To enjoy your holiday in a country house, you need to pay attention to the landscape design of the site. This is a fascinating process, which is influenced by many factors. To do the layout of the site with your own hands, you need to consider the advice of professional designers. Creating a cozy place to relax that will appeal to the owners of a country house and their guests is much easier if you first consider examples of finished projects.
What influences the choice of layout?
The layout of a summer cottage (a photo of an example design can be viewed below) allows you to create comfort and coziness even on a plot of 4 acres. There are a number of factors that influence this process. First of all, you need to evaluate the dimensions of the site. Creating landscape design on an area of 5-6 acres is significantly different from an area of 8, 9 or even 10-20 acres.
Importanta factor in the development of the project is the terrain. The surface must be completely flat. But there are such areas where there are hills, pits or even ravines and small hills. Based on the features of the relief, you need to choose the most suitable place for building a house. You should also choose the optimal location for outbuildings and other buildings, engineering systems or communications.
When considering options for site planning, you must also take into account its configuration. Traditionally, it has a rectangular or square shape. However, there are areas with a non-standard shape. It may resemble a triangle, circle or oval. There are also sections in the form of the letter "G". This should also be taken into account when creating a project.
Site planning projects are developed after assessing the features of the area. The type of soil that prevails in a given area is also of no small importance. If the soil is not fertile, it will be necessary to bring suitable soil to the site before starting construction work and arranging the space around the house. Otherwise, bushes, trees, beautiful flowers will not grow here. The level of slope of the terrain is also determined, a drainage system is created. This is necessary to divert water from the beds, the garden. Many plants do not respond well to stagnant moisture in the soil.
It is also necessary to take into account what communications can be brought to the house. If there is no centralized sewerage and water supply in the area, the presence of a septic tank and a well must be provided during the development of the project. If notgas pipeline, you need to purchase equipment, household appliances that run on electricity.
When developing a project, aesthetic design is an important issue. On the existing area, it will be necessary to place not only functional, but also decorative elements. This, for example, can be an artificial pond, fountain, flower beds. Proper lighting is also important and should be considered at one of the planning stages.
Guidelines
In the planning process, it is necessary to take into account a number of recommendations that professional designers use when creating the design of a suburban area. First of all, you need to take into account the location of the cardinal points. This will allow you to choose the right place for buildings and plants, taking into account the peculiarities of the lighting of the area at different times of the day. Photos of the plots, the layout of which was carried out according to all the rules, can be viewed below.
The north side should be allocated for the construction of large buildings and planting large trees. In this case, the shadow that they will cast will not fall on plants and flowers. They can develop harmoniously. Almost 85% of ornamental and fruit plants need high-quality lighting. In a house built on the north side, some of the windows will face south. This will create quality natural space in the cottage during the day.
You will also need to perform zoning of the site. This will allow you to harmoniously distribute the free space. All elements of landscape designshould be placed on the plan in accordance with their functional purpose. Chaos on the site is unacceptable. The plan separately creates a residential area, a plot with outbuildings. For the garden and vegetable garden, choose the most illuminated place. There should be no tall buildings nearby.
As you can see in the photo, the layout of the site can be very diverse. The territory may include a recreation area, a playground, etc. The choice of objects depends on the amount of free space, as well as the needs of the owners. For example, not all owners of a suburban area are engaged in a garden. Therefore, this zone can be removed from the plan altogether. Instead, it will be possible to break, for example, a lawn and a spacious barbecue area with a gazebo.
For the residential area on the plan, most often only about 10% of the total area is allocated. But to create outbuildings, you will need to take about 13-17% of the area. The largest part of free space is allocated to the garden and vegetable garden. In some cases, this zone is as much as 75%. Especially often such a large percentage of the area is occupied by gardening and vegetable gardening in small areas.
Only after choosing a place for building a house, outbuildings and garden, garden crops, you can try to find a place for arranging a recreation area. If her presence on the site is mandatory, you can reduce the area allotted for the construction of outbuildings or a garden.
Plot shape
Site planning projects are developed taking into account the features of the area. It is important to take into account the shape of the free space. With the rightthe layout of the site will look harmonious. All objects will be harmoniously distributed throughout the territory.
If the plot is rectangular, the layout will not cause much trouble and problems. This is the classic configuration that is used when building most projects. In this case, the choice of the most correct arrangement of all elements in this case can be performed based on standard, ready-made works of designers.
However, not everyone is lucky to be the owner of a regular rectangular dacha. In some cases, the configuration may be elongated and narrow. This may cause certain difficulties. However, even on such a site, you can harmoniously plan the location of all objects.
An elongated area needs clear zoning. It doesn't have to look complete. Otherwise, the feeling of an incorrect configuration of space will cause discomfort. To perform zoning, the site is divided into separate parts. For this, hedges, plant arches, and other living plantings are used. They will allow you to harmoniously divide the space.
Actively in the process of planning a land plot, different colors are used. In the place where the site has the shortest side, you can plant bright flowers. Near the elongated side, you need to plant plants with a color in cold shades.
If the site is in the shape of the letter "L", the design usually does not cause difficulties. The protruding separate part can be used to equip a recreation area. She will stay awayfrom the main buildings. This is a definite plus.
For an asymmetric site, you can apply different techniques of landscape design. An asymmetric garden will look spectacular. Here you can place a gazebo, make lawns or ponds.
Recommendations for planning
The correct layout of the site with the house (photo below) involves careful planning of each zone. To do this, you need to take the advice of experts. Today, many computer programs are used that allow you to do the planning yourself. They are used by both professional designers and homeowners. The most popular site planning programs today are:
- X-Designer.
- Garden Planner.
- 3D Home Architect Design Suite Delux.
- "Our garden", "Ruby 9.0".
The listed software allows even a beginner to create a project according to all the rules. Management is quite simple. By installing one of the listed programs on your computer, laptop, you can consider several options for the location of the zones of the personal plot.
To get started, you need to collect all the data about the terrain. The program includes the location of the cardinal points. Next, the creation of each functional zone is carried out. First, the location of the house, garden is thought out. If there are small children in the house, a play area can be provided on the site. It should be in a shady area. On thein the most illuminated area they arrange a garden or an area for relaxation and sunbathing.
Outbuildings are located in the far corner of the site. This allows you to hide them from the eyes, harmonizing the free space as much as possible. There may be a toilet, a shed, water barrels, a compost bin, or trash cans. They are separated from the main plot by a hedge, which can also decorate the garden.
Then they think over the flower garden. Plants in it should open their buds in turn. This will create an ever-blooming garden. So, for example, daffodils will bloom in spring. They will be replaced by summer phloxes, daylilies. Following them, hydrangea and asters will please with their wonderful view.
If the relief of the site is not uniform, you need to distribute the plants so that they hide the imperfections of the terrain. At the same time, hills should not obscure flowering species. A flower garden is often made next to the porch, flower beds are arranged along the paths. Shrubs and trees are planted in the center of the site or along the perimeter (depending on the terrain). You can create hedges from ornamental or fruit bushes.
Suburban area 4 acres
Land planning projects must be selected in accordance with the dimensions of the space. At the same time, the functional purpose of this object is taken into account. It is easier to plan a recreation area in a small area. If, on a plot with dimensions of 4 acres, you need to grow vegetables, fruits, the issue of planning will need to be taken seriously.
The area of 4 acres is divided into 3 zones. One of them will contain a house. The second part is reserved for the garden. The third zone is needed for relaxation. The house is located on the north side of the site. It is surrounded by flowers and shrubs.
The garden and the garden should be located close to the house. You can decorate the territory with fruit trees, while saving space for creating a vegetable garden. Trees will create a shadow near the cottage. A vegetable garden can be located next to the recreation area. It can be protected with a picturesque wattle fence. Plants are also planted here that can create small decorative hedges. They should be low in height so as not to cast a shadow on the beds.
The layout of a suburban area may involve an extensive recreation area. In this case, the garden may be absent altogether. In this case, the owners will come to the dacha with their relatives and friends. Such a site needs to be decorated with ornamental plants, build a gazebo and a barbecue area. If the site is needed for recreation, much attention is paid to decorative design. You can create an artificial pond, lay decorative paths.
Plot 5 acres
A small area can be a great place to relax or grow different crops. On an area of 5 acres, it will not be possible to create many different functional zones. Only the essentials should be here. Planning a house on a plot of 5 acres is the main stage of work. It is better to place it facing the road. In this case, you need to take into account the distance from the house to the garden. If it is large, you need to equip a system for supplying moisture to plants.
Fruit trees are planted so that they do not obscure the beds, as well as the plot of the neighbors. In this case, it is better to plant seedlings in a row. An economic zone is being set up here. There is also a toilet here. You can negotiate with neighbors and make the cesspool common. This will save space on both sites.
Shrubs are planted on the opposite side of the house. On the rest of the space, you can create a garden. Sunlight should fall here for at least 6 hours. Potatoes can be planted next to the shrub. She doesn't need much light. You can also plant cabbage in shady areas. Cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers should be planted in the illuminated part of the garden. The recreation area will be very small in this case. You can also abandon the garden in favor of a gazebo, a barbecue area, a playground for children and a pool.
Plot 6 acres
Planning a plot with a bath is possible on an area of 6 acres. In this case, you need to think carefully about everything. For the house choose the north side. Next to it you can build a bath. This increases the comfort of using the sauna during the cold season. You don't have to walk across the entire site to take a steam bath.
Since the site is quite small, a bath can be made with an attic. On the first floor there will be a steam room and a washing room, and on the second floor there will be a recreation area. The garden is laid out near the house. At the same time, you can arrange a place to relax here. In the summer heat, under the canopy of trees, it will be possible to put a dining table. In the morning you wantenjoy the sunshine. Therefore, it is better to choose portable furniture.
On such a site it is quite possible to set up a vegetable garden. When planting crops, you need to consider where the shaded places are. Zoning of the garden and recreation areas is carried out using paths with flower beds, low shrubs. You can also use other decorative elements. For example, a small wooden or wicker fence will look spectacular. It will allow you to fence off the recreation area from the garden.
The planning of the territory of the site involves the creation of an open lawn. Here you can sunbathe, play outdoor games with children. Nearby you can equip a decorative pond. If a garden is not provided for in such a plot, you can create a full-fledged pool.
A barbecue area is being set up near the recreation area. You can also make a decorative hearth, where it will be nice to warm up on autumn evenings, enjoying a conversation with family and friends. For small children, it is also recommended to allocate a small space for games in front of the house. Here you can put a swing, horizontal bars, sandbox.
Plot 8-10 acres
Average area is considered to be up to 10 acres. The layout of the site in this case involves the creation of more functional areas than in a small space.
First you need to take into account the slope of the territory. If it is determined towards the road, you need to make a gutter behind the house parallel to the street ditch. It will hold up the streams of water flowing down fromvegetable garden. Excess water must be drained from the system into a cuvette. If the slope is determined in the opposite direction from the street, then a ditch must be dug in front of the house (transversely to the building). It will run along the border of the site to the garden.
If the surface of the site is flat, create a drainage system of channels. They must go throughout the site. The depth of such channels is about 1 m. The width of the drainage elements is 50 cm. Such recesses are filled with stones to the level of the vegetation layer. After that, the channels are covered with earth.
The layout of a plot of 10 acres involves the location of the house at a distance of at least 3 m from the fence. If the site is long, the main building should be placed asymmetrically along the longitudinal axis. Depending on the movement of the shadow from the house, the location of the terrace, shed, garage and other outbuildings is determined. Particularly heat-loving plants are recommended to be planted on the south side of the house. From here to the fence will be the quietest and warmest place in the entire area. It can be used to grow certain varieties of vegetables and fruits.
Outbuildings are located at the border of the site. You can also build a bath here. In this part of the site you can place an outdoor shower. It is recommended to create several utility rooms in one block. This saves the space of the site.
On the covered terrace in front of the house, you can equip a summer kitchen and dining room. The roof of such an extension is usually shed. On such a site there is enough space to create both a recreation area and a vegetable garden, a garden and a flower garden. This advantage needsuse when creating a site plan.
Plot 12-15 acres
The layout of a plot with a house, a bathhouse and other elements necessary for recreation and life is carried out simply if there is a free area of 12-15 acres. Here you can harmoniously enter the desired functional areas.
On a plot of 12-15 acres, space for recreation can be divided into several parts. Such a zone will take up a lot of space on the site. Here you can build a gazebo, make a bathhouse with a lawn and outdoor seating area. You can decorate the space with garden plants. In the evening, lighting is created here from garlands, garden lanterns. Here you can equip winding paths, a decorative pond. A small picturesque bridge can be thrown over it.
If desired, a sunbathing terrace and a swimming pool can be arranged in the recreation area. Also next to the pond you can arrange a place for friendly gatherings. It can be an open or closed gazebo with a hearth. Here you can fry kebabs, sit at the table with family and friends.
The layout of a land plot of 12-15 acres allows you to create a spacious playground. It is divided into a zone for active games and a shaded place to relax. It can be a small wooden house or a canopy in which tables and chairs are arranged. Here, children can relax after an outdoor game. You can also put a sandbox, slides, and other objects for kids to play in the fresh air in the open play area. If there is a reservoir on the site, it must be fenced off so that children do not accidentally fall into it. Garden layouta plot of 12-15 acres can be original and very comfortable.
If the site is spacious, you can divide it into functional zones, using different styles for their design. Medium and small dachas are decorated in the same style. Strict geometric shapes are not welcome on a spacious plot. Zones must be free-form. Plants are also placed according to a random plan.
Plot 20 acres
The layout of a plot of 20 acres allows you to create almost all the necessary areas for recreation. A cottage will be built on one side of the site. It can be quite spacious. There is a garden next to the cottage. Here you can also put benches, make paths for walking. Gazebos are welcome. Near the house you can build a spacious terrace. Tables are arranged here, creating a place to relax.
To relax with a noisy company, you can arrange a barbecue area further from the house. Here you can make an area for evening gatherings in the evening. A hearth is set up in the center. Around it are placed benches made of stone or wood. Next to the area for a relaxing outdoor recreation, you can build a bathhouse. It can be spacious. All necessary premises (steam room, washing room, relaxation area) in this case can be located on the ground floor.
On the other side of the bath, a barbecue area is being created. Here you can equip a spacious enclosed gazebo with a stove made of stone or brick. It will be possible to cook barbecue even in winter. A table and several benches are set up here.
Forthe flower garden is allocated a separate zone. Here you can put a bench and create a decorative pond, fountain. The layout of the site makes it easy to choose a place to create a garden. It should be in the most illuminated place of the site. Also next to it you can create a sun terrace and a swimming pool. On such a spacious plot it will be comfortable for the owners of the site, their children, as well as all guests. With the help of green spaces, lighting and other similar means, zoning is carried out.
Having considered the features of choosing the layout of the site, the owners will be able to create a cozy corner to relax from the bustle and noise of the city. Even on an area of 4 acres, you can equip a garden and a small recreation area. Spacious plots allow you to equip all the necessary decorative and functional objects. This will make your holiday in the countryside unforgettable and enjoyable.
