With the warmer weather coming, many peoples focus moves outside and specifically how to maximise their garden in the summer months. With better weather and longer nights, the garden is the perfect place to entertain, play family games or just relax and unwind.
Garden specialists Oeco Garden Rooms has over 10 years of experience creating spectacular gardens and looks at the big trends for this summer and how you can utilise them in your garden.
Multiple use spaces
Whether the garden is used for entertaining, family activities or just for unwinding and relaxing, separating different areas of the garden is a key consideration when creating a space that the whole family can enjoy.
There are three basic areas every garden should use to maximise the space, these are, a designated eating/entertaining area, an open space for playing or relaxing and a storage area to keep all of the garden accessories when they are not in use.
- A patio or decking area is ideal for the entertaining area and is a solid base for garden furniture and BBQ’s. These areas can be separated from the rest of the garden by using wooden rails, hedges or flower beds and gives structure to the garden.
- The bulk of the garden can be used for playing and relaxing and usually consists of a lawn area with flower beds surrounding it on each side to provide colour. This area can also be used when entertaining and can be accessorised with sun loungers, chairs and solar lighting to create an ambient space.
- The third area is where you will store garden accessories such as lawn mowers, tools and garden furniture when they are not needed. To hide away these structures you can use garden fencing and arch ways to separate the space from the rest of the garden.
One of the most popular trends over the last couple of years has been to incorporate natural elements such rocks, boulders and bushes into the garden to create a more natural look.
Bright colours are the way to go
Neutral tones may be the way to go for interior design, but in the garden it’s all about bright and vibrant colours. Gloriosa Daisy and Peonies are some great summer flowers that provide a colourful focal point, while Coreopsis will provide a yellow hue to the garden all summer long.
It’s not just flowers that create colourful gardens, in fact one of the biggest garden trends gaining popularity this year is colourful garden furniture and garden structures. Colourful garden furniture can be used to accent different areas of the garden and to differentiate different areas too.
Painting or staining garden sheds and other garden structures is a great way to update the look of your garden. Adding brighter colours to garden structures helps them stand out, while using darker colour allows the foliage to become centre stage.
Garden lighting
Café lighting and extendable light chains are some of the hottest trends for the garden right now, and are perfect for lighting a patio or decking area to create a Mediterranean feel. Solar lighting is also an efficient way to light up your garden, they are cheap and virtually maintenance free.
LED lighting is more efficient and lasts longer than traditional lighting, they are available in a range of different colours and configurations, perfect for creating an ambient lighting scheme for any garden. With a range of smart lighting options, LED lights can even be controlled using a smartphone, great for entertaining and creating different moods in different spaces.
