Creating an outdoor area for meditation is the perfect way to practise self-care while we're all staying home. In a 2020 survey by outdoor design company Yardzen, 74 per cent of homeowners said that relaxation spaces were the most important component of their backyard. A 2019 nature.com study also found that spending even 120 minutes a week outdoors can significantly boost happiness and overall well-being. Check out the gardens in these books for inspiration — they show how to create restful retreats in small spaces or dense urban locales.
In this Bondi Beach backyard near Sydney, Australia, a fern- and palm-filled sanctuary allows for seated meditation and has deck space for a yoga mat or pillow.
Ula Maria’s Green: Simple Ideas for Small Outdoor Spaces is filled with small front gardens, minuscule courtyards and petite roof terraces that have been transformed into versatile outdoor rooms. Octopus Books, 2020, $30.
Urban Oasis: Tranquil Outdoor Spaces at Home by Rebecca Gross hopscotches over the globe to show off beautiful balconies, terraces and patios. Images Publishing, 2020, $55.