Guide written by:
Crystal, Owner of a small gardening business, Oxford
With the sunshine (finally) on its way, you might be thinking about how to spruce up your garden. Whether you want to create a dining area with a big garden table or a relaxation zone with a garden sofa and armchairs, you just need a few accessories to completely transform the atmosphere. Here are a few really easy ideas to put into practice.
Decorative during the daytime and essential as the sun goes down... Have you guessed what we're talking about? Garden lights, of course! Dot around candles for a soft atmosphere, place solar lights in your planters, hang fairy lights around here and there or even add a few table lamps wherever you see fit. Lighting is the ultimate ally when it comes to decorating a garden dining set.
A table lamp is a practical and convivial way to light a dining area. Alternatively, you can set up a few outdoor floor lamps around the table, at the foot of a sun lounger or even around a hammock. It's easy to find a spot on the ground to set up an oversized floor lamp. These lamps provide a lot of light and can even be used to draw attention to your outdoor plants.
Solar lamps mean you can forget about extension cords or messing around with electrics since they don't need mains power at all! What could be more practical than that?
It goes without saying that plants really complete your outdoor décor. Some of the most on-trend options include:
Bamboo
Palm trees
Cacti and other succulents
Olive trees (with or without olives...)
Mediterranean plants need full sun and a south-facing garden to thrive. But if you're lucky enough to have all that, they will reward you with evergreen foliage in exchange for little effort.
So, where are some good spots for your new plants? A palm tree is ideal for casting shade over a sun lounger while a garden sofa will look great surrounded by olive tree topiaries. Potted succulents can add a lot of interest to a dining table. And to make things even easier, why not go for fake plants? Some faux greenery is extremely convincing.
There's nothing better than a few textiles to really put a unique stamp on your garden dining or lounge set. You can't go wrong with a few cushions thrown over your outdoor sofa or armchair. Not only will they make things more comfortable, they'll also add style. And what more could you ask? Just make sure your cushions are plump and weather-resistant. And don't worry, the cushions on top of your garden lounge set really are designed to be kept outdoors meaning you can happily leave them in the garden for much of the year.
Another idea to complete your garden lounge: an outdoor rug. No matter the style of your garden furniture – whether you've gone for wood, faux rattan or aluminium – any style goes here. From tropical prints to geometric patterns and Berber designs, an outdoor rug is perfect for tucking beneath a sofa or table to finish off your garden lounge area.
Cushions, candles, lamps, fairy lights, shade sails... when your accessories are not in use, it's best to store them away to protect them. A garden chest is ideal for outdoor storage. These storage chests come in so many different designs that you won't have any trouble finding something you like. Some can even double up as footrests to keep you sitting comfortably on the outdoor sofa.
If you have green fingers and like to keep on top of pampering your plants, you can also safely store all your gardening tools in a storage chest until you need them next. That said, a garden tool cabinet will be an even better way to store away your equipment (even if you only have a pair of gloves and some secateurs!). That way, there's no excuse to hide your hoe away behind the flower pots!
Got enough inspiration to get started on decorating your garden lounge or dining area? All that's left to do is to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in. Let's get decorating!
Guide written by:
Crystal, Owner of a small gardening business, Oxford
From a background in waste transportation, I became a farmer specialising in organic gardening. A graduate of Horticultural Production, I tried for several years as a young farmer to settle in the beautiful region of Oxfordshire. After many disappointments, I finally started a small-business in home services, specifically in gardening, assisted by my loving, dear husband. Passionate about nature and wild edible plants, I am very attentive to ecological solutions and respectful of our environment in all aspects of my daily life. From the vegetable garden to the flower beds, from seed to harvest, I have all kinds of advice up my sleeve. Do not hesitate to ask me your questions.