A Porch or Patio: Many outside gatherings center on your porch or patio, but if your porch or patio doesn't stand apart from the rest of your yard as the focal point, it may be a drab gathering. So how do you make your porch or patio the center of attention while still allowing your guests' attention to wander elsewhere? The key is paint and upkeep. Paint your patio or porch a different color from the rest of your surroundings, but keep it easy on the eye. Use enough contrast to bring attention to it, but not so much that it is screaming at your guests or family. Set this focal point apart by giving it some color but make sure you keep that color fresh from year to year. Another way to center the focus on your porch or patio is to use fabric. Outdoor fabric is more durable, but if your porch or patio is covered, you could hang drapery and use softer fabrics on your seating for more comfortable outside living. Just make sure all the fabrics you use out of doors are easily removed and machine-washable. Using fabric in your landscape design brings softness to your man-made elements. The same principles apply to building a gondola, garden house, or other structure you want to use for entertainment and as a focal point for your landscape design.

Hardscapes: Since nature and your yard have the base color of green, you can create a focal point by using the natural color of stone and brick in hardscapes as a contrast. Hardscapes are a great place to install a barbeque, out door fireplace, pool or other water features, and outdoor seating. These types of hardscapes create a gathering place and flow. Your yard will automatically center around whatever hardscape you create. Direct the flow through your landscape that all leads back to your hardscape landscape design with paths and hedge lines or other plant-life.

Water Features: Few things add the beauty and drama of a focal point to a landscape like water features can. Peaceful garden ponds framed by trees and plant life, a stream cutting through the otherwise green landscape, The jewel-like reflection of sunlight off fountains and waterfalls can all be an unmatched focal point for your yard whether natural or man-made. They all add an ambience to your yard that cannot be achieved any other way. The way to make them focal points for your yard is to direct attention to them by framing them, creating seating arrangements focused on them, and by planting a profusion of color around them.

Other Outdoor Focal Points: You may only have room for one focal point in your yard or you may have room for a dozen. Focal points don't have to be huge, outstanding features. They may just be features of your yard you may want to highlight, like a particular plant or tree, a statue, or birdbath. Your focal point is up to you, but use principles of good design when planning your landscape.