We spend so much time and effort making the inside of our homes look pretty, it makes sense that the outside space should be just as nice! For a good chunk of the year, the garden is an incredibly important area of the home where we can relax, entertain guests and where pets and children can run around and explore. One problem that a lot of homeowners have is that their garden looks perfectly fine, but it's lacking in any kind of personality. A patio and a lawn might be functional but by themselves don't offer the most inspiring looking garden. If you want to add some style to your outdoor space, here are a few ways you can go about it.
Dig a pond
Not only do ponds look pretty, but they're excellent for wildlife. Birds, frogs, insects and hedgehogs will all utilise a pond where they can eat, drink and in some cases reproduce. Companies like Bradshaws Direct have everything you need in one place, so if you're considering DIYing a pond then do some research, work out what you'll need and gather your supplies. Otherwise, have a landscape gardener come in and do the job for you. You could even go a step further and add things like lights and water fountains! If you have young children, be aware that a pond can be a hazard. Either keep it fenced off, or wait until they're a little older before adding this feature to your garden. Another thing to be mindful of is general maintenance to keep your water feature looking good and kept clean. Utilising the services of experts in the field to implement algae control measures as well as an annual check-up, will likely be adequate to keep things running squeaky clean without issue.
Paint your fences
Standard brown fences do the job, but they can look a little plain and boring. How about going with a pastel shade- a light green can look pretty and work well with the natural greens of the garden. White and light grey fences can also look fantastic in some cases. If you want something darker, how about a a charcoal colour? If you grow brightly coloured plants and flowers against the fences this can really help them pop and stand out, creating an awesome feature in the garden. You could paint things like your shed, summerhouse or any wooden planters in a cute pastel shade too.
Add flowers
Speaking of colour, this is a simple yet highly effective way to breathe life and give your garden some interest. You could dig borders around the perimeter, sites like Pinterest have lots of inspiration for cool wavy beds if you want something a bit different from regular straight lines. Pots, hanging baskets and wall planters again can be filled with colourful blooms. If you plant bulbs and seeds that flower at different times of the year, you'll always have colour even during the autumn and winter. Simply dead head the plants when they stop flowering and wait for the next lot to come up. If you're lucky enough to get a good crop of blooms, you can always cut some for vases and use them to decorate your home!
Decorate with lights
You can buy solar lights really cheaply from home and garden shops and they look so effective. String up lights along your fences or amongst your flowerbeds for a really pretty finish during the evening. It's worth investing in a good patio light too, something that allows you to sit out in the garden during the evening with a glass of wine.
How have you added personality to your garden?
