A “focal point”is an important concept in Landscape Designing. A “focal point”makes the person who is viewing the landscape to look in a certain direction. It directs the viewer around the yard.

Think of the landscaping as a piece of 3-D art. When you look at a painting, the eye is carried around the composition with movement, flow, focal points, and design concepts such as that. Landscaping is essentially an art form. The Japanese have perfected their art in Japanese Gardens. They use focal points and perspective to perfection!

Focal Points help to give a sense of order and purpose. Without these design elements, a landscape would just become a careless conglomeration of plants or other objects. Focal points give your eye a place to “rest”.

They also will attract attention to certain areas of your yard. Visualize a meandering path.When you are heading one direction, you see a birdbath at the end of your view before the path turns. You can’t see what’s beyond the turn, but the birdbath gives you a resting point at the far end of the path to where you should go before you turn the corner. Then, your eye will be drawn to the end of the path that you couldn’t see before. There is a focal point there of the arbor which leads onto a patio. You get the idea. Focal points help in composition.

Interesting touches in the garden also add interest and focal points. These kinds of ‘touches’ can be things such as a whimsical piece of iron wind art, a statue, a bird bath, a bench, a specimen plant that stands out from it’s surrounding plants such as when it’s in bloom.

Be careful to not have focal points competing with each other. If you have too many objects competing for the viewers attention all at the same time, they lose their ‘focal point’ quality and instead become confusing distractions. Use focal points in an artistic way. The photo here shows a granite compass incorporated into a paver walkway where the walk turns.

This is all part of thinking out a landscape design. Putting thought into your landscaping and having a good composition will greatly enhance your enjoyment of your beautiful yard!