Summer Gardening – Extending your interior design out into your garden will help to make your outdoors a place which you and your family will enjoy spending time. By paying attention to design details, such as the color palette used and the shape and textures of the furniture, you can create a useable space and your garden will feel like an added room or an extension of your home.
The lead up to summer is the best time to start getting involved in the design of your garden, as then it will be ready for use when the warm weather comes. If you are not a keen gardener and simply want your space to be a place of relaxation, a low-maintenance design will work best for you. Use decking and paving slabs to define the areas, and also keep lawn areas to a minimum. By fitting out your garden with decking you create a sleek modern feel, and also reduce the need for maintenance of mowing a lawn or pulling up weeds.
Keep colors vibrant by introducing potted flowers, or make a border around the space, specifically for flowers and plants to grow in. A mixture of different sized pots will create a casual and eclectic look. For a spring inspired look, opt for a variety of bright pots in shades of pink, green, yellow and orange. For a more coastal or Mediterranean inspired design, choose pots in deep shades of blue and cream.
You can coordinate the color of your flowers by selecting wisely. If you want a feminine or romantic ambiance, choose a variety of pink and purple flowers. For a more fresh and vibrant feel, stick to plants which will bloom orange and yellow. To gain a more earthy vibe, choose shrubs which do not flower, instead, focus on the different shades of green in the leafs. Potted plants can be scattered around the perimeter of your garden, or bundle them in groups on your deck.
A painted fence will feel more homely. If you have a raw wooden fence, consider painting it a pastel color or a shade which will complement the design of your outdoor space. Removing the woody color will make the garden feel less of an outdoors space, and more of an interior. Alternatively, build raised flower beds and paint the wood around them.
Garden furniture is probably the biggest impact you can make on the design of a garden. There are many styles available to suit differing budgets and needs. To make your garden a place of comfort where your family wants to spend time, opt for large furniture with bulky cushions. This will help to create a focal point in your garden, and also be comfy and cosy to sit on. Improve the design and comfort further by adding outdoor cushions and throws to the furniture. Use bright colors and bold designs as an accent against simple furniture, and match up the color palette of your soft furnishings with that of your flowers or plant pots.