The Value of Negative Space in Design

'Cramscaping' may be fun in container gardens but the value of leaving open areas within the landscape cannot be overstated. Not every square inch of your garden has to be planted.

Negative space refers to the areas that we don't plant. They are intentionally left open and are typically framed by "positive" elements such as pathways, or plantings and work in much the same way as a strategically placed focal point. 

The Roles of Negative Space

Creating a sense of order

Loseley Park Gardens, England: A pool set within gravel creates a welcome negative space within the lush green and white plantings, allowing their structure and form to be better appreciated.

A garden which is fully planted can seem busy, overcrowded. As such it creates tension – but not necessarily in a good way. By introducing an intentionally open space, it restores a sense of calm or peacefulness. It balances dark and light.

Visual breathing room

Wildside, England: Wide gravel paths separate billowing plantings set within raised beds in the Mediterranean garden.

Negative space can improve the legibility of the landscape by allowing the eye to pause and take it all in. In Keith Wiley's garden, Wildside, shown above, the finer textures and sheer abundance of the plantings benefit from wide paths. The overall effect feels less crowded and overwhelming. 

Enhances focal points

Littlethorpe Manor, England: A serene pool and fountain is enhanced by the large lawns that frame it.

Sculptural vessels, fountains and art work can all be placed directly into planting beds. But for a different effect, try placing these in the center of an otherwise open area and notice the different emotions this elicits. It makes even a simple focal point appear stronger, more important.

Examples of intentional negative space in design

Negative space can be created using lawn, meadow, mulch, groundcover, hardscape or bodies of water.

Lawn

Caisson Gardens, England: the beauty of a rill is enhanced

In the Caisson Gardens, above, a  rill is carved into tightly mown lawn which is then framed by meadow style plantings that mimic the rills sinuous lines. Using the contrast between the shorter lawn and taller meadow highlights the rill by setting it within the negative space.

A small circular lawn reads as a visual resting place – an intentional negative space

In a residential design above, a small circular lawn is used as a design element but also reads as a deliberately open space rather than just a residual part of the garden after planting beds and paths were laid out.

Hardscape

A small paved patio is immersed within a strolling garden

Paths and patios are two examples of functional areas that can serve as negative space – providing they are not so full of furniture that they are visually as abundant as the garden beds! The transparency of the simple red bistro set above helps keep the focus on the space itself.

The formal entry to Chanticleer House in Wayne, PA features a raked gravel bed and carefully placed potted palms.

Many Japanese gardens feature raked gravel beds, typically with symbolic boulders set within them. In a twist on that idea, Chanticleer House uses three large potted palms within their raked gravel entrance. In spring, cherry blossom petals fill the raked grooves, highlighting the design. Far from an empty space, this gravel circle is an intentional negative space to balance the exuberance that the garden is known for with a simpler yet equally artistic touch.

Water

Tucked into one of the garden rooms at Hollister House, CT, a simple pool acts as a negative space

The gardens are Hollister House, Litchfield county, CT are brimming with plants, each jostling for attention. Simple water features such as the one shown above allows the eye to pause while the brain processes all that is around.

Broughton Grange, England. Design by Tom Stuart Smith. Photo credit: Dana Niblack

The middle terrace at Broughton Grange features a simple rectilinear pool, surrounded by a froth of perennials, both benefiting from its association with the other. Without the calming pool, the plantings could appear chaotic although the punctuation by taller species helps significantly with that. Without the plantings the pool loses context. Together they create a vignette with a framed focal point.

Take Home Ideas

Notice how I placed this urn at the center of a gravel circle. It helps it stand out as a focal point as well as providing practical access to the plantings

• If you have a lawn, does it read as an intentional negative space or just "the bit that's left"? Defining its shape can help address that.
• Rather than just adding a tall urn, bird bath or sculpture into a garden bed, consider if a better design choice might be to give it some elbow room – allow some negative space around it. See my photo above for how I did this.
• If you have a water feature in your garden, does it look best hidden within plantings? Or would it benefit from being set in a more open area?