Creating the perfect summer garden

If you’re planning to sell or looking forward to weekend barbecues and dining al fresco in your garden this summer, it’s time to make sure your outdoor space is ship shape.

Just as the ceiling is seen as the ‘fifth wall’ in interior design, garden designers refer to gardens as the ‘fifth room’, a space that maximises the enjoyment you get from your home – as well as adding to its  value.

The following tips will help you fall in love with your garden all over again:

Dust off the deckchairs

Before splashing out on expensive garden furniture, take stock of what’s already out there. A bit of elbow grease will give it a new lease of life. Remove any garden furniture covers as the PVC  weatherproof materials can literally melt in the sun, leaving nasty marks and residue. Whether you’ve got wooden, rattan, or metal pieces, sweep away leaves and dirt with a soft brush, then wash down with warm soapy water and a sponge. Wash cushion covers too and add protective oil or wax to wooden furniture. This helps maintain colour and slows down the appearance of surface cracks.

Invest in a showstopper

The current trend is to add a solid structure like a pergola, cabin, or outdoor kitchen to create a showstopping space. Add solar lighting and a firepit and get the party started! Wickes have a wide selection to suit all budgets.

https://www.wickes.co.uk/

Choose your dining spot

If socialising with friends is the highlight of your week, then create the perfect gathering space. An ideal dining area is a spot in the garden with plenty of sunlight and available shade too. If you don’t have natural shade from trees, cantilever parasols are great as they can rotate to follow the sun throughout the day. Walls or hedges can help to create and frame a dining area, and paved areas make an easy but stylish seating area.

https://www.dunelm.com/category/garden

L-shaped sofas

From the DIY stores to the designer furniture suppliers, the trend is about maximising comfort. L-shaped sofas with deep, cosy cushions maximise seating and optimise floor space, and are being snapped up across the country. Check out Habitat and Ikea for great options.

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/cat/outdoor-living-od001/

https://www.habitat.co.uk/browse/garden/c:809276/?clickOrigin=header:search:menu:garden

Accessories

It’s all about the finishing touches. Throws, cushions and weather-resistant rugs all create a dining space that feels as warm and inviting as being indoors. Habitat, John Lewis and Dunelm all have a range of outdoor lighting and accessories to help you get summer ready. And from the budget brands to luxury labels, think green  – for 2025 the colour scheme is the colour of summer foliage.

Candles

Nothing beats an outdoor candle for adding a romantic vibe to al fresco evenings in your garden. Varieties with natural citronella oil have the added benefit of keeping bugs away. B&M have a great range of inexpensive options.

https://www.bmstores.co.uk/

Paint

Transform your summer sanctuary with a splash of colourful paint. If you have a fenced area or timber-clad wall, a bright colour can lift your mood as well as attracting butterflies and bees to your garden. Little Greene has a range of colours in Intelligent Exterior Eggshell.

littlegreene.com

Plan for low maintenance

Whether you’re a keen gardener or not, low maintenance design is the best option. Perfect gardens are the ones you choose to do extra work in, not ones you have to. If you’re not a fan of weeding, choose ground cover plants.

​If you like growing your own veg, have less grass and more raised beds. Then you can sit back, pour a drink and focus that all important energy on what you love!

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