Get summer ready: top ideas for outdoor living for every size and space

Dress up a small space with plants and accessories

Potted plants are a great way to add a splash of summer colour to a small space, whether that’s a patio, balcony or even just a windowsill! Dahlias, fuchsias and geraniums are all great container plants, as well as ornamental dwarf shrubs and miniature trees. If regular watering is going to be a problem, opt for drought-resistant cacti and succulents.

If ground space is limited, hanging baskets are a great alternative and will also dress up bare walls – choose plants such as verbenia, begonias lobelia, mixed in with trailing ivy and the gorgeous golden foliage of creeping jenny.

Hanging ornaments are a great way to add interest and colour – hang windchimes on a balcony or from a tree, fix mirrors to a wall to reflect the light and make small spaces appear bigger, attach lanterns to hooks on a wall or from a shepherd’s crook pushed into the ground.

Choose space saving furniture for tight corners – slimline bistro tables and chairs that can be folded away when not in use are ideal. Dual purpose furniture makes the most of all available space, such as storage containers that double up as seats or benches by adding cushions.

Create zoned areas for entertaining and chilling out in a mid-sized garden

Make the most of the myriad of garden furniture buys in the shops right now and kit out your outdoor space in al fresco dining sets and lazy chairs for lounging. A few folding deckchairs cosied up with scatter cushions work well if space is limited and can be stored away at the end of the day – splash out on L-shaped outdoor couches and hammocks if your garden is bigger.

Add screens to mark out dedicated sections for dining and relaxing. Folding trellis-style screens with holders for potted plants are a great way to divide the space while dressing it up.

Create ambiance with a string of fairy or solar lights – attach to a balcony railing or use to frame a patio or terrace. Push individual lights on stakes into the ground to create feature lighting and illuminate eye-catching plants and shrubs.

Add a BBQ to your dining space for spontaneous al fresco dinners, consider building a pizza oven or outdoor kitchen if room allows.

Take a look at this contemporary home in Northamptonshire for inspiring ideas on creating zones for eating and relaxing in your outdoor space.

Add a summer house or garden studio to a larger space

A summer house or garden studio is a great option for larger plots, giving you the option to extend your living space into the garden year-round. Fling open the doors in summer, cosy up inside with throws and blankets through winter.

Cedral facades are a great option for creating stylish garden rooms that look good and last, with minimal maintenance required - as testified by Tristen Read, Director of Read Garden Rooms Ltd, who says:

“A big selling point for us with customers is that our garden rooms are very low maintenance and that often sways them towards Cedral over traditional timber cladding. This is something that I get a lot of feedback on – Cedral is a fantastic option for our customers who want their building to stay looking like new without the upkeep of painting wooden cladding every year.”

Order your Free Sample today