What to consider when creating a relaxing contemplative garden

A contemplative garden should evoke feelings of peacefulness, rejuvenation, and relaxation. Ones feelings about colour are often deeply personal and rooted in personal experience and culture. It is for this reason that I don’t think a contemplative garden should focus solely on colour. I think scent, and wildlife are just as important when creating an environment for contemplation.

Using colourology as a guide I found that the colour blue is said to treat illness and pain, indigo alleviates skin problems, and white can evoke a feeling of youthfulness. Taking this new research into account I would suggest going for an analogous colour scheme of blues, purples, pinks and whites.

I think this colour scheme works the best because I feel people who seek the relaxation of a contemplative space are often struggle with pain (both emotional and physical), potentially illness and need a pick-me-up, by introducing blues and purples into the garden I hope that for the time spent relaxing in the space they get a moments peace from their ailments, and are able to fully relax, and rejuvenate. I think pink works well because it can be bright, lively and exciting, but also light, soft and peaceful, and used together would help to evoke feelings of peacefulness and revitilization. Lastly the colour white is important for its peaceful nature, but also because of how beautiful and impactful white blooms look in the morning and afternoon light.

The cool colour scheme can’t help but relax the busy human spirit, coupled with the highly fragrant flowers and visiting pollinators, I feel this would be an amazing space to unwind, reflect and leave feeling restored.

Below are a couple suggestions to try in your garden: