1. Spruce up your table and chairs
(Image credit: Annie Sloan)
If you have to leave your furniture outside during the winter months even with a cover on they can look a little unloved come spring. Giving them a refresh with a new colour is a smart and easy budget garden idea.
‘Chalk Paint™ loves the great outdoors! It offers an inexpensive way to freshen up garden furniture, fencing, plant pots, sheds, and even walls. Choose bright colours to bring extra impact to your garden even when flowers aren’t blooming. Or use cool-toned pinks and neutrals to create sophisticated, minimalist-chic exterior spaces,’ says Annie Sloan(opens in new tab), paint and colour expert.
2. Create seasonal displays
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Styled displays aren’t just for your interior, you can do them outside too. Plant up some pots with seasonal flowers – for spring there’s hyacinths, daffodils and tulips to choose from. In the summer there’s cosmos, sweetpeas and snapdragons to name but a few.
Consider your vessels and choose some quirky pieces like an old colander, vintage vases and old wash tubs, they’ll look great full of colour.
3. Upgrade your lighting
(Image credit: Industville/@upstyleyourhome)
As with our interiors, garden lighting ideas are key and a well-lit garden will set the scene as the sun dips down and help to not only allow you to walk safely but to create a cosy feel too.
‘Try adding layers of light to allow flexibility, depending on the time of day and the ambience you want to achieve. Wall lights will provide practical illumination for mixing cocktails and drinks preparations, whilst pendant lights will keep lighting soft to create a wonderful ambience,’ says Mara Rypacek Miller, managing director, Industville(opens in new tab).
‘These lights can then be further complemented through the use of more decorative candles, lanterns and string lights, depending on your preferred style. Always ensure you opt for good quality outdoor lights that are compatible with LED bulbs. These are energy efficient and have incredibly long lives, making them the perfect sustainable choice.’
4. Choose stepping stones
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Create interest with a stepping stone garden path idea that meanders down to the bottom of the garden. Understated and practical, the irregular nature makes them a good alternative to a straight path plus it’s a cost-effective low maintenance option to update your garden.
Consider limestone, sandstone or slate, they’ll add texture and if you choose contrasting gravel the result will be rustic and stylish.
5. Keep toasty during the evenings
(Image credit: Amara )
Outdoor fireplace ideas have evolved in the last few years, if you get the chill factor after the sun’s gone down they are a stylish addition. You can have one built in or opt for a moveable design.
They’re a step up from the standard fire pit and the chiminea design ensures a more impactful heat and therefore makes it a safer option for families because the shape reduces sparks and directs the heat up and away.
6. Install raised beds for easy gardening
(Image credit: Dobbies)
With more of us starting to grow our own fruit and veg, raised beds are ideal if you want more space. You can make your own with planks, but if you don’t have the space then consider a design that has height and length over width.
‘Summer flowering bulbs like dahlias, lilies and gladioli can be planted in raised beds this spring for a burst of colour and fragrance in the summer months, and make great cut flowers for the home. Begonia corms can also be planted now in containers for early summer colour,’ says Marcus Eyles, horticultural director, Dobbies(opens in new tab).
7. Add in solar lighting
(Image credit: National Trust)
The beauty of solar lights vs battery-powered garden lights is that you don’t have to do anything yet you get beautiful ambient lighting and you’re not harming the environment – win-win right?
There are plenty of stylish designs to choose from, we particularly like paper lantern-style designs, available on Amazon(opens in new tab), that suit rustic gardens. They can add a pop of colour too.
8. Pop up a pergola
(Image credit: Suns Lifestyle)
Pergola ideas add shade, zone an area and extend your living space. They’re also a wonderful space for entertaining, all you need to do is choose a design that suits your space.
‘Think about what you’ll use the pergola for as this will determine the style and type of materials you’ll want to introduce. For instance, a decorative wood frame will add a more traditional feel (and require more maintenance) whereas one in 100% aluminium will have a contemporary finish whilst being more robust, low maintenance, rust-proof and suitable for use all-year-round,’ says Reilly Gray, co-founder, Suns Lifestyle(opens in new tab).
‘Aluminium will also last a lot longer than wood and the problem with wooden pergolas is once the wood gets wet it can drip sap on the furniture below which can ruin furniture. The powder-coated aluminium will never fade and will look the same forever, the wood will change almost instantly after it has been installed,’
9. Go wild with fairy lights
(Image credit: Lights4Fun/Jake Seal)
Create a sparkling canopy of fairly lights above your outdoor seating area. It will set a wonderful scene and add ambient light too.
‘Extend your living space and create an enchanting fairy light canopy so you can enjoy evenings in the garden as dusk begins to fall. Daisy-chain multiple sets of fairy lights together and string the lights back and forth, up above the decking, attaching to pergola posts and wooden beams. Secure in place with cable ties for a fuss-free setup that’ll give your garden a simple yet effective refresh throughout the summer,’ says Hannah Willis, product executive, Lights4Fun(opens in new tab).
10. Make use of every inch
(Image credit: Alitex)
With the UK weather always being slightly hit and miss it pays to have a back up if you’re planning on having a gathering with friends and family. This is where a greenhouse can come in handy.
‘Looking to extend the brighter evenings and make the most of your outside space? With just a bit of imagination, you can transform your greenhouse in the perfect setting for some alfresco entertaining – even if the Great British weather does threaten to scupper your supper!
Dress your dining table with botanical textiles and flowers from the garden, and use plush cushions and blankets to bring a sense of texture and warmth. For some extra wow-factor, impress your guests by using delicate edible flowers as garnish, or infuse your favourite gin with some homegrown flavours such as basil & cucumber or rosemary & ginger,’ says Nelly Hall, brand director, Alitex(opens in new tab).
11. Add in a folding bar
(Image credit: Future PLC /Tim Young)
Outdoor bars are all well and good, but not everyone has the space for an extra room. Instead, create your own little entertaining zone with a clever pull-down bar made from a couple of pallets and lengths of chain.
An outdoor herb planter above keeps them within easy reach for drinks and barbecues.
12. Create seating zones
(Image credit: Ikea)
‘Zoning your garden will make the space feel bigger and gives everyone their own space in nature,’ says Chris Bonnett from Gardening Express(opens in new tab). ‘Dividing the garden up into different areas, with different purposes can make the space feel more organised and is a simple way to make the most of every inch of green space.’
Many people think of garden zones being being created from structural additions. While it is true that planters, walls, screens and hedges helps to separate out your areas, so does cleverly positioned seating.
Create various seating areas in one space by making them all feel distinct from one another. For example, a table and chairs for dining, a hanging seat or hammock for chill time, and a casual seating areas delineated with an outdoor rug.
13. Create a living wall
(Image credit: Future)
Brighten up the side of a shed or drab brickwork by fixing a couple of vertical panels. Paint this a bright colour to make a statement, or allow it to blend in with the rest of the colours in the space. Add sturdy hooks to hang bucket planters and fill them with herbs or trailing plants to create a living wall on a budget.
Plus, you can easily switch these up with the seasons so there’s always some good-looking greenery.
14. Build on benches
(Image credit: Future)
Raised beds are having something of a moment – and for good reason. They look great, and are incredibly practical for a number of planting styles. However, you may be missing a trick. Utilise the sides of the beds to add on benches for a built-in seating arrangement. Accessorise with cushions and blankets to complement or contrast with your planting.
15. Have an outdoor blackboard
(Image credit: Future PLC /Tim Young)
Sacrifice a section of a raised bed to create an area of deck with a giant blackboard and a covered sandpit for sunny-day play. It will keep the kiddies amused for hours so you can relax with one eye on them.
Fix a peg rail to the underside of the lid for hanging toys
16. Utilise an old stepladder
(Image credit: Future PLC /David Giles)
Create a vertical planting area by making use of an old stepladder. Lean against a fence and pile high with your potted plants and decorative elements. Keep the wood unfinished for a rustic look, or sand back and paint in a bright shade to make a contemporary statement.
17. Get spring cleaning
(Image credit: Bradstone)
Every garden will benefit from a good tidy up – and it might not take much to take yours from drab to fab. As well as clearing up leaves and rubbish, dig out weeds and any plants that haven’t survived the frost.
Neaten the edge of your lawn for a more manicured look, power-wash grimy walls and give everything a sweep. It may be all your need to transform your plot.
18. Add some colourful plant pots
(Image credit: Future PLC /Joanna Henderson)
A gorgeous garden wouldn’t be complete without some colour and now’s a great time of year to start planning it. In grassless garden ideas, plant up a range of pots with summer-flowering bulbs – or buy some pre-planted containers – and dot them around the space.
If you can’t wait a month or two for your bright blooms, make sure the pots you choose are cheery and colourful.
19. Decorate and accessorise
(Image credit: Argos)
Make this the year of your new outdoor living room. Water-resistant rugs, comfy furniture, garden art and mirrors help create a stylish area to relax. Add an electric or gas heater to stay snug and you’ll also get more use out of your new space during spring and autumn.
20. Swap your slabs
(Image credit: Bradstone)
Think of your paving as the foundation of your scheme and you’ll realise just how much cracked slabs and missing bits can let down your new look. Replacing your paving can make a huge difference to the whole space, so it’s worth taking the opportunity to redesign the area at the same time.
