The idea that a garden is just for the summer months is now as outdated as double digging and fence creosoting. With indoor space at a premium, especially in cities like London, the trend is towards treating the outdoor space as an extension of the home and styling it accordingly.
Many garden design experts agree that the best place to start is with your garden furniture and build on that, so whether you have just enough space for a 2 seater bistro garden furniture set or you have more room to play with, read on for tips on how you can upgrade your outdoor space in the most stylish way possible.
Garden furniture
As we said, the place to start is with your garden furniture which must be as comfortable and practical as possible. Spending a little time choosing garden furniture that you absolutely love will ensure that it gets plenty of use. Whether you are choosing garden furniture for four people or more compact bistro sets, it is worthwhile investing in high-quality furniture made from strong, durable aluminium which will last a lifetime with the minimum of maintenance. Whether you choose a traditional white, contemporary grey – the colour du jour – or a classic bronze scheme, make this the basis of your garden palette.
Once you have decided on the basics, you can then accessorise with cushions and throws – essential for those cooler days – plus table decorations. For the ultimate in luxurious relaxation, add a daybed or two. Some come with built-in storage in which to stow away cushions and throws during the winter months, and many have canopies to provide welcome shady relief from the hot summer sun. Outdoor rugs create definition and visual appeal.
Lighting
The right type of lighting can greatly enhance the beauty and usability of your garden. Decide whether you want a subtle lighting palette or whether you wish to highlight certain features, such as a statement plant or tree. Delicate fairy lights threaded through trees and taller shrubs – coloured for the festive season or white for an understated look – cast a twinkly glow whilst up-lighters serve to illuminate larger trees. Box lanterns attached to walls or fences with pendant lamps hanging down will give any garden scene an ambient glow. Candles, small and large, help to create a relaxing atmosphere and give a rather ecclesiastical appeal when displayed behind glass.
Plants and foliage
The size of your garden and, more importantly, the amount of time and enthusiasm you can spare should dictate your garden planting. For example, if yours is a smaller plot, consider displaying a variety of plants in pots and containers of different shapes and sizes. Sticking to a monotone colour scheme with your containers can make a striking style statement, especially when filled with only green foliage plants and herbs. Ferns, palms and hostas are a safe bet for non-gardeners as these are relatively easy to look after. If your garden is particularly bijou, make the most of your vertical space by installing a living green wall.
Whether your garden is small or large, if you enjoy gardening, then the sky’s the limit when it comes to deciding on your planting scheme. However, if you want to really show off and enhance your garden furniture, you can’t go wrong with shrubs and small trees which really make a statement, such as the Japanese Acers or the Amelanchier, which provide colour and spectacle for much of the year. Striking perennial flowers such as Alstroemeria, Verbena Bonariensis, Perovskia or Crocosmia are easy to care for and provide a dramatic backdrop to any garden scheme and of course, you can light up the spring and summer months with brightly flowering bulbs and annual bedding.
