How to decorate a plot in a summer cottage: ideas for decorating a summer cottage

A standard garden plot can be turned into a cozy corner of nature, where it will be a pleasure to spend time restoring moral and physical strength. It will not be easy to ennoble the territory if improvements are made haphazardly: the harmony of the country courtyard depends, inter alia, on the integrity of the impression that it produces, on the thoughtful unity of all its zones and objects. This does not mean that only the project “from scratch” will be successful when the design is thought out before the construction of the first buildings. If this is not possible, it is necessary to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the site, decide what needs to be redone and what remains unchanged, and consider how to combine the existing elements into a single ensemble.

Planning

Arrangement of a personal plot it is worth starting with planning in order to be able to assess the relevance of all innovations from a practical and stylistic point of view. Even the seeming drawbacks of the site, such as the irregular shape, terrain unevenness, poor location relative to the cardinal points, can be creatively beaten, but design decisions should be thought out in advance, having a plan of the territory before your eyes.

Draw up a plan diagram of the site in the sequence:

1. Outline the boundaries and designate on the drawing all already existing objects - residential and utility buildings, as well as trees and shrubs that need to be left.

2. Divide the site into zones. As a rule, they distinguish an economic zone, a garden and a garden, a place for rest, a decorative area. The location of the zones depends on the shape of the site and orientation relative to the cardinal points. For example, on the shady side of the house you can hang a hammock or put up a bench, but this place is not suitable for a flower garden or lawn.
3. Having approved the arrangement of functional zones, we can proceed to plot future structures on the “map”. It can be a pool or a bathhouse, an artificial pond or a fountain, a sports ground, a gazebo.
4. The final stage of planning is marking the paths, determining the location of sculptures, hedges, benches, lamps and other decorative objects.

Decorative zone

In most cases, if the configuration of the site allows, a decorative area is arranged in front of the facade of the house. Flower beds, lawns or flowerbeds can serve as separators for other functional zones, occupying a central position, located in the form of several "islands" scattered across the territory or framing it around the perimeter.

But regardless of location, the decorative zone should harmoniously fit into the overall image of the infield. Common mistake in registration of the country territory - excessive variety of plants. It is worth restricting yourself to several types of flowers and shrubs, but to create a complete impression on the viewer.

Flower beds and flower beds

Landscape designers recommend dividing plants by role in the flower garden: some will serve as the background, others as “figures” on it. Plants with gray-green, muted shade of leaves, for example, edelweiss or wormwood, are suitable as “decorations”. The second group should be expressive and vibrant flowers.Leading plants should not be many, and the number of their species can be no more than two or three.

Bright flowers are appropriate only on small flower beds, in a large flower garden, plants with restrained flowers should be selected. They need to be arranged in growth - from the highest in the center to the stunted flower beds at the edges. Sometimes the ensemble is made up of plants or varieties with different flowering periods, so that the flowerbed has an elegant look throughout the season.

Flower beds in which herbaceous plants are combined with shrubbery look interesting. Decorative leaves of shrubs will retain the attractiveness of the flowerbed even after flowering. Ornamental cereals can play a similar role. Evergreen bushes are particularly well emphasized by white flowers.

If you need to look for a flat area for the lawn, then the flower bed or flower bed can be located in areas with uneven terrain. It is not worth fencing such plantings - the absence of a clear border will give them naturalness. Flowerbeds of the correct geometric shape will look more beautiful in a “frame” - stone or brick. Wooden fences are suitable for spreading grassy plants.

Lawn

If the site is small, it is worth abandoning large flower beds in favor of the lawn - this way you can visually expand the space. Lawnlocated between other zones, unlike a flower garden, does not give the impression of crowding and crowding, but does not mask the economic zone.

Grassed field combined with evergreen shrubs. A classic lawn pair is thuja. The shrub should not merge with the background: if the plant has dark needles, the lawn grass should be light green in color, and vice versa. Instead of a classic lawn that is difficult to maintain, the plot can be planted with meadow grass or ornamental grasses.

Artificial pond

Even a small natural corner in the country can decorate with a pond. As a reservoir, any containers are suitable - an old bathtub, a tank, a large basin. If the reservoir is large, the reservoir should be given the resemblance to a real pond - planted along the perimeter with shrubs or tall herbs, placed large fragments of stones on the shore, decorated with a carved wooden bridge. Near the pond you can install a bench or a lantern.

On the contrary, if the site can be placed exclusively symbolic "pond", it is worth emphasizing its "toy". For example, arrange plants in flower pots around a pond. The pond inside the flowerbed looks spectacular, the edges of which are decorated with stone or pebbles. An interesting option is a group of small ponds (the size of a bowl or basin) in the flower garden. Plants need to choose stunted so that they do not obscure the pond.

Rest zone

The type of this zone is determined only by the needs and preferences in the rest of the owner or members of the family owning the site. But in any recreation area should be a place to sit. This role can be performed by beautiful hemp, old chairs, decorated with improvised means, hammocks, wide swings. Garden furniture should match the style of the plot. For example, if the territory is designed in a classical style, a wrought iron bench and a table would be more appropriate, and wooden chairs fit the country style.

Leisure area is best located in a shady place. For example, a recreation area can be combined with a garden.If the resting place is located near the pool, that is, on the sunny side of the site, it is necessary to build a canopy. To protect from the sun, you can install a gazebo or a covered gallery.

Arbor and covered gallery

Depending on the design of the site, the gazebo can be stylized as a pagoda, carved hut or give it a futuristic shape. But the easiest option is to fix the metal arches in the ground and plant any climbing plants along the perimeter, directing their stems as they grow along the rods of the structure. Such a gazebo is permeable to air and gives good protection from the sun on hot days. Inside, you should put chairs or benches, a table. Comfort will be added by plaids, cushions, a vase of flowers.

If the gazebo is a place to relax, then the gallery is a place for walking. You can position it, for example, above the path leading to the house. To do this, install posts on both sides of the track by pulling twine, twine or wire between them. Weaving plants should be planted along the path, which subsequently need to be tied to this trellis. It will turn out a beautiful green tunnel.

For decorating gazebos and galleries you can use:

• ivy;
• girl's grapes;
• climbing roses;
• honeysuckle;
• nasturtium;
• clematis;
• hydrangea;
• beans;
• sweet pea.

Playground for children

If the family has children, they need to highlight a separate corner. It can be in the leisure zone, but if the size of the site allows, it is better to select a separate area. Children can be entertained by sandboxes, wooden houses, swings, decorative hedges with the image of fairy-tale characters or sculptures.

You can use any furniture, having previously painted it with bright colors. In a children's corner, decorative homemade products that can be created together with children are more appropriate than anywhere else. In this area, you can sow grass, on which children will run barefoot, to establish a sports ground or a small inflatable pool.

Functional elements

Some objects of practical importance, such as, for example, a fence or path, remain undeservedly forgotten when it comes to landscaping the site. An ordinary path, if you pay attention to its decor, can fabulously transform the territory.

Fence decoration

The most popular materials for fences are wood, metal, brick, stone. The decorativeness and atmospheric resistance of the stone are undeniable; this option, along with the forged fence, is the best solution for the territory in a classic style. A wooden fence is an indispensable attribute of a country-style site, but wood is not a very durable material, especially in rainy climates. The brick is durable, but does not tolerate large temperature differences, in addition, it is inferior in attractiveness to other materials.

1. The wrought-iron fence is magnificent in alliance with climbing plants. Weaving roses, ivy or clematis, twisted metal rods, look unusually stylish.
2. The fence made of wood blends beautifully with girl's grapes, such a fence is especially good in the fall, when the leaves turn red. Pink bushes or other flowering shrubs look spectacular, the branches of which "sprout" in the gaps between the picket fence, as well as tall grasses.
3. An impenetrable fence made of wood or stone, by contrast, does not look good in combination with dense growth. In this case, it is worthwhile to prefer neatly trimmed shrubs planted at a distance from each other.

Track Design

An interesting section looks on which there are paths of different widths. The path leading from the gate or from the garden to the house should be made no longer than 1.5 meters, and emphasize its borders with pegs or bricks. Several paths connecting different zones and objects can have a width sufficient for the passage of one person - about 0.5-0.6 m.

It’s also worth adding a couple of meter-wide paths for two people walking together, decorating them with a flower border, for example, lavender bushes. The paths passing under the galleries of climbing plants are also intended for two.

In addition to flower borders, the path is decorated with the material with which it is paved. The track can be laid out:

• brick;
• pebbles;
• log cuts;
• a stone.

The most common brick or tile track can be emphasized if you make it above or below ground level. The original solution is to make a grass path. A knotweed is a suitable plant: this grass is resistant to trampling, decorative and grows quickly.

DIY decor

Making a personal plot at the cottage is simple and beautifully possible with the help of home-made decor items. Such jewelry is always unique and attract attention. The basis for them can be any old or broken utensils, the remains of building materials, unnecessary parts of mechanisms.

Examples of items that can be used to decorate a summer cottage:

1. Interesting look flowers in the yard, planted in teapots, mugs or bottles. Old shoes look even more original as a flower pot. In contrast with delicate petals, you can even beat a rusty bucket. The flower can also be planted in an old bag full of earth, hanging it on a fence or on a tree branch.
2. The classic of the genre for country crafts - car tires, from which you can cut figures of animals or fairy-tale characters. Coloring gives the effect to such an craft, and the brighter it is, the better - the black rubber looks unpresentable.
3. Glass jars, bottles and bottles can be used as a standalone decoration, vase or candlestick. For example, several cans of candles can be hung on stakes of a fence or even on tree branches.

4. Broken wooden furniture, a bicycle, a trolley, musical instruments and other unnecessary things can be made part of the installation. Particularly interesting is the item in the overgrown, grass or shrubbery, a corner where you do not expect to meet it.

Expert Advice

Thinking over the look of the territory, you need to pay attention to the combination of colors, shapes, materials, stylistic combination of decoration elements, plants.

Some useful tips from landscape designers:

1. Most sites have square or rectangular shapes that are not characteristic of the natural landscape. Because of this, the fence can “crush”, creating a feeling of confined space. Straight lines and angles need to be softened, giving the site more smooth, curved lines. The hedge on the inside of the fence will solve the problem. Preference should be given to sprawling shrubs that should not be cut. An alternative is several groups of trees with round crowns, which can be placed next to the fence.
2. If the free space on the site is limited, you should pay attention to the Japanese style of design. "Japanese kindergarten" implies conciseness, a minimum of decorations, lack of pretentiousness, stunted plants, restrained shades and natural materials - stone and wood. Original mini flower beds from pots with succulents will fit into this style.
3. The boundaries of the zones on the site should be highlighted with a decorative fence - this will give each of them completeness. In conditions of space scarcity, such a fence can be made of curly plants planted in one row tied to twine stretched between columns or tree trunks. The border can be indicated symbolically - in the form of a series of pegs or a brick border.

The study landscape design gives an idea of ​​the basic rules for the design of the territory, but you should not take all the tips as an indication of action. Like photos of successful decisions for the decor of a summer cottage, they can only submit an interesting idea, but putting it into practice will require an artistic rethinking.