Memorable gardens include a variety of elements, from perennials and bulbs, to trees, water features, shrubs and rocks. Your garden will come alive when these elements combine with simple garden accents to create a three dimensional experience that envelopes, entertains and beckons the visitor.

The good news is that garden accents need not be flashy, massive or expensive. Placed in the right location and arranged with the proper scale, simple accents make your yard a personal oasis.

Major Types of Garden Accents

Search for garden accents online and you’re likely to be overwhelmed with choice. Even your local garden center and seasonal department at the big box retailers are filled with different accents, appealing to a broad range of tastes and styles.

Garden accents can be categorized into three major types:

• Planting containers – including pots, troughs, planters and various other items and vessels that hold soil to create a portable garden
• Wall décor – including wall art, clocks, trellises, and possibly lighting – garden fences and standalone walls also fit into this category when they’re used strictly for decorative purposes (for example, as a backdrop for a perennial bed)
• Statuary – including any pieces used in the yard or garden as art, often creating year round visual interest for your outdoor living space

How To Choose the Right Garden Accents

Consider your garden design as a whole, with the landscaping, structures and plantings combined. Accents should add detail and act as a surprising focal point when viewing your garden from up close. Use structures to frame your outdoor space, while the plantings and landscaping create color and texture. The ideal accents should delight you, evoking memories or pictures and complementing the surrounding area.

Statuary often tells a story and can be worked into water features. Planting containers liven up patios, driveways and pathways to carry on the color and expand greenery beyond the limits of your yard. Wall décor blends boundaries as well, bringing shapes, plantings and visual interest up toward the sky and covering otherwise bare areas.

Dress up your garden space with as many simple garden accents as you like. Change them with the seasons or add to your collection over time. Garden accents can be homemade or store bought, as long as they reflect your family’s tastes and style.