When choosing a colour scheme for your garden, it is important to know how colour affects and is affected by its surroundings.

Strong, bright colours appear to reduce distance and may be used to lead the eye to a particular feature, whilst softer, cooler shades are less distinct and will appear to recede. This effect can be used to create an illusion of distance; for example planting red roses in the foreground with blue-green grasses at the rear of the garden could make it seem longer. Likewise, planting a small garden with predominantly pale colours, especially if they are situated slightly away from the house, will make it seem larger.

With all colour planting, light is a major aspect; in countries where the light is soft and on the blue side, prominence given to pastel colours such as light greys, pale pinks and lilacs is often effective. Bright colours can look brash, even harsh, under cloudy skies, whilst the subtler paler colours (with more white blended in) not only show up to advantage, but are easier to manage because of the wider range of colours with which they will harmonise.

With the more brilliant sunshine and stronger light of Californian or Mediterranean landscapes, hotter colours will have more impact than pale colours, which often appear faded in strong sun. However, a shaded, sunless terrace may be enlivened with yellows, oranges, salmon-pinks and reds, whilst a hot, sun baked courtyard may seem cooler if blues, greys and whites are used.