4 Theme Garden Ideas

If well looked after, gardens can be beautiful and enchanting places that we can pride ourselves with. Sometimes it might be difficult to keep them in check completely, but it definitely is worth it in the long run.

Theme gardens can be a challenge even for the most skilled of gardeners, but the outcome is stunning and unique. They allow for a lot of creativity and originality, and give you a great opportunity to experiment with growing different types of plants.

Although they can be challenging from a gardening point of view, they can also be challenging to decorate with outdoor furniture. Thankfully, we're here to help! We here at Tony Ward are passionate about making your theme garden look amazing, so we've put together a very useful guide to choosing the right theme for your garden, as well as the perfect furniture to add the finishing touches. 

If you are looking at turning your garden into a space of peace and tranquillity, and if you enjoy quiet evenings meditating in nature, then this is the perfect garden theme choice for you. Japanese (Zen) gardens are defined by the contrast between wild, rough, natural edges (similar to the ones that you can naturally find in a forest) and the perfectly put together pebble paths and stone sculptures. Zen gardens are the perfect embodiment of Yin and Yang: contrasting elements harmonizing perfectly.

The key elements of a Japanese meditation garden are:

Pebbles- for decorating paths and ponds, or to create artistic designs.

Water- a very important element, believed to bring good luck and prosperity- usually a fountain, waterfall, stream or a pond filled with colourful koi fish. Water elements can be incorporated in your garden, but for an authentic Asian feel try to keep them looking very natural and wild.

Bridges- if you have enough space in your garden for a pond or a stream, a bridge is an excellent addition that will add a touch of authenticity and extra tranquillity to your Zen garden.

Pagoda- the perfect place to meditate and a central focus point of your garden. Decorate your lovely wooden pagoda with paper lanterns and fairy lights for a warmer, more inviting feel.

Bamboo fences- this is a very iconic touch for the Zen garden, having been around for hundreds of years. Bamboo fences add balance and order to the otherwise natural look of your garden.

Plants suitable for a Zen garden: camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, bamboo, conifers, Japanese Maples, Cherry trees.  

If you are looking for a garden filled with colourful flowers and vintage touches, then this classic cottage theme garden is ideal for you! Rustic cottage gardens abound with different types of flowers and plants, divided by winding cobblestone paths and wooden fences. These gardens have the ability to make you feel like you are living in a fairytale village and to leave you in awe of the beautiful blooms that can be found in them. Walk around the narrow paths, sit down on a bench in the middle of nature and take in the beauty around you!

The key elements of a rustic cottage garden are:

Arch- used to grow climbing flowers such as roses and to create a more romantic feel.

Bench- a staple for cottage gardens and the perfect place to relax after a long day and admire nature's beauty.

Wooden fence- to separate different areas in your garden, and to give it a more rustic country aspect.

Vintage water fixtures- water pumps or old taps can be re-purposed in cottage gardens as the focal points of a beautiful rustic décor.

Vintage elements- Old cart wheels, rustic gardening tools, horseshoes or birdhouses can really add an element of authenticity to your garden, and make it seem more inviting and warm.

Plants suitable for rustic cottage theme gardens: old-fashioned flowering shrubs such as hydrangeas, roses, lilacs and trees, such as magnolias.  

If you want to feel as though you are on holiday all year round, this is the perfect option! Don't worry, you can enjoy the wild beauty of a tropical garden in England, too! There are some exotic-looking plants that have no problem surviving in the colder weather and that won't triple your water bill during the summer. Besides dense vegetation and rich, colourful arrangements of exotic blooms, a tropical garden looks a lot like a holiday, and it is the perfect escape from reality after a long day of work. Light some bamboo torches and relax on your wooden swing or hammock surrounded by nature's untameable beauty.

The key elements of a tropical garden are:

Big wooden outdoor furniture- take inspiration from exotic holidays in tropical areas and add a few brightly coloured cushions for a satisfying contrast.

Thatch roofed huts- the perfect shelter from spontaneous showers and a perfect place to sit back and enjoy a tropical cocktail, overlooking your garden.

Dense vegetation- perhaps the most important feature of a tropical theme garden is the abundance of vegetation. The good thing about this theme garden is that it doesn't require as much care and maintenance as a classic garden because its charm lies in the fact that it looks wild and untamed.

Palm trees- there are certain types of palm trees and exotic plants that can survive in this climate and can even resist freezing temperatures in the winter, so perhaps consider adding some of them to your tropical ambiance. The Hardy Fiber Banana, for example, is very beautiful and exotic-looking whilst also being well adapted to the English climate.

Hibiscus- this beautiful flower is a symbol of all things tropical. The Hardy Hibiscus can also survive freezing temperatures, and comes in a variety of colours for you to choose from.

Plants suitable for tropical theme gardens: hardy bananas, fatsias, big-leaved hostas, aucuba, cannas  

This garden is surprisingly more difficult to maintain than the previous ones because it encompasses very sharp lines and even-looking arrangements. The precise lines and perfect spheres create an illusion of perfection. Modern gardens can be very beautiful and satisfying to look at and generally work very well if the space at your disposal is on the smaller side. The striking contrast between greenery and metals and smooth rock can create the illusion of space and make a small garden appear wider and brighter.

The key elements of a modern minimalist garden are:

Metal grids- these create a contrast with the irregularity of nature, and are very modern touches.

Spheres- these shapes are very difficult to find in nature, so having them in your minimalist garden will achieve the same type of results as the metal grids.

Slick pots- in a modern garden the central focus is on the perfectly cut grass and sharp precise lines. Having geometrically shaped plants such as Blue Arrow Juniper or Boxwood in sleek monochrome pots in your garden will make it appear more spacious and clean.

Cobbles- the natural feel of cobbles brings the element of nature into your garden. They can also be used to cover up any areas of the garden that you are not entirely happy with.

Water features- a small fountain or a geometric pond adds focus to a modern garden.

Plants suitable for modern theme gardens: cordylines, phormiums, agaves, bamboo

Those are the types of theme gardens that we would love to see more of! Which one is your favourite? Leave a comment down below letting us know! We'd love to hear from you.