If you imagine sitting outside surrounded by gloriously fragrant blooms, gazing at a tiered fountain and intricate, abundant blooms, then you need to know how to design a romantic garden.
From borders awash with flamboyant perfumed roses, pergolas smothered in cascading wisteria to worn brick paths softened with overspilling ground cover, this exquisite gardening style has the potential to inspire, unwind and thrill with its sheer abundance of sensory charms. However, due to its extravagant nature this look can be easy to get wrong.
A fine balance of structural features and floriferous planting, it takes a shrewd eye and a selective approach to create a garden that looks expertly finessed rather than a complete haphazard jumble. Markedly different to cottage garden ideas these backyard ideas will inspire you and give you confidence to get the most from your outside space.
9 ideas for expertly designing a romantic garden
Discover the must-have design ideas for creating a romantic garden. These tips from leading garden experts will help you achieve the enchanting flower filled yard you dream of.
Make a magical entrance
Romance and intrigue go hand in hand, so set the scene for a romantic garden from the get-go. Garden gates and doorways are full of promise and provide a real design opportunity to move from one gardening style to another, as Stacilyn Feldman, Principal, Oehme, Van Sweden explains:
‘The transition from everyday spaces into a romantic garden should feel magical. A finely detailed wood gate, with brick columns on either side can make the two steps between spaces a clear departure and give a sense of arrival.’
If you are lucky enough to have an existing entry point to your yard – whether it’s a beautifully weathered wooden gate or doorway set in a high brick wall – make sure you celebrate its charms by framing it with flowering climbers, a pair of topiary planters or a duo of wall pots mounted on latticework panels.
Need to create a sense of expectation? Try installing a decorative archway, planting up a hedge with distinct opening or snapping up a reclaimed timber door and building it into an existing boundary.
Embrace romantic roses
No romantic garden is complete without garden roses. Whether they are ramblers, climbers, standards or shrub roses, these are the glorious crescendo of the flowering year and will fill the garden with their delectable blooms and intoxicating perfume.
‘Roses have always been the unsung narrators of love and symbols of passion, loss, devotion, and yearning,’ explains Liam Beddall, senior rose consultant at David Austin Roses.
‘Many of our roses are inspired by literary characters, capturing the depth and nuance of human connection. Whether grounded and dependable like Gabriel Oak, or as intriguing and passionate as Eustacia Vye, these roses offer a way to experience the great love stories in your own garden.’
Discover the best climbing roses and the best roses for hedging and follow our rose care and growing guide to keep them in tip top condition.
Show off trellis and delicate details
Throw the abundance and gentle organic forms of large blooms, shrubs and twining climbers into relief with a few, carefully chosen intricate focal points.
From latticework panels, fine wirework supports to timber obelisks and pergolas, these simple features with their regularly spaced clean lines create instant contrast to the gentle wildness associated with romantic style gardens. Treillage is a fast growing interior trend too, popularised by many leading designers.
‘Treillage, arbors and gazebos add height and clean lines against the billowy plant forms,’ says Stacilyn Feldman. ‘Take these structures to the next level by climbing clematis or roses on them and hiding them among larger plant material to be a discovery in the garden.’
Cutting through the mass of foliage, use these structural forms to provide an enduring framework that remains constant throughout the changing seasons. Investigate more climbing plant support ideas here and check out the wide array of trellis designs at Walmart, including the Dura-Trel Winchester panel in mocha.
Stacilyn Feldman is a Principal at Oehme, van Sweden in Washington, DC. She has designed, managed, and shepherded over a decade’s worth of the firm’s landmark projects including green roofs, urban development, botanic gardens, and residential estates. Stacilyn holds a Bachelors of Landscape Architecture from The Pennsylvania State University.
Liam Beddall, senior rose consultant at David Austin Roses, leads a team providing expert guidance to garden designers, landscapers, and horticultural professionals on incorporating roses into private and public gardens. With an RHS Level 2 qualification and a passion for companion planting, he combines technical knowledge and design expertise to promote biodiversity and thriving garden schemes.
Indulge in floriferous blooms
No romantic style garden would be complete without an abundance of seductive full blooms. Any flower form that is particularly extravagant; perhaps with ruffled, deeply cupped or with multiple layers of petals will convey this look effortlessly.
‘To create a romantic style garden, focus on soft colour palettes like pastels, and try blending roses with other romantic blooms like peonies,’ says Liam Beddall.
Quantity is also essential when it comes to fulfilling this excessive look. ‘Don’t plant one rose, plant 15 or 20 of them! The repetition of blooms and sweet fragrance will stay with you. More blooms also give you the chance to cut and bring into the house,’ explains Stacilyn Feldman.
‘Interlace your traditional romantic species with modern, long-blooming species (nepeta, salvia) or intersperse some evergreen, textural changes (rosemary is a favorite) to keep the interest going in the bed.’
Other go-to flowers include wisteria with its mass of floral cascades, opulent silky petaled Oriental poppies and uplifting lilac with its tight clusters of tiny, perfumed flowers. All these garden favorites are available at Burpee.
Soaring flower spires of classic garden blooms such as foxgloves, larkspur, hollyhocks and delphiniums mingle dramatically, adding height and interest to herbaceous borders, from late spring through to fall.
The feeling of opulence doesn’t stop there, as Liam Beddall explains, 'Use flowing lines with winding paths and prioritise a natural, slightly wild appearance with plants spilling over borders.’
Go for simple open fencing
You may think that fencing is perhaps the least romantic element of any garden but think again, as there’s something effortlessly charming about picket or post and rail designs. It may be down to their fine, rhythmic lines or the fact that they let the light shine through, but as one of many front yard fencing ideas, we just love the way these simple pared back boundaries let the plants and blooms peek through.
Cedar, oak and chestnut are traditional fencing materials due to their naturally occurring oils that help repel moisture, along with their dense wood grain. The timber will gradually take on a soft silvered finish after years exposed to the elements which adds to its appeal.
Derived from the rows of defensive sharpened logs that settlers first set out to define and defend their territory, picket fencing has long been associated with the East Coast states from New England down to Key West. Mass produced during the 19th century and usually whitewashed, traditionally with a preservative mix of lime and water, these fences were and continue to be an iconic sight full of heritage and old world charm.
Choose to ring your yard – or a section of your outside space – with this style of fence and you will add plenty of timeless character. Interweave them with rambling roses, honeysuckle and clematis, some of the best plants to cover a fence, and you set the tone for the enchanting space within.
Add trees for dreaming under
With their steadfast nature and enduring charm, garden trees deserve to be leading characters in any romantic garden. Whether they are prized for their graceful arching habit, low curving boughs or dreamy spring blossom, trees should be celebrated and enjoyed as designer Stacilyn Feldman explains.
'Don’t forget about the overhead canopy in a romantic space. What is more romantic than a swing or a bench under the largest tree in the garden? Plant trees in strategic spots to frame views and provide shade for a summer picnic.’
Other ideas include stringing up a hammock, encircling the trunk with a timber or wrought iron tree seat such as this one from Walmart or simply laying a blanket down so you can gaze up at the branches and distant sky above.
Willows with their graceful, draping branches, stately magnolias and gnarly fruit trees, amongst the best trees for spring blossom, are just some of the leading contenders. But while there are some key points to consider when deciding how to choose a tree, each designer often has their own favorite.
‘We like fast growing Platanus (sycamore), but the ultimate dream is a centuries-old weeping beech where you can get lost in the limbs and be hidden from the world,' Stacilyn continues.
Choose decorative ornaments as focal points
Fanciful and undeniably romantic, highly decorative treasures have long been part of the romantic garden ideal. Whether they are genuine artifacts from distant travels or convincing replicas, regencycore staples such as ornate urns, classical plinths, multi-tiered fountains, armillary spheres and sundials can all be staged as head turning and evocative garden features.
Often engaging the senses and the surrounding natural world, these outdoor adornments demand wistful consideration and can be placed in the garden as a surprise discovery or majestic highlight.
Whether it’s a lavender lined pathway leading to a lichen covered sundial or a Verdigris planter placed at the centre of a paved circle each ornament will lend its own distinct character to the immediate surrounding area.
Enduring charm of period features
Introducing exquisitely designed and crafted period features is a key element of any romantic style garden. Reminiscent of bygone days, these structures are often memorable settings for intimate moments whether it is a peaceful morning coffee, a restorative read or celebratory drink with a loved one.
Follies, gazebos, summerhouses and fanciful grottos can all offer a peaceful and private retreat, that can be hidden amongst foliage or celebrated by positioning it in a prime location, on the edge of a pond or far end of a path.
‘They are a tease of a place,’ explains Stacilyn Feldman. ‘You see them in the distance and have a desire to go there, but really it’s not a building you can use for much aside from afternoon tea, somewhere to rest, or a hideaway for a moment alone. We like to use garden structures to add intimate spaces and immediate character to a garden.’
Potting sheds, log cabins and glasshouses also hold a strong romantic appeal as Nelly Hall, Brand Director at Alitex explains. ‘A traditional glasshouse brings both beauty and functionality to a garden.
Aesthetically, it becomes a focal point whilst practically, it extends the growing season, provides a protected environment for nurturing plants, and creates a versatile space for everything from potting to relaxation.’
When it comes to creating the perfect vision, the choice of setting and finish are all important. ‘Choosing the right materials and finishes is essential for achieving a romantic, heritage aesthetic. A soft ivory or white finish is a classic choice, reminiscent of glasshouses found in stately homes.
Thoughtful details such as cresting, decorative spandrels, and gently curved eaves, display the craftsmanship of a traditional design,’ Hall continues. ‘When choosing where to place your glasshouse consider framing it with symmetrical borders, gravel pathways, or flanking it with espaliered fruit trees, all very typical of a heritage garden. The surrounding planting should feel curated yet natural, allowing the glasshouse to harmonise with its environment.’
Nelly Hall is the Brand Director at Alitex, the renowned British aluminium greenhouse specialist. With a deep passion for design and horticulture, she champions the craftsmanship and structural intricacies of greenhouses. Since launching the first National Trust Collection of greenhouses in 2004, Nelly has played a key role in expanding the collection to 8 designs, establishing a growing overseas market, and securing a prestigious endorsement from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Under Nelly’s leadership, Alitex continues to invest in research and development, driving innovation in both the functionality and sustainability of its greenhouses.
Make room for wild style planting
There’s something truly enchanting about gazing upon an area of unkempt meadow grass bejewelled with tiny blooms. From delicate snowdrops, cheery crocus through to summer flowering natives and, fall cyclamen, there’s a flower choice for every season ready to fill your yard with color and beauty.
Savour the spectacle up close by mowing or scything a winding path through the long grass. Keep it simple by leaving the surface mown. For extra definition edge with simple overlapping hoops of cut willow or hazel. Discover how to drift plant with bulbs for extra inspiration.
If you are looking for more dreamy landscaping ideas be sure to check out how to create a nostalgia garden and the best English garden plants even for hot climates.
Also bear in mind Stacilyn's top tip: 'When it comes to romance gardens, historic precedent would lead you to believe that only fussy plants can live in these gardens. Modern adaptations of traditional species (think roses and peonies) are more disease-resistant and easier to grow.'
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