Design ideas: texture in the garden

The use of texture in both landscape design and interior design invokes a desire to touch and feel a surface, be it a pebble wall, the bark of a tree or the porous texture of an ancient stone statue. Texture adds a further dimension to a design by exciting the eye, drawing you into a space and invoking a sense of authenticity and character. Texture in the garden absorbs and refracts light differently throughout the day, providing the kind of ongoing visual interest that a smooth surface can't. Texture can be introduced to a landscape design no matter how small the outdoor space. Modern courtyard design often involves screening and walls for privacy, which are an ideal medium for adding some textured stone or pebbles as wall cladding (wall cladding images are from Eco Outdoor) while many gardens can add texture to the surfaces of retaining walls and paving.