As you’ve started with your own landscaping project, you’ve probably noticed some of the most incredible landscaping ideas, yards, and gardens. You almost can’t help but wonder how some landscape designers come up with this stuff. Planting ideas, flower bed shapes, types of materials, and many other considerations are beyond the scope of a beginner to think up and put together.

For some seasoned designers with years of experience it may simply be a matter of repetitive ideas and experience. For many, it’s simply a matter of vision. And a lot of the time a designer may simply have to try several different ideas until one or more of them works. Most folks fall into this last group. With little landscaping know how, most folks look to pictures of yards and landscapes to try to find some good ideas.

Considering all the books and online directories of pictures of landscaping to browse through, you would think it would be easy to find a complete plan that could at be copied. If every yard, lot, or property shape was exactly the same, it probably would be.Realistically though, most yards and lots are not the same size and shape. Regardless of all the landscape designs and ideas available, you probably won’t find a design that is an exact fit to the shape of your own yard or lot.

Since this is where most do it yourself home landscapers find themselves, designing their landscaping simply needs a different approach. Stop trying to find a complete plan that will magically fit your plot. When looking through different landscaping photos and ideas, try to identify the things that are alike in most or all of the landscaping ideas. Look for the things that are common and repeated a lot by different contractors. Because they most always come from simple principles of design and art, these are the things that are generally appealing in design. These are elements that will usually work well in most designs regardless of shape.

Take a look at the different forms and shapes and how they’re repeated throughout the landscaping. And also pay attention to how plants are placed and how their colors are being used in different gardens. Take notice of little details like plants and rocks being grouped in odd numbers. Try and look beyond just the shape of a landscape design and try to understand the details of what makes a landscape design what it is. You’ll discover more about the mechanics of landscape design and eventually it will materialize into your own ideas.

Sometimes your best design resource is other peoples ideas, designs, or pictures of landscaping ideas. However, try borrowing several ideas from several different designs instead of hopelessly searching for the exact shape and layout of your property. As well as saving yourself a lot of frustration, you’ll have a much better chance of creating a creative and unique design.