paths or stepping stones to create gentle movement.
• Add subtle changes in colour that lead the eye from one space to the next.

Sequence gives your garden rhythm—like a story with a beginning, middle and end. It makes your garden feel alive, flowing and thoughtfully arranged.

Wrapping Up

These seven principles—unity, scale, balance, simplicity, variety, emphasis, and sequence—are the building blocks of great garden design. By following them, you can turn any outdoor space into something special.At Diaco’s, we love helping people bring their garden ideas to life. Whether you’re just starting out or ready for a big project, we can help you through our garden design consultation servicehttps://diacos.com.au/garden-design/. You can also  pop into one of our stores for advice, inspiration, and plenty of plants to get you growing. From compact courtyards to backyard jungles, we’ve got everything you need to create a garden that’s as beautiful as it is functional.