Colour POP
Steph Durrant has brought her compact patio to life with colourful high-street buys...
A personal touch The wooden box planters were from a local carpenter selling them on ebay. I painted them with Cuprinol Coastal Mist and filled them with lavender. They help block off my patio area, along with strings of solar lights (from Homebase). The bistro set is from Argos and is great for alfresco dinners and drinks on warm evenings. Light entertainment The citronella candle in the yellow pot keeps bugs away. That and the pretty pink lantern are from Primark’s current range. I’ve upcycled wooden boxes to pop pots in and painted them in sampler pots. I’ve gone for a plant palette of pinks and whites. Indestructible
I fill mismatched pots with whatever plants my mum deems I won’t kill, as I forget to water them. I like alpines such as sea thrift and succulents because they’re fairly hardy. Pretty pots I’m not allowed to paint the fence, so I’ve tried to prettify it with hanging pots (10 for £10 on ebay) filled with succulents, as they love the sun and don’t need much watering – plus toy dinosaurs for fun! And relax...
I couldn’t resist the garden sofa because it was a fab price (£120, John Lewis & Partners). Some of the containers were my grandma’s, including the one with the cherry tree, a variety with the same name as her – Sylvia.