It doesn’t matter how big or small your garden is, whether you have grand plans or just want to make the most of the space available, being able to use 3D design software is a major bonus. Gardens can be tricky areas to design, as they are rarely sensible shapes with four specific corners, so the use of 3D design can be especially useful to get into those hidden alcoves, nooks and crannies and make your garden work for you in all areas.

Computer-generated images can be scaled to the finest details, producing a clear image that shows you exactly how your garden will look when it is finished. This representation will help you to fully visualise your garden...and your dream.

Benefits of 3D design

One of the main benefits of using a 3D design for your garden is that it can be amended and updated in real time, and at any time throughout the process. You can instantly have a full overview of the garden and see what will work and what won’t. Every garden, and every client, is different and what one person likes or what suits one garden, won’t necessarily work for everyone. Having a realistic 3D render of your garden space means it is entirely tailored to you and your needs.

If budget restraints or supply issues mean that certain aspects aren’t possible, a 3D design can be adapted to incorporate changes and make sure it won’t affect other aspects, before the changes are made on site, so you are always one step ahead of the process and can work accordingly.

Sunlight and shadows

Tall trees and infrastructure, including any neighbouring buildings, will affect how and where sunlight hits the garden and the shadows formed. Using 3D design allows you to input these obstructions and follow the movement of the sun, so you can see exactly which spots are sunniest and when.

This then enables you to design your garden with this in mind, so you may decide to put a seating area or a vegetable plot into the sunniest part of the garden, to make the most of it. Whereas something like a pond or water feature may benefit from being in a more shaded area.

Walls and fencing

It is likely that your garden will have some sort of boundary, be it brick walls, hedging or fencing; any of which you may wish to pull down and exchange for something else.

Fencing is probably the most easy to put up, and look after. Composite fencing is particularly durable, and can last up to 20 years with very little needed in the way of maintenance. Their design will not rot, warp or splinter and are made from 95% recycled materials, meaning they are comparatively eco-friendly too. They come in a variety of colours, so your 3D design can be used to good effect in swapping and changing until you find the shade you like best.

Hedges, on the other hand, require a lot of regular maintenance, and a 3D design can replicate how quickly the hedge might grow and the impact that may have, so you know exactly what you are letting yourself in for, if you choose that option.

Alternatively, a brick wall can be shown at any height on the 3D plan, so you can see the effect it will have on your garden space and how much of an imposition it provides, or how much privacy it will afford.

Colour and greenery

Even if you only have a small concrete yard as your outside space, it is likely that you will want to add a spot of colour and some plants to it. Again, 3D design can be used to see what colours work where, whether that is through colour blocking certain areas or something a bit more natural and haphazard.

Certain plants will flower at certain times of the year, so you can also see examples what your garden will look like in all four seasons, so you can design it to look its best all year round. Mixing hardy perennials with seasonal blooms will keep your garden looking fresh and beautiful.

Areas for socialising

Patios, chairs, tables and decked areas can all be used to zone parts of your garden for socialising or sunbathing. The addition of outbuildings such as sheds, summer houses and outdoor offices are also gaining in popularity as we aim to add more usable space to our properties.

Designing where to put these, how big or small they are, what shape they are built, and numerous other aspects of the process is made easier with 3D design. You are able to immediately see the effect they will have on the space available, whether they are in sun or shadow at important parts of the day, how they can be lit and the journey around the garden to get there.

Final thoughts

There are several different options available to you when it comes to 3D design, depending on how in-depth you want your design to be, available budget and size of your garden space.

Our 3D artists will all have different ideas, so don’t feel you have to be constrained by one. Get a few quotes and talk through your ideas with several different people, to find the right fit for you. Their methods will all vary, and will use their own preferred software and ways of working. But, ultimately, they will all come up with something that will transform your garden and can be adapted to suit.