If you want your garden to look the best it can be, you may be overwhelmed by the amount of time and effort needed for larger designs. However, some garden updates are easier to implement than you might think. From changing your outdoor furniture to planting upwards to make the most out of your space, simple design changes can make a big difference. In this article, we outline some of our favourite quick and easy modern design additions you can implement into your garden project. Let’s take a look…

Outdoor Furniture

Giving your outdoor furniture a bit of a refresh can do wonders for your garden space. If you have pre-existing plastic, timber, or metal furniture, there is a high likelihood that your previous purchasing has become tired, brittle, and faded. Timber and metal furniture especially can lose its visual appeal over the years, with moisture absorption causing rot and rust respectively. This moisture damage can, in the worst-case scenario, cause the furniture to break apart, making them less safe to sit down upon.

For a long-lasting outdoor furniture upgrade, the smart money is on recycled plastic. Recycled plastic is a more sustainable, durable alternative than single use plastic, with a range of versatile designs available. Outside of its aesthetic benefit, recycled plastic is also easier to look after than other furniture options, needing only a simple wipe down to keep it clean. Compare this to the oiling, painting, and staining needed for timber and metal furniture. Why make work for yourself? Choose recycled plastic furniture for the ease of it and put down those paintbrushes!

Fencing

The look, feel, and colour of your fencing can change the entire atmosphere of your outdoor build, and yet it is often seen as an afterthought when planning your garden. Most people specify timber fencing, due to its natural good looks and ease of installation. However, the issue with timber is that it can rapidly degrade and split apart over time, leaving your garden border less secure as a result. Concrete fencing is a long-lasting alternative, but these can appear a bit drab and lifeless in comparison to their timber counterparts.

Thankfully, there are fencing alternatives on the market that combine the high strength qualities of concrete with the naturalistic good looks of traditional timber. Composite fencing is made from recycled plastic fibres mixed with timber, which helps to repel moisture. If you don’t want to part with your previous fencing investments, don’t worry; some composite fencing manufacturers supply special inserts for concrete and timber fencing posts, so you can fit brand new panels between what you already have.

Build Upwards!

The reality is that many gardens, especially in new builds, are much smaller, and may not give you the space to create the expansive outdoor project of your dreams. However, a small garden does not necessarily mean a dull one, and being economical and creative with the space you have can help you to create wonders. Building upwards instead of outwards by making use of vertical spaces can help you to feel truly surrounded by nature. Why not fix trellises to your garden walls, and decorate them with dense, climbing plants?

You can achieve this feeling of being enclosed by nature with even easier additions such as tall potted trees or hanging plants from a timber pergola. For more design flair, certain composite fencing solutions even allow you the option to swap out the top two boards of a fencing panel and replace them with a cut out metal screen design, adding an extra bit of texture to your garden space.

Create Separate Spaces

Another way to make your garden feel larger is to create different “zones” for your space. This can be achieved relatively easy, and it is the simple process of making more interesting textures in your garden other than a straightforward, flat lawn. Why not incorporate a patio space, or make a stepping stone pathway? Alternatively, you could build a decking area, making individual platforms and tiers to give your garden more height.

For both decking boards and patio slabs, there is an abundance of options, depending on the limits of your budget and your design stipulations. For decking, you can choose traditional timber, or more modern alternatives, such as aluminium and composite, which are more long-lasting. With a patio, you can opt for traditional stone, or instead choose interlocking brick paving, or even porcelain.

Planting

Flower beds and planting themes are a gorgeous addition to any garden space. Popular, colourful springtime flowers include pansies, daffodils, and tulips. Tulips, more than the other two plants, are great for any garden design, as there are tulip variants in almost every colour. To keep with your vertical planting theme, you can grow these in wide planters, which can be store bought, or built from scratch. Metal or recycled plastic planters are the most weather resistant.

Sometimes, you just want to skip to the final product. If you want a flourishing, colourful garden, but don’t want to spend time and energy cultivating it, why not head to your local garden centre, and choose some pre-potted plants? Ceramic pots especially are perfect design elements to adorn a decking or patio space, and if you chose interesting, patterned ones, they could create an attention-grabbing pop of colour.

To conclude, with some careful planning, creating a perfect garden is potentially much easier than you may have initially thought. Break down what you need to do into smaller, separate tasks, and this will make your project feel more achievable. Create zones and incorporate vertical planting to make a smaller space feel larger and populate these areas with low maintenance outdoor furniture. Never neglect your fencing, as this can provide a beautiful backdrop for your garden designs. Finally, decorate your garden with beautiful, colour flowers, to bring a sense of character to your surroundings. We hope you have found these easy modern design additions helpful, and they help you to make the garden of your dreams!