How to Transform Your Outdoor Space Just in Time for Summer

Create A Wooden Folding Bar

Who doesn’t enjoy a tipple in the warmer weather? If you don’t have the space for an outdoor bar or you don’t want it to become a focal point of your garden, consider creating a folding bar. When not in use, this folds up onto the wall to hide away neatly, blending in with the rest of the garden. When it’s time for a drink, simply unlatch it and you’re good to go!

The design of the bar is simple. A pallet of wood is attached with chains either directly to the wall or fence, or to a larger wooden palette. The smaller palette can be lowered, with the chain lengths designed to keep it horizontal so that it creates a flat, level surface to work as a bar, and a latch in place to keep it from falling down when it’s put back up. You can create a shelf unit on the surrounding wooden palette, or bring your bottles and glasses out when you’re ready to start mixing.

A great thing to note here is that if you’re ordering other garden furniture it will likely arrive on a pallet so you can then make the bar out of this - getting 2 pieces of outdoor furniture for the price of 1.

If you’re not into DIY, or you have more space to play with, our range of rattan bar sets are the perfect place to enjoy a drink with friends or family. Choose a bar set with an ice bucket centre and you’ll even be able to keep your drinks cool.

Design A Comfortable Seating Area

A summer garden needs a comfortable seating area. Whether you’re entertaining friends on a lazy Sunday or reading your book with breakfast, a lovely sofa to sink into is a must. For small spaces, a simple chair or two will do, with a small table to complete the set. In larger spaces, consider casual dining sets, made up of sofas, chairs, and a dining table for bigger groups.

But, a seating area isn’t just about your furniture; it’s about the accessories, too. Add cushions, blankets, candles, and lanterns to lift your space and create a garden that’s truly welcoming.

Build A Living Wall

Plant life can add colour and vibrancy to a garden. This summer, rethink your landscape by building a living wall for vertical greenery, adding height and dimension to your outdoor space.

Creating a living wall is simple. Simply build or buy a set of vertical planters that can be attached to a wall or trellis. Add greenery to your planters, choosing flora and fauna that will trail as they grow, like Cerastium, Ivy, and Phlox, to create a wall that’s full of life. The more colours and textures, the better!

Construct An Outdoor Kitchen

One of the many joys of a garden is being able to cook outside when the weather is better. If you’re looking to upgrade your outdoor space and bring on a new level of barbequing, a kitchen could be just what you’re looking for.

You can create your cooking area to be as rustic or as luxurious as you like. Choose a solid oak worktop that’s durable when used outdoors and a fully functioning stove top, or create a chopping area of bricks to sit alongside a pizza oven.

Sow Wildflowers

Wildflowers bring a look of rustic chic to a garden along with plenty of colour. Creating a mini meadow is easy, too. Simply find a pack of wildflower seeds and sprinkle them onto your grass or flower beds, and let nature do its work! The end result is a summery, vibrant garden that’s full of life. Wildflowers are fantastic for nature, too, and should bring plenty of bees and butterflies to your outdoor space.

Upgrade Your Plant Pots

No matter how beautiful the plants they hold, if your pots look shabby, your entire garden will. This summer, upgrade yours to lift the look of your space and add a splash of contemporary decor. Play around with different shapes, using small round pots to create a large statement and taller towers to add height and the illusion of space in small gardens.

Add Indestructible Succulents

Not everyone’s a natural gardener. If you’d love a garden that’s full of life but you don’t have green fingers or thumbs, choose plants that are low maintenance. One of the best additions for an easy-care garden is succulents, which take virtually no looking after to thrive. A drop of rain here and there, and your succulents will be good to go for many seasons to come.

Create An Edible Herb Garden

Herbs are a really easy edible plant to grow, perfect for both beginner and more advanced gardeners. Even in small spaces, you can pop herbs in little flower pots and create a flourishing garden that you can use to cook with. There are plenty of options to choose from, too, including:
Mint
Basil
Rosemary
Dill
Chives
Sage
Thyme
If ground space is at a premium, pop your herbs somewhere higher up, like a window ledge or wooden shelf, and watch them grow.

Add A Lick Of Paint

If your garden is looking a little shabby, bring out the paint and add a fresh lick of colour to your space. Whether you’re painting your shed, your fences, or your walls, a new coat of colour will do a lot to liven up your outdoor area. You can either choose neutrals to blend in with the natural surroundings, like cream or grey, or opt for a bold shade like blue, hot pink, or mint green to add a splash of colour.

Create Cooling Shade

Perhaps one of the most important parts of designing a garden for summer use is to make sure you have adequate shade to stay cool and to also protect you from harmful UV rays. Our cantilever parasols create a large shaded area and can be used with sofas, corner sofas, and outdoor dining.

If you’re not as confident in the British weather, adding a pergola with an opening and closing roof can not only offer comforting shade but also protect you from a sudden downpour so you’re BBQ doesn’t get rained off!
With a bit of hard work and the right ideas, you can transform your garden this year and create an oasis away from the busy world. Hopefully, this article has given you the ideas to get started! Just remember that a little bit of love goes a long way, and you don’t always have to be a professional to create a thriving garden you love to relax in