How can I design my garden?
Transforming your outdoor space into a stunning and inviting garden not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your home but also increases your mood and wellbeing through having a space to spend time in natural surroundings. Imagine stepping into your garden and finding yourself surrounded by beautiful flowering plants and evergreen grasses, having the option of outdoor dining and comfortable seating areas to relax in - a haven of tranquillity waiting just outside your door. If you’re embarking on a garden redesign, read on to hear our advice on making design decisions for your outdoor spaces, that will last for seasons to come.
Identifying your garden style and purpose
Defining the style and purpose of your garden is the first step in creating a cohesive and captivating outdoor space. If you don’t have a vision in mind of the type of garden you want, one of the best places to start defining your garden style is by looking through Pinterest, and pinning images to a ‘Garden Ideas’ board, which you can then review to really pinpoint the types of features which you love.
From romantic cottage gardens filled with flowering shrubs and winding pathways, to more formal gardens with neatly trimmed hedges and geometric flower planters, there are endless options for defining your perfect garden space. By selecting a particular style, you’ll set a clear direction for your garden design, ensuring harmony between your home and your outdoor space.
In addition to the aesthetics, it’s important to consider the functionality of your garden. If you have plans for growing your own vegetables or herbs, entertaining children with a play area, incorporating an outdoor home cinema, or having a secluded spot for relaxation, these aspects will all impact your final garden layout design.
With your chosen style and purpose in mind, you will need to also consider the size and shape of your garden, as well as where the sun shines throughout the day. This will help you determine the best placement for your plants and other design elements, such as patio areas, garden buildings, and any sunshades you may wish to include in your design.
Images by Design@Studio17
Choosing the right planting
Having a mixture of plants in your outdoor space will ensure that your garden looks gorgeous year-round, and it will also benefit the environment by providing a habitat for different types of insects to flourish.
When thinking of how to arrange plants in your garden, consider their water requirements. Avoid placing low-water and high-water plants in close proximity, as this could lead to issues with over- or under-watering. You can of course get around this issue if you love a particular plant, by using freestanding planters, or decorative pots. Not only does this solve the under/over watering issue, but the design of the pots you choose can bring extra colour and interest to your overall design.
In addition to water requirements, think about the size and shape of individual plants, especially when selecting trees and evergreens. For each plant to reach its mature height and width, there needs to be sufficient space allotted to it in your design, as overcrowding can lead to poor growth and unhealthy plants.
Certain types of plants can be companions to others, and when planted together, they can benefit from each other in a symbiotic relationship, such as by providing shade, deterring pests, or enhancing soil quality. While you might initially be tempted by the idea of a faux-lawn being low-maintenance, astro-turfs are made of plastic, can date quite quickly, often looking tired and unauthentic, and they also do nothing for your natural garden environment, which a natural grass lawn would do. Natural grass lawns have health benefits for your wellbeing too; when barefoot on grass you will be engaging with your natural surroundings and be practising a type of grounding technique – these techniques have been shown to reduce pain, stress, depression, and fatigue, an in turn, they boost your overall feeling of wellbeing.
We’d always advise to go for the real thing; in choosing natural lawn, and by carefully selecting and arranging your other plants, you’ll create a thriving, beautiful garden that reflects your chosen style and purpose.
Image by Design@Studio17
Incorporating hardscape elements
Hardscape elements can have a significant impact on your garden design, providing structure, organisation, and visual appeal. Some popular hardscape elements you may be considering incorporating into your garden include:
Pathways
Patios
Decks
Retaining walls
Water features
Outdoor structures like pergolas and gazebos
Outdoor kitchen areas
When choosing these elements, take a moment to consider the style and material that will best complement your garden design. Natural materials like wood or stone can enhance a rustic or cottage-style garden, while sleek, modern materials might be more suitable for a contemporary design. If you’re looking to incorporate an outdoor kitchen into your garden design, take a moment to think through where your power points will need fitting for any electrical components, and for gas-fired ovens and grills, consider where you will house the canisters to fuel these devices, or how you could screen them with cleverly placed planting.
Image by Design@Studio17
If you’re dreaming of a multi-use area for dining and relaxing in, there are lots of options for fixed elements such as pergolas, gazebos and even garden pods. While we love garden pods, they are generally most suited to be used as dining spaces only, and so if you’re looking to get the most use for your budget spent on this kind of structure, we’d advise looking into alternatives such as pergolas and gazebos. These can be installed with a variety of canopies to allow you to use the space in different ways, throughout the seasons.
Balancing your hardscape elements with soft planting and greenery will help maintain a natural and inviting atmosphere in your outdoor space. By thoughtfully incorporating hardscape elements into your garden design, you’ll create a cohesive and visually stunning environment that you’ll adore spending time in.
Making the most of vertical spaces
If you have a smaller garden or are looking to create definition between areas in your outdoor space, incorporating vertical elements into your garden design can help maximise your space and add visual interest.
Installing trellises or living walls can support climbing plants and wall shrubs, such as clematis, roses, honeysuckle, or wisteria, creating a lush, green backdrop for your garden. Other tall planting can have a similar impact on your garden design; tall grasses, evergreen shrubs, or even small trees can add height and create a sense of enclosure, making your garden feel more intimate and secluded. This type of planting can also be functional and provide areas that a naturally screened for privacy or protected from the wind.
You can also give the illusion of more space by building mirrors into your walling designs. A large mirror hung along a wall can enhance the amount of light in the space and creates the impression that the garden continues into the distance.
Images left to right: Square Window Mirror by grahamandgreen.co.uk | Quatrefoil mirror by coxandcox.co.uk | Brooklyn Black Metal Window Mirror by williamwoodmirrors.co.uk
By effectively utilising vertical spaces in your garden, you’ll create a design that maximises every inch of your outdoor space.
Enhancing your Garden with Accessories
Personalising your garden with decorative accessories adds a touch of charm and character to your outdoor space to make it feel truly yours.
Furniture is an important aspect to consider when accessorising your garden. Select comfortable and durable furniture that matches your garden style and complements your hardscape elements. Wooden benches or Adirondack chairs can enhance a rustic garden, while sleek metal or minimalist furniture might be more suitable for a modern design.
Adirondack Chair: Image by Mobek.co.uk
Adding elements such as birdbaths or ‘Bee hotels’ is not only good for the local wildlife, but it can also serve as a focal point which you can spend time watching and engaging with the visitors you will have.
You can boost the mood of your garden space through auditory elements too. Considering the use of windchimes or sourcing some outdoor speakers that you can tether to your latest playlist will help you set the mood for your garden space year-round.
Lighting is another essential accessory for your garden, as it can transform the atmosphere of your outdoor space, particularly in the evenings. Choose lighting that complements your garden style, such as lanterns, string lights, or solar-powered accent lights, to illuminate pathways and highlight key features. The use of candles can be functional and beautiful, adding to the ambience in your garden; placing citronella candles in decorative holders will look gorgeous, while ensuring that you don’t have any unwanted pest-guests encroaching on your space.
LED String Lights: Image by Abigail Ahern
Select some accessories that will extend the amount of time you can spend in your outdoor space, later into the evening when the temperature drops. We love having some cosy blankets by the door, so that are in easy reach for when you want to pop on a layer to spend longer in your beautiful garden. You could also think about having a chiminea, or fire-pit within your garden design; not only do these provide warmth, but they add ambience to your space and encourage you to linger outdoors, even when the weather is a little chillier. We recommend choosing hardwood logs dried to below 20% moisture in a chiminea. Softwood logs may be cheaper, but they have a higher sap content, so burning them in your chiminea will produce a lot of smoke and be really unpleasant to sit next to, as well as being bad for the environment.
Images left to right: Cream & black striped blanket by secretlinenstore.com | Firepit by ArpeStudio via etsy.com | Orange tartan blanket by Tartan Blanket Co via anthropologie.com
Lastly, don’t be afraid to get creative with your garden accessories. Incorporate unique, personal touches like upcycled planters and furniture, or colourful cushions to make your garden truly one-of-a-kind. To ensure your cushions are long-lasting, we’d advise looking at commercial grade fabrics that will stand the test of time (and the changeable British weather). These types of fabrics are not only waterproof, but are often UV treated too, so that the colour and designs you choose, will remain vibrant for years to come. Investing in good quality, timeless pieces like this for your garden benefits your wallet and the environment, as you won’t need to replace items each year.
Images left to right: Bird bath by vivaterra.com | Palm cushion by oka.com | Windchime bells by 10FingersArt via etsy.com
What makes a good garden design?
If you need help to identify your garden’s purpose and the essential elements you want to incorporate in your perfect garden, our design services are here to help you. We love creating designs for outdoor spaces in your home and watching them come to life, giving you an extra ‘room’ in your home which is both beautiful and functional all year round. Book a discovery call below to start your garden transformation with us.
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