Collaborative Post
Have you ever flicked through home and garden magazines and dreamed of relaxing in one of those super modern, beautifully landscaped gardens? Then, looked outside and realised you could never afford the garden of your dreams?
Although we can’t all pay someone to come and create a minimalist oasis in our backyards, there are ways of creating a stunning, high impact garden which looks like you have spent a fortune and will make all your friends envious.
If your garden is looking lacklustre and you want to breathe new life into it, don’t call a landscape designer, you can achieve some incredible things with a little innovation, some DIY and lots of creativity. You can also use some clever tricks to make your space look even more significant than it really is. From simple lighting to decorative colour schemes and gorgeous planting, whatever your budget, you can have the ultimate designer garden.
Clear and Paint
Your first steps are to clear everything from your yard. Take it back to the bare minimum. Go through all of your furniture and work out if anything can be repainted and brought back to life. Don’t just try and imagine it a new colour, think bolder. Some metallic paints can give wood the appearance of stainless steel or hammered steel. This could provide a really modern twist to wooden furniture that has been neglected over the years. Be ruthless but not wasteful.
Plants
You should also be honest about the plants you currently have. Chances are you are going to change the shape of your bedding dramatically, so look at any plants you now have then choose which ones you want to keep hold of. Dig up the roots and store them somewhere with plenty of light and access to water. You’ll replant these established plants once you have your new design.
Create Spaces
To create an authentic designer look, you need to create spaces. Using different materials and also different levels will help give an expensive and indulgent look to your garden. You could even create the look of a built-in swimming pool. Swimming pools can be bought online, and you can create a platform around them which gives you the look of a deck-level pool but on a budget. Tongue and groove boards are ideal for decking and give you that riviera style that many people aspire to have.
Fake It
Designer lawns aren’t what you think. Many of the homes with pristine green grass are faking it. They use something called hybrid grass which is a mix of synthetic and real grass. It is used in most football stadiums and is hard-wearing and always looks green and healthy. If this pushes your budget too high, then you could look at astroturf. This artificial grass is incredibly hard-wearing, and it won’t need any maintenance. Although if you have pets, it may need to be hosed down every once in a while.
Curvy
Add some exciting lines to your plant beds. Instead of straight rows, why not create a curved look to add an interesting dynamic to the landscape. While established plants look stunning, you could plant wildflowers and lush green ferns to help fill out the beds and give a dramatic impact.
Sitting Area
Our gardens are an outside social space, so there should be an area where you can sit and eat and relax, regardless of the weather. Visit your local junkyard or check out some auction sites for any decking that people have taken out of their garden. You may find someone is throwing away precisely what you need and with a little sanding and varnishing, you have something that looks as good as new. Your old furniture can now be repainted in whichever style you like the most and to make it really stand out, make some cushions out of waterproof material and invest in a couple of throws which can be kept outside.
Outdoor Cooking Area
You could even build an outdoor cooking area. Go for something simple like a fire pit with a grill on top or create a pizza oven from reclaimed bricks. You can make a workspace next door to it, which you can top with old wooden chopping boards that you have sanded and waxed.
There are so many ideas and ways that you can create a really stunning garden that looks like it has been designed by a professional. You just need to be a little bit innovative with your thinking and the materials you use!
