A Zen garden design was originally a Japanese style of garden. The design incorporates both natural and architectural elements. A garden designed for one to sit and contemplate. You can have your own Zen garden, you only need to understand a few design principles.

From around the 13th century, the Japanese Buddhist monks used the Zen garden design as a spiritual place to contemplate and meditate. The Zen garden design creates a three dimensional image which is planned with a foreground, and a background leading into a perspective.

All elements of a Zen garden are designed with a purpose for being in the garden.

Water provides life. As a natural element water can be displayed as a stream, pond or water feature. You can also use sand to represent water, an ideal solution in dry climates.

The planting element in a Zen garden design brings emotion to the garden with various colors, heights and textures.

One of the most important elements of a Zen garden are the rocks. With rocks you can create dimensions. When you select your rocks and stones, select various sizes and position them with the larger ones to the front and the smaller ones to the background. Well-worn rocks will add character and depth to the design.

If you want an alternative element to the water element, then sand or pebble formations can be used. If you swirl the sand to create the rippling or rushing effect of the water this will help provide an energy aspect to the garden. What is used is not sand from the beach but rather crushed granite and you can get it in varying colors. A dark area of the garden can be lifted with the lighter pebbles or sand.

An architectural element for your Zen garden design can be a bridge. Bridges can be used to connect different areas of your garden, leading you on through to areas that would be otherwise unreachable.

Other architectural elements of a Zen garden design can be ornaments and these can be used as focal points. Stone lanterns and stone basins are often used. A stone lantern can be placed on a stone pedestal, depending on the height required for balance. A custom for the stone basins is, for the basin to be kept filled with clean water and by splashing the surroundings will keep the area refreshed.

For another architectural element place a gate at the entrance of your garden and this will further enhance the illusion.

You can create an illusion of depth and space with a Zen garden by understanding the placement of the elements required. One of the greatest attractions of this type of garden is, it only needs the smallest of spaces.

It is easier than you think, three simple tips.

1. Use water features, ornaments, gates and bridges.

2. Choose the plants for your climate

3. Use rocks, stones and pebble and be water conscious.