A Guide to Garden Styles for Balconies and Terraces
Style your small garden spaces and bring personality to your terrace or balcony
Ketaki Godbole Randiwe
22 December 2021
Numerous garden styles have developed through centuries throughout the world, based on socio-political structure, climate and culture. Each style was created to suit the personalities and passions of their patrons. Today, one can visit these beautifully laid out large gardens, but since most of us live in busy cityscapes, the most accessible garden spaces we have at our disposal are our terraces and balconies. Here is how we can bring out the best in the green spaces that we have access to every day.
1. Tropical and laid back
Style at a glance:
Includes bold foliage, warm flooring tones with natural (stone, wood) as opposed to man-made materials (tiles), overgrown plants with creepers on a pergola and a combination of sun- and shade-loving shrubs. This style is all about becoming one with nature.
Style at a glance:
Includes bold foliage, warm flooring tones with natural (stone, wood) as opposed to man-made materials (tiles), overgrown plants with creepers on a pergola and a combination of sun- and shade-loving shrubs. This style is all about becoming one with nature.
This is the style for you if:
You are someone who loves plants, greenery and taking care of them; if you prefer the beauty of lush overgrown foliage; if you are a fan of informal gardens where dramatic foliage takes precedence over manicured hedges and straight lines.
Maintenance level: Medium
You will need to ensure timely trimming of the plants to maintain a ‘wild-but-controlled’ look. Foliage plants also means leaf-litter, and the garden will need a weekly clean up of dry leaves.
Browse through tropical garden photos on Houzz
You are someone who loves plants, greenery and taking care of them; if you prefer the beauty of lush overgrown foliage; if you are a fan of informal gardens where dramatic foliage takes precedence over manicured hedges and straight lines.
Maintenance level: Medium
You will need to ensure timely trimming of the plants to maintain a ‘wild-but-controlled’ look. Foliage plants also means leaf-litter, and the garden will need a weekly clean up of dry leaves.
Browse through tropical garden photos on Houzz
Key plants:
Bamboo, palms, elephant’s ear (Alocasia), gingers, canna and other lush-leaved plants, including frangipani (Plumeria alba), bougainvillea and hibiscus.
Other elements:
What would catch your interest and give you a feeling of being ‘somewhere else’? You could choose garden pagodas, Southeast Asian-style elephants, sitting Buddhas and Buddha heads, carved stone lanterns, containers, bird baths, antique carved wood panels and so on.
Bamboo, palms, elephant’s ear (Alocasia), gingers, canna and other lush-leaved plants, including frangipani (Plumeria alba), bougainvillea and hibiscus.
Other elements:
What would catch your interest and give you a feeling of being ‘somewhere else’? You could choose garden pagodas, Southeast Asian-style elephants, sitting Buddhas and Buddha heads, carved stone lanterns, containers, bird baths, antique carved wood panels and so on.
2. Modern
Style at a glance:
Combines natural earth materials, such as wood, with grey concrete, neutral colours, with interwoven themes of extended outdoor living. Plants usually form clean, soft and modern lines across your balcony and lighting is directional to emphasise specific spots of your garden.
Look for garden design professionals on Houzz
Style at a glance:
Combines natural earth materials, such as wood, with grey concrete, neutral colours, with interwoven themes of extended outdoor living. Plants usually form clean, soft and modern lines across your balcony and lighting is directional to emphasise specific spots of your garden.
Look for garden design professionals on Houzz
This is the style for you if:
You love all things to be clean and organised, and a garden that does not require a lot of maintenance. If the clean lines of modern architectural design is something you are drawn to, this is the style you will like.
Maintenance level: Low
Most plants in this style are selected because of their low maintenance and hardy nature, leaving only the occasional cleanup on the to-do-list.
You love all things to be clean and organised, and a garden that does not require a lot of maintenance. If the clean lines of modern architectural design is something you are drawn to, this is the style you will like.
Maintenance level: Low
Most plants in this style are selected because of their low maintenance and hardy nature, leaving only the occasional cleanup on the to-do-list.
Key plants:
Architectural or form based plants like frangipani, cycads, agave (Agave angustifolia), philodendron (Philodendron xanadu) and other drought-hardy native species.
Other elements:
Little accents can create a big impact in the garden. The key here is simplicity – the green-and-grey combination matches the rest of the garden.
Architectural or form based plants like frangipani, cycads, agave (Agave angustifolia), philodendron (Philodendron xanadu) and other drought-hardy native species.
Other elements:
Little accents can create a big impact in the garden. The key here is simplicity – the green-and-grey combination matches the rest of the garden.
3. Culinary
Style at a glance:
This style is all about growing what you eat and co-existing with nature. Herbs, salads, fruits and vegetables growing on your balcony; plenty of garden critters frequenting the haven you have created for them. Plants and their diversity take the front seat in this style over spaces for recreation and enjoyment.
Style at a glance:
This style is all about growing what you eat and co-existing with nature. Herbs, salads, fruits and vegetables growing on your balcony; plenty of garden critters frequenting the haven you have created for them. Plants and their diversity take the front seat in this style over spaces for recreation and enjoyment.
This is the style for you if:
You love tending to plants at a passionately obsessive scale; if you prioritise the health of your plants over meeting friends; if you care deeply about what goes into your food; if your plants dictate your schedule in your yearly calendar; if the joy of eating what you grow and sharing it with others is something that gives you immense pleasure.
Maintenance level: High
Growing your own food makes you an urban farmer, meaning that you will be devoting significant amounts of time planning and tending to your produce, sowing, fertilising, keeping pests at bay and harvesting it. The more the diversity of plants, the more they will need your attention.
You love tending to plants at a passionately obsessive scale; if you prioritise the health of your plants over meeting friends; if you care deeply about what goes into your food; if your plants dictate your schedule in your yearly calendar; if the joy of eating what you grow and sharing it with others is something that gives you immense pleasure.
Maintenance level: High
Growing your own food makes you an urban farmer, meaning that you will be devoting significant amounts of time planning and tending to your produce, sowing, fertilising, keeping pests at bay and harvesting it. The more the diversity of plants, the more they will need your attention.
Key plants:
A few easy-to-grow plants such as perennial fruit trees, such as sapota (cheeku), guava, custard apple (shareefa), bullock’s heart (ramphal), citrus fruit such as orange, lime and sweet lime, and leafy greens such as Malabar spinach, Brazilian spinach and amaranthus, besides the usual spinach, mustard and lettuce are a good place to start.
If you are an expert urban farmer, you can grow everything from herbs to your own vegetables, such as cabbage and cauliflower.
A few easy-to-grow plants such as perennial fruit trees, such as sapota (cheeku), guava, custard apple (shareefa), bullock’s heart (ramphal), citrus fruit such as orange, lime and sweet lime, and leafy greens such as Malabar spinach, Brazilian spinach and amaranthus, besides the usual spinach, mustard and lettuce are a good place to start.
If you are an expert urban farmer, you can grow everything from herbs to your own vegetables, such as cabbage and cauliflower.
4. Japanese
Style at a glance:
This style is all about taking inspiration from nature and recreating it in symbolic and miniature form. Rivers and streams take the form of pebbled flooring, mountains become boulders and trees become bonsai plants. Simple symbols can convey the idea of the large and scenic landscape by meaningful placement.
See Asian balcony and terrace designs on Houzz
Style at a glance:
This style is all about taking inspiration from nature and recreating it in symbolic and miniature form. Rivers and streams take the form of pebbled flooring, mountains become boulders and trees become bonsai plants. Simple symbols can convey the idea of the large and scenic landscape by meaningful placement.
See Asian balcony and terrace designs on Houzz
This is the style for you if:
You want a space for quiet reflection or introspection; if you are someone who likes to meditate; if you love the nature of symbolism and simplicity, and can appreciate the muted elegance of green foliage without the boldness of flowers
Maintenance level: Low
Clutter-free plants that mainly consist of bonsais or evergreen perennial plants and flooring that consists of stone chips or pebbles make for an easy-to-maintain space.
You want a space for quiet reflection or introspection; if you are someone who likes to meditate; if you love the nature of symbolism and simplicity, and can appreciate the muted elegance of green foliage without the boldness of flowers
Maintenance level: Low
Clutter-free plants that mainly consist of bonsais or evergreen perennial plants and flooring that consists of stone chips or pebbles make for an easy-to-maintain space.
Key plants:
Plants such as azalea, oxalis, ligustrum and hydrangeas bring colour variation to the plant palette. To bring the character of the quintessential Japanese maple, opt for Hibiscus acetosella (cranberry hibiscus) and use the lighter-coloured golden bamboo for creating a backdrop.
Other elements:
Buddha sculptures, bamboo trellises, mini bridges to cross the symbolic pebble rivers, stone lanterns, all add to the Japanese ambience.
Plants such as azalea, oxalis, ligustrum and hydrangeas bring colour variation to the plant palette. To bring the character of the quintessential Japanese maple, opt for Hibiscus acetosella (cranberry hibiscus) and use the lighter-coloured golden bamboo for creating a backdrop.
Other elements:
Buddha sculptures, bamboo trellises, mini bridges to cross the symbolic pebble rivers, stone lanterns, all add to the Japanese ambience.
5. Cottage garden
Style at a glance:
Cosy, snug, informal, profuse, the cottage garden style looks entirely at home in its surroundings, as though it has slowly evolved over time. The secret is to create an informal yet inviting landscape through overflowing flowerbeds of varying colours and textures. It allows for great amounts of self-expression; there are very few rules other than a profusion of plants, a love of flowers, and a distinct lack of grandiosity.
Style at a glance:
Cosy, snug, informal, profuse, the cottage garden style looks entirely at home in its surroundings, as though it has slowly evolved over time. The secret is to create an informal yet inviting landscape through overflowing flowerbeds of varying colours and textures. It allows for great amounts of self-expression; there are very few rules other than a profusion of plants, a love of flowers, and a distinct lack of grandiosity.
This is the style for you if:
You are drawn to romantic landscapes that remind you of English gardens; if you love embracing nature’s beauty and intricacies, rather than forcing it to conform; if you prefer rambling over rigid, imperfectly charming, over perfectly chic. The cottage garden style helps bring a casual but European ambience.
Maintenance level: High
Although this style looks like it has evolved naturally, it takes a lot of hard work to keep it looking that way. Plenty of mixed flowering planting means plenty of trimming and cutting. On the plus side, its natural look means a few weeds here and there will definitely go unnoticed.
You are drawn to romantic landscapes that remind you of English gardens; if you love embracing nature’s beauty and intricacies, rather than forcing it to conform; if you prefer rambling over rigid, imperfectly charming, over perfectly chic. The cottage garden style helps bring a casual but European ambience.
Maintenance level: High
Although this style looks like it has evolved naturally, it takes a lot of hard work to keep it looking that way. Plenty of mixed flowering planting means plenty of trimming and cutting. On the plus side, its natural look means a few weeds here and there will definitely go unnoticed.
Key plants:
Plants are the main event, blending abundant blooms in a random way that mixes up colour and form. Roses, salvias, clematis, honeysuckle and jasmine are good to create a variety of colours and textures. Use the purple and mauves of verbenas and agapanthus lilies as a highlight. Profusions of tiny white alyssum flowers complete the cottage look.
Other elements:
White picket fences, trellises and arbours are a few more elements
to create a classic cottage look.
Plants are the main event, blending abundant blooms in a random way that mixes up colour and form. Roses, salvias, clematis, honeysuckle and jasmine are good to create a variety of colours and textures. Use the purple and mauves of verbenas and agapanthus lilies as a highlight. Profusions of tiny white alyssum flowers complete the cottage look.
Other elements:
White picket fences, trellises and arbours are a few more elements
to create a classic cottage look.
Read more:
Guide to Growing the Golden Bamboo
A Beginner’s Guide to a Moon Garden
Tell us:
If you enjoyed reading this story, like it, and tell us about it. Which style do you think would suit your home and personality? Write in the Comments section below. Join the conversation!
Guide to Growing the Golden Bamboo
A Beginner’s Guide to a Moon Garden
Tell us:
If you enjoyed reading this story, like it, and tell us about it. Which style do you think would suit your home and personality? Write in the Comments section below. Join the conversation!
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