Mediterranean is one of the most loved styles for coastal and beach homes and for outdoors because this style instantly brings relaxing vibes. Mediterranean gardens mesmerize with scents, water, vibrant colors as these are sensory spaces. The style is rustic and casual, exuding a timeless feel and integrating with the natural surroundings. If you love such style and want to apply it to your garden, here’s what you’ll need.
Mediterranean Garden Features
Outdoor Dining Spaces
A shaded space outdoors is an integral part of such a garden, and a pergola is a perfect solution as when you cover it with vines, it will become a spectacular feature and will give you the desired shade but in a very refined way. Create such a spot to enjoy al fresco dining and coffee adding simple outdoor furniture or even something luxurious.
Wrought furniture is a perfect solution for your terrace, and a citrus tree really delivers the vibes.
The terrace features vintage wrought furniture and a roof instead of a pergola, so you won't have to cultivate vines to achieve shade.
The neutral terrace features olive trees, lavender and modern neutral furniture.
Water
A Mediterranean garden is a sensory space, and the sound of moving water is very soothing, which means that a water feature is an essential part of the landscape. Fountains, birdbaths, pools, waterfalls will attract birds and insects making your garden a vivacious space.
A shabby chic blue planter is a unique fountain, and lavender adds scent to the space.
This is an option of a water feature for a modern Mediterranean space: a stone vessel and a metal fixture.
Greenery, grasses, gravel and stone are characteristic things in a Mediterranean landscape, and the pool is the water feature here.
This large stone fountain is done with metal fixtures and is surrounded with vines for a strong Mediterranean feel.
Greenery and delicate trees are used for landscaping, and the large planter is turned into a fountain.
Pebbles, rocks and grasses create a gorgeous relaxed and catchy combo. The pond is framed with natural stone.
Containers
Terracotta clay planters, jars, and urns are classic features of Mediterranean gardens. These containers are typically oversized and used as bold focal points in the landscape. Add bold flowers to them and you will get a great Mediterranean feature at once.
If the climate is too cold for an olive tree, you can plant it into a pot and move inside whenever necessary.
The Tuscany-style space is done with large olive trees, potted greenery and minimalist furniture. (via ecocation).
Add texture and interest with various greenery, succulents and lavender and rocks will help you with that, too.
Stone And Gravel
Mediterranean style is about using natural materials, so do hardscaping using pavers, stones and gravel, and if you can include mosaic patterns, this will instantly create a mood.
Tall cypress trees add height and dimension to the garden, and rocks and gravel are perfect for Mediterranean hardscaping.
The hardscaping done with gravel and stone is a cool solution, and tall trees make a statement.
Grasses and lavender are basics in the garden, tall trees add interest here.
A tall cypress tree stands out in the succulent garden bed, and harscaping is done with gravel and stones.
The contemporary outdoor space is styled with Mediterranean plants and grasses and the hardscaping is also done in this style.
Tile
Brightly colored glazed tiles with intricate patterns are used to adorn staircases, walls, and patios.
This fountain shows off Mediterranean style: stone and blue tiles are surrounded with classic plants.
Fragrance
Many Mediterranean plants have fragrant foliage or flowers, including herbs or herb relatives. These include lavender, rosemary, mint, salvia, jasmine, and honeysuckle.
The space is done with citrus trees and various plants in terracotta pots to move them inside when necessary.
The steps are accented with lavender, which gives a Mediterranean feel to the space and softens the staircase look. (via homeisd).
Grasses and hedging style the lower tier, and olive and citrus trees are focal plants here.
Make the space more eye-catching with some blooms, here these are purple ones for a bright look.
Look how beautifully gravel paths are softened with lavender, grasses and topiaries.
The olive tree is accented with bright lavender that will also add fragrance here.
Color
Because the light is harsh in southern regions, bold and bright colors stand out better than subdued hues. Cobalt blue, rich earthy tones and mustard yellow will be a perfect choice for a Mediterranean space. These brighter hues are used as pops of color that are tempered by more neutral tones of gravel, stone, and foliage.
The entrance is covered with bougainvillea that wows with color, and lavender echoes with it.
I love this bright Mediterranean space filled with color, texture and scents, it shows off classic features of this style but in a non-banal way. (via bhg).
Olive and orange trees are amazing for adding scent, color and interest and set the Mediterranean tone in the space.
Olive trees beautifully frame the front facade, and lavender and grasses create a backdrop.
Plants
Cotton lavender (Santolina), lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina), olive, cardoon, eucalyptus, and artemisia are plants that conserve water, which makes them more adaptable to hot Mediterranean climates.
Vining plants such as bougainvillea, trumpet vine, hops, grape, jasmine, and wisteria are used to soften structures such as walls and pergolas, creating a lush living canopy that provides cooling shade.
Clipped hedging and topiaries are a hallmark of Mediterranean gardens, here you can try boxwood, silver thorn, privet, oleander and shrubby germander.
Mediterranean trees add vertical height, structure, and provide shade. These typically include olive trees, Italian cypress, palms, and bay tree.
Succulents like agave, yucca, sedum, portulaca, and echeveria can be used as a resilient ground cover.
Citrus trees such as lemon or orange add a tropical touch, with scented white blooms, colorful fruits, and glossy evergreen foliage.
Ornamental grasses such as blue fescue, carex, and fountain grass (Pennisetum) provide structure, color, texture, and movement.
As there’s typically no lawn, ground covers will become a nice substitute softening the rocks around.
This front yard looks adorable thanks to the hardscaping done right and elegantly integrated olive trees and lavender.
Hedges and lavender are placed into garden beds, and gravel covers the wakways.
Round garden beds show off lavender, grasses and rocks, sometimes trees as a focal point.
Lavender, topiaries and trees.
Hedging and topiaries are classics in Mediterranean spaces, add lavender for color and trees for dimension.
Vines covering facades, pergolas and arches are an integral part of Mediterranean spaces, and adding lush grasses and lavender, you will get the vibe.
Lush textural grasses soften the stairs of stone, and vines cover the pergola in the backdrop.
This lush nook is done with grasses and blooms and the olive tree is the focal point here.
How To Save Money While Designing
Adding Mediterranean features to your garden might seem a little bit expensive but no worries, there are some tips that might help. If you like DIY, recycle old pots by painting them in earthy tones or vibrant blues instead of buying large terracotta planters.
Gravel is a classic material for Mediterranean gardens, it won’t break the bank and it’s easy to install yourself.
Forget buying ready mature plants and grow them from seeds or from small plants, which is much more budget-friendly and allows you to nurture them as they grow.
Look for used wrought-iron furniture or decorative items at thrift stores or online marketplaces. Leave rust and worn signs as they are as they will add character.
The walkway is lined up with olive trees, lavender and some grasses, which create a beautiful space with a strong Mediterranean feel.
Small topiaries and a single tree create a relaxed and airy Mediterranean feel with a modern touch.
This lush Mediterranean landscape is done with topiaries, cypress trees, lavender, grasses and olive trees.
The path is styled with topiaries and grasses, olive and cypress trees and a blooming one.
These green blooming topiaries are a lovely way to add a modern Mediterranean feel to your garden.
This small nook just strikes with a Mediterranean feel: lavender, greenery, succulents, cypress trees create the landscape, and gravel and rocks create the path.
Here's how you do Mediterranean front yard in a modern way: a paver path is lined up with olive trees, topiaries and lamps.
This picturesque gravel yard looks very Mediterranean-like, with a fountain, a hedge and an olive tree. (via gardenista).
This minimal space shows off stones and gravel, succulents and lavender and some cypress trees. (via homeisd).