Garden Gates

The garden gate can truly change the impression a viewer has of your home. These additions can add that special touch of individuality that allows you to express yourself and that will leave a strong impression on those who visit. The breadth of styles and materials that you can use to construct your gate is amazing, but with a little time and effort you can put together a combination that will please you each time you step into your backyard, whether if it is to tend your garden, throw a BBQ, or simply to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning.

One way to go is with wrought iron. If you use the same material for your entire garden, you will create a pleasing uniformity that speaks to your sense of style and minimalism. Wrought iron has a unique look and feel that is sophisticated and modern, with a touch of the ancient. It is easy to have a set custom-designed that would include a gate, bench, table, and, if you so desired, a small sculpture. While this could be on the expensive side, anyone who visits your garden would be impressed with your taste.

If the dark, metallic style of wrought iron is not to your taste, there is always wood. Just as tasteful as iron, wood can express a more natural feel for those who want to emphasize the vegetation in their garden. Be sure to choose a type of wood that is suitable for the design of your house. Also, the style of gate needs to match with the architecture of your home. Keep this in mind as you choose between the various styles such as double gates, an arched gate, or flat top. Also, depending on where your garden is located, the height and lock on the gate may become a factor. Will the gate be purely decorative or is security an issue?

For a more avant-garde approach, consider a moon gate. These are based on Asian design principles and represent the embodiment of certain spiritual ideals. They are usually free-standing and completely open, and therefore not appropriate if security is an issue. Although generally constructed from stone, there are now a wider variety of materials used to build them. They can be covered with ivy or some other plant to create an extremely relaxing, zen-like experience for those who enter your garden.

These are just three of the nearly limitless approaches you could take to installing your garden gates. If there is a particular atmosphere you wish to create in your garden–modern, naturalistic, spiritual–there is definitely a material and style that can evoke it. Even if you have a definite atmosphere you wish to create, keep in mind that, overall, the garden gate will look better if it matches or, at least, complements the existing design and architecture of your home. And make sure your choices match with your budget as well.