I’m a garden expert, simple ways to turn your outdoors into a calming haven with a £4 home staple
WITH spring right around the corner, many will be starting to look at how to create the perfect outdoor space to relax, lounge around or socialise.
And with the sun finally shining, searches for ‘garden furniture’ have risen sharply by 82 per cent in the past week.
Whether you’re looking to create a small dining area or a more sumptuous space to entertain, it seems everyone is aiming to update their garden.
And to offer some tips, Emma Cottrell from luxury furniture brand BoConcept has shared five simple ways to transform your garden into a usable, comfortable, yet vibrant living space – including one hack with a cheap home staple.
Emma says: “With the right furniture and accessories, you’ll create an outdoor retreat that helps you to slow down and appreciate true serenity.
“The key to creating an outdoor living room is cultivating a comfortable space in which you can relax. It’s also important to create continuity and flow between your interior and exterior design choices, whether that be in texture, colour or style.”
SOFA SO GOOD
A comfortable place to sit is a garden necessity – whether it be a lounger, a big chair or even a weather-durable sofa.
Stylish rattan or wicker chairs provide a link between indoors and outdoors while also being low maintenance and breathable.
Metal chairs are a more robust option, practical and often stackable while providing an elegant French bistro look.
Introducing a sofa, however, immediately transforms your garden and is a much comfier option that will inevitably encourage you to spend more time outdoors.
There are outdoor sofas of all shapes, styles, colours, sizes and materials. You can find corner sofas which enable you to create separate zones in your garden or sofas with storage underneath where you can store blankets or throws.
Dark sofas are also arguably the most practical and require less cleaning. Whatever suits your personal taste works well – and even better if it fits with your interior style choices!
KEEP IT LIGHT
In order to give the indoor-outdoor flow, your garden could adopt the colour scheme, style or textures of your living room.
Perhaps using the same accessories throughout or patterns and colours which make you feel at home.
The most crucial thing in creating your outdoor space is that it provides an environment in which you can truly relax.
We recommended sticking to light colours where possible. Light-coloured dining chairs, tables and loungers often suit the spring vibe and create a fresh, clean look in the garden.
White outdoor furniture also looks especially good in contrast to the deep greens of garden plants, shrubs and trees.
ACCESSORISE
From the colour of the sofa to the throw across the bed, you put a lot of thought into the textiles that help craft the interior of your home, but do you do the same for your outdoor space?
Accessories shouldn’t just be for the lounge or kitchen. Your garden can be accessorised with more than just flowers.
Swapping or adding fabric accents is one of the easiest ways to infuse your outdoor living space with colour, add some texture, and create an aesthetic that is cosy and welcoming.
This can be done by adding an outdoor rug, hanging some curtains to diffuse harsh sunlight, or simply adding a few throw pillows.
You can also add more artistic and interesting things to give it a contemporary feel.
Think outdoor mirrors and vases. Clocks are another great garden accessory and you can pick these up in the likes of Asda or Tesco for as little as £4.
All of these create a feeling that the garden space is decorated in the same way you’d decorate your lounge.
BRIGHT IDEAS
New lighting can help you see your outdoor living space in a whole new light – literally.
This may include solar-powered lanterns, a few strings of twinkle lights or a couple of aromatic candles.
And no matter what time of year it is, festoon lights -hanging in a tree or along a fence – will always make the garden look welcoming.
POP UP A PERGOLA
Pergolas zone an area and create a separate space within the garden. They’re also a perfect space for entertaining and provide a shaded spot from the spring sunshine. It also gives the feeling that you’re actually in a room outside.
You could opt for a decorative wood frame that will add a classic feel however, these may require more maintenance.
Alternatively, one of the most fun ways is with the addition of a beach hut-style shed, which will be just as practical as it is Instagrammable.