With the summer well and truly here, I thought it would be a good idea to talk more about outdoor spaces. I recently shared my garden makeover but that was more about the aesthetic transformation. Aside from aesthetics there’s plenty more that goes into planning and designing an outdoor space as I realised when renovating my garden so I thought I would share.
So in case you’re planning to do up your garden or backyard, here are some things to keep in mind.
1. Plan the space
Before you buy anything or do anything, plan the layout of the space based on how you plan to use it and consider the practicalities too. For instance if you’re planning to do a lot of outdoor entertaining then you’ll likely want your outdoor dining area close to your kitchen (unless you’re planning an outdoor kitchen too). Or maybe you want to work out there daily so you’ll likely want to avoid setting up your outdoor office in the sunniest spots.
2. Choose quality furniture
Outdoor furniture has to be far more durable than their indoor counterparts. So when choosing your furniture, while aesthetics matter, quality matters more. After all you want your outdoor pieces to last for years so paying attention to quality is key.
3. Avoid high-maintenance plants
Unless you’re a very experienced gardener, high maintenance plants will end up costing you both time and money. Instead choose plants that are low maintenance and are also suitable for your specific climate and conditions.
Also consider the type of grass you want to have or if you want to have any at all. Real grass needs maintenance like mowing and watering whereas artificial grass, thought not maintenance free is easier to look after. Or you can even opt for no grass and go for a paved garden decorated with lots of plants in pots.
4. Consider and plan (quality) storage
Garden storage is often overlooked or considered as an afterthought but it’s such an important part of designing a garden. Aside from furniture/seat cushions there are many other things that need storage space in a garden like garden tools, other tools, bikes, logs and more. That’s exactly why we DIY’ed a large shed in our garden which now houses all our outdoor stuff.
Again it’s worth thinking about quality here because the shed has to be very durable. So consider things like the material for the shed (I recommend wood), consider shed bases which can protect your shed from damp damage, and finally consider how weather proof your structure is because weather damage can not only damage the shed but it’s contents to.
5. Consider Lighting
While lighting plays a big role in the aesthetics of a garden, it’s equally important for practicality. One of the best things we did in our garden was having an outdoor power socket installed. This has allowed us to place lights all over the garden which allows us to use the space long in to the night. The lights also light up the garden every evening allowing us to see it even in the colder months.
6. Consider your budget
Though this isn’t the first point its just as important (if not more) than the others. Before starting on your garden design, know what your budget is and plan accordingly. This was one of my biggest mistakes and I ended up not being able to afford any garden furniture which was a real bummer! No matter what your budget is, if you plan you can prioritise and compromise as needed.
7. Aesthetic matters
Practicality and function are very important but aesthetics matter too because the garden is essentially another room in your home. My best advice here is let your indoor design style guide your outdoors. This way your garden will be a seamless extension of your indoor space and won’t look at odds with the rest of your decor.
image credits: 1 – source unknown | 2 – your diy family | 3 – house doctor | 4 – daniella witte
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