It's time to turn your garden into the backyard of your dreams. From a practical outdoor room with something for everyone to a compact terrace turned into a tropical oasis, check out these gorgeous garden ideas that make the most of your outdoor space, whatever you're working with and whatever your style...
Think about adding height to a garden to raise the eye and add shade and privacy to an overlooked space. Trees are not cheap, so it’s worth doing a little research into what variety will flourish, considering the amount of sun, soil and drainage, before you take the leap. Trees also add value to your home but don’t plant them too close to the house as the roots can interfere with the foundations.
Get more use out of your garden all year round with a fantastic lighting scheme. Forget solar-powered string lights if you want to make an impact; strip lights or rope lights are fantastic for highlighting architectural details or stylish surfaces. Oversized lamps are also a huge garden trend for 2022, and they add an instant focal point to a seating area. Consult an electrician before you start to ensure the power is dealt with safely.
Garden flooring has a huge impact on the feel and finish of outdoor space and the hottest trend is bringing a little interior style out into the fresh air. Herringbone bricks, parquet decking and patterned tiles will all create the foundation for a super stylish outdoor space and will last for years to come. Use reclaimed bricks for interesting texture and warm colour that will complement planting.
Transform a large expanse of unadorned surface with a bold and impactful mural. Whether hand-painted or tiled, like this botanical beauty, it’s a shortcut to statement style. Use it as a backdrop for a seating area or even to add depth to a boundary wall. Trailing planting from the top adds to the effect, or place potted plants at varying heights – but make sure to leave room for the design to really shine.
As we spend more time in the garden, outdoor showers are becoming increasingly popular. They make great backyard additions to rinse off before hopping into a pool or hot tub and will stop muddy footprints or paw prints from dirtying indoors. They can be surprisingly easy to DIY install and look ultra exotic when framed with foliage and greenery that thrive in misty and moist environments.
Outdoor showers are a wonderful feature on a hot day but indulging in a warm bath on cooler nights is a next-level luxury. Repurpose an old roll-top tub and enclose it with rattan or wooden screens for privacy and protection from chilly breezes. A plumber is essential for checking whether you can connect to the mains and actually supply hot water to your chosen area – but the effort will be worth it!
Create a contemporary backyard sanctuary with modern, low-level grey garden furniture, smooth stone accents, lush structural planting and the main feature: a striking pond and relaxing water feature – pure bliss.
Stretch out on the patio with enough gorgeous portable garden furniture for everyone. Bring out sun loungers on wheels and a luxurious day bed to soak up the sun. When it's time for a sun break a canopy or electric awning will create plenty of shade. As the sun goes down a firepit will warm things up.
Make the most out of your alfresco cooking skills with a complete outdoor kitchen. A sink with running water, gas barbecue, food chiller and wood-fired oven installed within streamlined weatherproof worktops will allow you to cook up a feast in the fresh air.
An outdoor swimming pool is a bucket list favourite of many and as this backyard proves you don't need a huge garden to install one. The clever, compact design complete with covered sun terrace and abundance of tropical foliage makes this small outdoor space a pool-side paradise.
Create an intimate courtyard experience for outdoor entertaining with cosy furniture and atmospheric lighting. Start with a modular corner sofa that offers plenty of seating and then go for additional stools that won't clutter up the space. A low table with a central firepit makes the space feel exotic while ambient outdoor string lights and Moroccan-style storm lanterns complete the chilled-out vibe.
Fancy an outdoor cinema? Developing technology is making them easy and affordable to create in our own gardens. This clever idea shows you only need a wall, fence or shed to paint black, a sheet or projector screen and some comfy chairs to put on a fun open-air movie show with a projector.
It's surprising how just a coat of paint on a wall or fence can totally transform the look of a garden and with the right shades it can increase the sense of space too. Pale blues and cool greys are great for reflecting light into an area; this Air Force Blue shade is the perfect soft contrast to natural greenery.
Coherent colours will streamline your garden and turn it into a soothing space. This raised garden terrace looks like an inviting space with a chalky stone patio backdrop and foliage palette of pretty lilac and lavender. The curvaceous and comfortable seating arrangement completes the country decorating scene with cream coloured upholstery and pink cushions.
Landscaped raised beds will instantly add a contemporary and cocooning effect to a small yet social garden. In the absence of a lawn add greenery with lush structural evergreen plants. Lines of contemporary bamboo will add height to increase the sense of space.
If you prefer traditional garden looks, a pretty pathway and interesting sculptures will create a whimsical, country garden that appears to go on and on. Plant around the ornamental features with tall cottage garden flowers to create plenty of hiding spaces to explore or disappear into, if you prefer.
If a low-maintenance garden to relax in is what you are after artificial grass will keep your outdoor space looking lush all year round. Set against a rich wood decking and fencing the healthy grass green colour will burst out all the more. Avoid unnecessary wear and tear by hanging a swing chair from a tree – it will look super chic too.
Elongate a narrow garden with clever optical illusions like adding a quaint summer house at the far end. We love the vintage theme this compact backyard has with muted colours, pretty outdoor furnishings and those all-important festoon lights.
Hot tubs are an outdoor luxury on many people's garden wish lists. But they can be cumbersome, and some may argue, an eyesore. Wrapping the tub in water-resistant decking is a clever and stylish solution. Here clever levelling and elevation creates the illusion of a sunken tub, while an earthy grey palette blends it into the natural garden scheme.
Why not take your hobby to the next level by adding an artificial putting green on the lawn? Or, if spectating is more your scene what could be better than watching a hole in one from a bubbling hot tub before heading back into the outdoor office to tally up the scores.
Replace plain concrete slabs with a stylish patterned floor in your patio area. Taking the trend for feature floor tiles outside brings with it the element of having a 'fifth room' in your home rather than just a garden. You can also cheat the tiled look for less with stencils and paint. Add lush foliage, bright colours and those all-important cosy accessories to complete the outdoor room oasis.
Add personality to your outdoor space by adding a platform that's full of original fun for social occasions. This shade sail turns the decking into a stage to fill with colourful and kitsch outdoor seating. We love how this space echoes an actual living room with fireplace-style cutout to display plants, plus a wood store for a relaxed and homely vibe.
A permanent gazebo structure will make a stylish feature out of a central outdoor dining area. Don't be afraid to choose a darker paint shade to provide a contemporary contrast that complements the surrounding greenery. A fabric shade above will soften the hard lines to create shelter or shade.
Give your outdoor space a structure that's super unique like this quirky and transparent garden igloo. The futuristic geo-pod will make a striking addition for outdoor gatherings in all weathers as the temperature self-regulates inside. We love the look it creates when stood on budget-friendly floor decking tiles, proving you don't need a huge budget for incredible looks.
Give a corner of your garden its own zone with a feature area on split levels. Steps leading to a decked social mezzanine will draw the eye up, creating the illusion of more space. The high terrace will also offer a whole new viewpoint of the rest of the garden.
If food is your thing, utilise unused space by installing raised wooden beds dedicated to growing delicious fruit and vegetables. Pine House Edible Gardens "balances major production with a classic American style" to produce an edible landscape bursting with flavour. Don't forget a dining area for when it's time to sample the harvest.
Indulge your dinner guests with an outdoor feast by a real outdoor fireplace. A tall chimney will not only do its job to channel fire smoke away from the dining area but the aesthetic addition creates a homely, intimate and luxurious atmosphere that gets better as the evening gets darker. Complement the vibe with plenty of cosy cushions and blankets.
A small garden can be brought to life with a few clever installations and props. This courtyard has been converted into an urban paradise starting with a green vertical wall backdrop and adjacent contemporary wooden trellis. The quirky black egg chair is given a colour shot with a vibrant yellow leopard print cushion, while tropical plants and exotic animal accessories finish the safari retreat – it's wild!
Whether it's a patio dining set or an all-weather modular sofa, good quality garden furniture will instantly transform your outdoor space into something special. Go for a timeless range that will last and look out for waterproof and stainproof finishes. A cover will keep it protected from the elements when not in use too.
This contemporary urban garden has it all, making the most of every inch of space. A low sturdy pergola seamlessly links an outdoor bar and kitchen area to provide a modern socialising space for all weathers. Whilst the adults relax the children can have fun in full view on the low-maintenance faux grass play area.
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