Landscape Design and Garden Design Ideas

OUTDOOR MIRRORS and LANDSCAPE DESIGN

What great outdoor mirrors will do for a small garden design and add to the aesthetic qualities of outdoor living areas.

Courtyards and small gardens come with their own set of challenges, the most obvious being one to do with size. So how can you visually push the boundaries to make your garden look larger than it really is?

One way is with planting - by screening the fences with plants, and borrowing views of trees and large shrubs in neighbouring gardens, the physical boundaries of your garden will disappear.
Another way is by adding outdoor mirrors to the space. Positioning them to reflect parts of the garden will have the optical illusion of doubling the depth of your outdoor area, while adding a sense of intrigue. Where does the garden end? What is around that corner?

Garden mirrors also reflect light, brightening darker corners by day so that plants with higher light needs can grow happily. And at night, if the garden is lit, mirrors will magically transform your outdoor entertaining space, adding a touch of theatre.
As a garden ornament, outdoor mirrors can provide a decorative point of interest in a small courtyard, or they can be positioned to highlight an existing sculpture, pot or plant, reflecting views of it from otherwise unseen angles.

As garden mirrors are exposed to the elements they need to be sturdy in their construction and framed in materials that will last outdoors. The style of mirror should also complement the design of your house and/or garden, thereby reinforcing the look you want to create.

Enter Rivas Design, a Sydney-based company producing beautifully crafted wrought-iron garden mirrors which will enhance any outdoor space. Rivas Design’s wide range of outdoor mirrors, and other decorative pieces such as trellises and gates, are available in many different styles to suit any type of garden and architecture. Their work is freighted through out Australia. Wrought iron pieces can also be custom-designed to suit a specific location or style.
To see the full range visit www.rivasdesign.com.au.

Article by Jenna Reed Burns.

Courtesy Rivas Design