The £4 plant design expert claims to ‘instantly give your garden a glow up’ & 6 other little-known tricks she swears by
IS your garden looking dull, worn-down and in desperate need of some TLC ahead of the warmer weather?
Well, for anyone lacking in inspiration, look no further… because interior designer Anjelica Delfino, from Valspar Paint, has shared her top tips on how to give your outdoor haven a glow up on a budget.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous Digital, she reveals everything from the £3.50 B&Q bargain buy that’ll add a “magical” dimension to your outdoor space, to the £4 plant everyone needs.
Plus, the interior design whizz reveals the exact colours you should choose to achieve a sophisticated look and the cheap trick to make a smaller garden look much bigger…
ADD A MAGICAL DIMENSION WITH LIGHT
Anjelica begins by revealing that her first piece of advice to spruce up a tired-looking garden without forking out a small fortune is to add an element of light.
“Incorporating fairy lights or solar panelled lighting around your paving really helps to add a great magical dimension – especially in the warmer weathers, when you’re outside and enjoying your time in the garden,” she says.
“It’s low maintenance and low cost, and really just adds a great fairy-like appearance to create that cosy setting.”
And the good news is, the interior designer reveals exactly how you can achieve this using bargain buys from B&Q that start from as little as £3.50.
Anjelica notes that she’s a huge fan of the store’s ‘Black Solar-powered Integrated LED Outdoor Stake light,’ which is perfect for lighting up paths and helping you navigate your garden in the dark.
Alternatively, homeowners can brighten up everything from trees to trellises and fences for just £12 using ‘Solar Firefly Solar-powered Warm white 100 LED Outdoor String lights.’
EXTEND INTERIOR TO YOUR EXTERIOR
The interior design whizz also advises extending your interiors out to your exterior. So, how exactly do you do this, we hear you scream?
Sharing her expert advice, Anjelica notes: “Use rugs, cushions or even candle holders to almost create that extension of your dining room.
I find that burgundy, mustard yellow and sage greens provide that perfect backdrop for your natural environment
Anjelica Delfino
“Or, if you don’t have that space to have a dining room, use your garden to create that space.
“Just by adding some cute lighting you’ll create a great ambience that’ll really make you want to use that area.”
ADD COLOUR THROUGH FURNITURE AND POTS
The interior design guru goes on to suggest that another cost-effective way to transform your outdoor space is to simply add a pop of colour.
She says that this can be achieved through everything from your furniture right through to your plant pots.
“Fences are such a great way to introduce colour subtly,” the design pro says.
“Burgundy, mustard yellow and sage greens provide that perfect backdrop for your natural environment.
“But also, if you want more of an elevated, sophisticated look, greys, off whites and blacks will create that great contrast against the greens, so will again help to create a more contemporary look.
“Adding colour, not just for your exteriors, but also through your interiors, is a great way to elevate your space on a budget.”
MAKING SMALL SPACES LOOK BIGGER
Anjelica notes that using bright colours and mirrors are a super easy way to make small spaces feel bigger.
“You may not necessarily get a lot of light, but mirrors really create a great deception of space,” she explains.
The interior design whizz points out that while some mirrors can be pricey, they don’t have to be – as B&Q are flogging a sleek ‘Beige Oval Framed Garden mirror‘ for a very reasonably priced £25.
Crafted from durable steel and finished in a classic stone-effect finish, Anjelica says it’s the ideal addition to add depth and contemporary flair to your outdoor space.
“I know B&Q have this gorgeous oval mirror, and it’s under £30, but it’s beautiful and a beautiful way to then play with light and also create that really interesting conversation piece as part of your garden as well,” she explains.
“It’s really drawing you in. Well, drawing you to go outside and use that space.
The interior design expert also goes on to reveal another way in which people can simply create a talking point in their garden.
“Garden plaques or signs are a great way to add a bit of personality to your space so you can really pay homage to your passions and your hobbies,” she says.
EXPLORE CAR BOOT SALES AND UPCYCLE
The interior design expert reveals she’s also a huge fan of upcycling and will often utilise unused furniture or snap up bargains from car boot sales to add character to her outdoor haven.
Amongst many of her very impressive DIY projects includes upcycling a chest of drawers as a potting station.
“You’ve got the handy handles, and you’ve got that wide space to then put things in the drawers,” she explains.
Not only that, but the clever gardening whizz has also created a mini bar, which she says is perfect for “entertaining guests” throughout the spring and summer months.
“For me it’s all about like using your garden as that fifth room and extension to your home,” she continues. “So it’s whatever you you find interesting.
“I have a friend who has used an old-fashioned globe as a part of his outdoor bar situation.
“We always talk about bringing the outside in, but it’s also important to use the inside to go out.”
DECIDE ON A THEME AND STICK TO IT
“Whenever I look into creating or redecorating a space, whether that be interior or exterior, I always first consider what mood or what theme I want to create,” Anjelica explains.
“So whether it’s inspired by your travels or it could just be going on a hike…nature is the perfect place to go for your inspiration.”
The interior design expert goes on to say that she usually tends to stick with three to four colours as part of her colour palette and uses them as inspiration.
For example, she notes that you might already have a very green lawn or terracotta pots.
“It’s all about really using the colours that you already have as part of that palette,” she says.
For me it’s all about like using your garden as that fifth room and that extension to your home
Anjelica Delfino
“You then need to decide whether you want to complement them by creating a tonal look or would rather create a contrasting look. You can then start to create your colour palette from there.”
She adds: “I always find three to four colours is usually the best approach to go for.”
Revealing how to diverge away from a tacky-looking garden, Anjelica reiterates: “For me, it’s all about knowing what style, mood and theme you want to create.
“They’re your parameters, so they’ll stop you from going into that tacky side where you buy too much stuff or you go too simple.”
GIVE YOUR PLANT POTS A GLOW UP
And last but not least, the interior design whizz advises creating a multi-sensory garden.
“This can be achieved using scent or sight such as colours to really appease to the different senses,” she explains.
According to Anjelica, lavender is the “perfect” plant to use and is not only ideal for being used as part of a sensory garden, but is also a great choice for borders, herb gardens and containers, too.
“It’s got a bit of colour, but then also it has that strong scent,” she says.
“It’s also a great pollinator attractor, so you’re you’re really appeasing to the sound, smell and sight senses, and that’ll make the space feel like much larger space than it probably is.”
How To Make Your Small Garden Look Bigger
Garden design expert Fiona Jenkins from MyJobQuote.co.uk has created a guide on how to make your small garden look larger.
Add shelves – for additional storage and place to hold more plants.
Use foldaway furniture – to take up less space when not in use.
Add privacy – with fencing, trellis, brick walls or hedging.
Add a water feature – to make your garden seem like a natural retreat.
Go bright – when choosing plants, opt for bold colours to make the space pop.
Use large planters – to get more plants in less space.
Plant vertically – add plants upwards to make your garden seem fuller, and therefore, bigger.
Use blue flowers at the edges – blue flowers and plants recede into the distance and make the garden appear bigger.
Grow tall plants – it’s better to think big when it comes to a small garden.
Keep clutter a minimum – as it can give the illusion of less space than there actually is.
The interior design guru points out that you can snap up the ‘Verve French Lavender Mix’ for as little as £4 from B&Q.
However, Anjelica warns that it’s not only important to use the right plants, but also to be creative with the pots that you already have.
“You can be very playful there, so whether it be to complement the masonry that you have, or to to make it a bit more stand out,” she adds.