40 easy style updates
From best buys and clever tricks to mini decor projects – this is our roundup of the simplest, quickest ways to make your outdoor space more beautiful now
1 Create a shady spot
MAKE YOUR OWN SUN CANOPY TO PROVIDE SOME SHADE WHILE LOUNGING IN THE GARDEN. DRAPE FABRIC ALONG A BRANCH, OR USE WOODEN POLES SUNK INTO THE GRASS AND A COUPLE OF TENT PINS TO ANCHOR LINES FROM THE TOP OF THE POLES TO THE GROUND. Bordeaux sunloungers, £1,020 each, Neptune
2 Perk up decking with a rug
AN OUTDOOR RUG LAID OVER FADED DECKING OR A GRUBBY PATIO WILL INSTANTLY LIFT YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE AND ENSURE AN ENTERTAINING AREA JUST AS STYLISH AS YOUR INTERIOR. GO FOR ONE THAT’S PATTERNED ON BOTH SIDES, SO YOU CAN FLIP IT OVER IF IT STARTS TO FADE.
3 ENCOURAGE
AFTERNOON SNOOZES
When your guests head to the garden for the post-lunch slump, make sure there’s plenty of comfortable spots ready. Rugs, oversized cushions and pouffes all scream long, lazy naps.
4 hang a mirror outside
Make a feature of an exterior wall by hanging a mirror to reflect the garden back towards the house. Left outside, the mirror will start to age over time, lending a look of faded glamour.
5 PICK A SUNNY PAINT COLOUR
Instead of sticking to traditional garden shades, perk up tiredlooking garden furniture by painting it in a vibrant shade. A bright yellow or hot orange bench will pop against a dark timber or brickwork wall.
6 IMPRESS YOUR
GUESTS WITH AN OUTDOOR BAR
Rather than disappearing into the house every time another drink is needed, set up a bar outside and make cocktail hour an alfresco affair. Position it so you and your guests can enjoy the view of the garden, and jazz it up with some fun decorations or outdoor fairy lights.
7 PUT ON SOME PARTY GAMES
Upcycle bottles to make a hoopla game for the kids. Swirl a little paint around inside the bottles to colour.
ADD COLOUR 8
WITH CUSHIONS
If the garden furniture has had to endure a winter of wet and cold outside, you might find they need a bit of a lift with a couple of zesty new cushions. Choose ones with embellishments, tassels or pom-poms.
9 Serve drinks in style
NO ROOM FOR A FULLY FLEDGED BAR OUTSIDE? A DRINKS TROLLEY THAT CAN BE WHEELED OUT LADEN WITH EVENING REFRESHMENTS WILL HAVE GUESTS IMPRESSED BY YOUR HOSPITALITY.
10 Make a feature of logs
STOCK UP WITH PLENTY OF LOGS FOR THE FIREPIT OR BARBECUE – STACK THEM NEATLY AGAINST A WALL NEAR YOUR PATIO FOR A STYLISH DISPLAY, KEEPING THEM WITHIN EASY REACH AS THE FIRE NEEDS FEEDING.
11 WELCOME THE WILDLIFE
Install a birdbath in view of the window and watch garden birds come and go. Position it under branches, so they can flutter up to safety and away from shrubbery where cats might be lurking.
12 HAVE FUN WITH A SWING
Embrace your inner child and hang a swing from a sturdy tree branch or pergola. This one, by Amara, allows you to grow climbing plants on the ropes. Add faux flowers for a whimsical feel.
13 Top a wall with high fencing
INCREASE PRIVACY BY FIXING FENCE PANELS ON TOP OF GARDEN WALLS. YOU CAN HELP THEM BLEND IN BY PAINTING THEM GREEN AND PLANTING CLIMBERS TO CREATE LIVING WALLS.
14 BUILD A RAISED BED
Make gardening less backbreaking by building a raised garden bed. Ideal for growing fruit and veg, they’re also a good way to add levels to your garden.
15 Scale down seating
THIS SUPER-COMPACT WICKER GARDEN TABLE AND STOOLS MEANS THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN ENJOY A MEAL OUTSIDE, EVEN IF YOU ONLY HAVE A SMALL PATIO, TERRACE OR BALCONY TO SIT OUT ON.
16 Choose an all-in-one dining set
GREAT FOR FAMILY DINING, THIS POWDER-COATED ONE-PIECE DINING SET IS REMINISCENT OF TRADITIONAL PICNIC TABLES. THE BONUS IS THAT IT’S MADE FROM ALUMINIUM, SO IT CAN BE LEFT OUTSIDE ALL YEAR ROUND.
17 WARM UP CHILLY NIGHTS
Turn up the heat so you can linger outside for longer on summer evenings. A firepit makes a great focal point placed in the middle of a seating area on the patio.
18 Squeeze in a mini greenhouse
EVEN THE MOST MODEST OUTDOOR SPACE CAN INCLUDE A GREENHOUSE FOR GROWING PLANTS WITH THIS TALL, CABINET-STYLE DESIGN FROM IKEA. POSITION AND FIX AGAINST A WALL IN A SUN-DRENCHED SPOT OUTSIDE.
19 GIVE THE FENCE A LICK OF PAINT
Paint your garden fence in a new colour, or refresh one that was painted a few years ago. Use a large brush on full panels, or a smaller, angled brush for fiddly trellis work.
20 MAKE YOUR OWN WOODEN PLANTERS
If you’ve had new decking laid and found yourself with surplus wood, make a simple trough planter with the extra pieces. Fill with soil and plant with bright flowers.
21 START WITH A BENCH FOR TWO
Rather than buying a large lounging set when you first move to a new house, start with a bench that can easily be moved around instead, so you can explore each angle of the garden before investing.
22 CREATE A VERTICAL DISPLAY
This portable stand allows you to create an eye-catching array of plants, flowers and even edible herbs.
23 Grow plants up the wall
FOR SMALL SPACES OR EVEN BALCONIES, POCKET WALL PLANTERS ARE PERFECT. HANG JUST ONE OR SET UP A TRIO ALONG A WALL AND FILL WITH YOUR FAVOURITE PLANTS.
24 ACCESSORISE YOUR GARDEN
Think of your outdoor space as an extension of your home and dress it with cushions, outdoor rugs, lighting, and even a scented candle or two dotted around the seating area.
25 MAKE FOOD COVERS
Keep bugs out with food covers made from new terracotta pots. Use waterbased paint then poke a knotted rope handle through the hole in the base.
26 Swap real grass for faux
EASY TO CLEAN, SUPER HARD-WEARING AND FADE-RESISTANT AGAINST THE ELEMENTS, ARTIFICIAL GRASS OFFERS A LOW-MAINTENANCE ALTERNATIVE FOR OUTDOOR SPACES. SEE PAGE 141 FOR OUR BUYER’S GUIDE.
27 Choose a classic dining set
WHILE GARDEN FURNITURE TRENDS COME AND GO, THE SIMPLE WOODEN DINING SET REMAINS POPULAR. AND EVEN IF YOUR GARDEN SCHEME CHANGES IN THE FUTURE, THIS STYLE STAPLE WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME.
28 MAKE A STORM LANTERN
Coil some rope around a large glass vase or bottle, taking it 5-7cm up from the base, fixing it in place as you go using a glue gun. Pour sand into the base to steady it and add a pillar candle.
29 INVEST IN EVERGREENS
Bulk out your beds with plants and shrubs that will look good throughout the year, such as laurel or lavender, then add pretty annuals like sunflowers or sweetpeas at the front, to maximise the display.
30 UPGRADE A PLAIN PARASOL
Create a stylish and shady spot over your dining table or sunlounger with a luxurious parasol, complete with tassels, silver fringing and multicoloured fabrics.
31 Light up a pathway
GUIDE PARTY GUESTS ALONG A PATHWAY OR UP A DRIVEWAY WITH DOWNLIGHTERS – JUST ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE WHERE YOU’RE TREADING AND HOPEFULLY NO TRIPS OR FALLS AFTER A LIVELY SUMMER SOIRÉE.
32 FIT A PRIVACY TRELLIS
Balconies or patios can sometimes lack privacy and a stylish trellis can double as a plant climber, making an attractive solution. They’re easy to install and will still let in light, too.
33 CHANNEL THE TROPICAL VIBE
Whether your garden is already lush and green, or more sleek and understated, a couple of palm-print accessories will soon have it feeling like a holiday destination. Go for cushions, napkins or folding chairs emblazoned with the pattern.
34 Hide away cushions
GO FOR PATIO SEATING WITH STORAGE SPACE, SO THAT CUSHIONS, LANTERNS AND THROWS CAN EASILY BE PUT AWAY EACH EVENING, AND ARE READY TO USE AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY.
35 PIMP YOUR PATIO
A simple and quick way to give your outdoor space a facelift is to dot a few candlefilled lanterns around. Even upcycled jam jars with tealights inside will give a cosy glow come sunset.
36 lay a path with old bricks
Put that pile of leftover bricks to good use and make a path to mirror the shape of your flower beds. Lay them long and sideways to create a patterned curve.
37 Relax in a hammock
THE ULTIMATE IN ALFRESCO RELAXATION, A HAMMOCK WILL INSTANTLY TRANSFORM YOUR GARDEN OR PATIO INTO A CHILLED-OUT SCENE TO RIVAL THAT OF ANY BEACH BAR IN IBIZA. HANG BETWEEN TWO TREES FOR A SHADY SNOOZING SPOT.
38 CREATE A PRIVATE CORNER
This wooden screen is a great, instant-privacy solution. Fit it to block neighbours’s sightlines, then paint it and fill its integral planters with flowering climbers.
40 Invest in a patio heater
IF YOU’D RATHER NOT LIGHT A SMOKY FIREPIT OR BONFIRE, BUT WANT TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING SPACE LONG INTO THE NIGHT, GO FOR A SUPER-STYLISH FREESTANDING HEATER INSTEAD.
39 Finish beds with slate
To fill the spaces around decking and patio edges, try adding a layer of slate chippings, gravel or pebbles. They’re easy to maintain and give a smart finish to flower beds, too.