Decorating your garden can be the simplest way to elevate your outdoor space. From adding some fairy lights to creating a statement fountain or setting up some comfy lounge chairs, there are many ways to add some colour and flair to your garden. If you want a whimsical backyard where you can relax and entertain friends and family, here are 8 unique garden decorating ideas to get your creative gears turning.
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1- Add A Botanical Backdrop
If you want a garden straight from a fairy woodland dream, consider planting a living wall for a stunning botanical backdrop.
A vertical living wall offers a nice variation from simply planting in pots or borders, and is a great way to instantly spice up your garden.
You can also customise the living wall as you wish — you can make it as big or small as you want, and plant whichever thick foliage or pretty blooms you like.
The point is to experiment, have fun, and create a space that reflects your unique taste and design sense. Of course, you might need agricultural or construction equipment to set up a living wall, which is something you can easily buy from marketplaces like Grays.
2- Create A Warm Ambience With Garden Lanterns
Lighting is one of the most essential parts of your outdoor garden design. While you can always opt for a candle-lit dinner under the stars, you should also consider investing in hanging/decorative lights to add some flair to your garden space.
For example, Moroccan solar lanterns or overhead dot lanterns can add a beautiful glow to your space, making your garden look dreamy, warm, and inviting.
I believe that flowers are natural decorators and the main characters in some gardens. Consider planting various flowers and herbs attractive to pollinators like bees and provide nectar and pollen throughout the seasons. Bees are especially drawn to native wildflowers, lavender, sunflowers, and herbs like mint and thyme. Installing bird feeders, birdhouses, and plants that butterflies love can also help attract these delightful creatures.
3- Install A Fire Pit
There’s nothing quite like gathering around the warm glow of some gently flickering flames on a cold winter night.
If you want to enjoy your garden even in gloomy winter months, consider adding a fire pit from this list of the best fire pits for 2023.
Fire pits enhance your garden’s aesthetic, are a great source of warm lighting and can keep you toasty long after sundown.
And if you ever want a mini-campfire in your backyard, a fire pit is perfect for toasting a couple of marshmallows and sipping on hot chocolate under the open sky.
4- Experiment With Creative Containers
If your garden space looks a bit monotonous, chuck out the boring grey flowerpots and prepare to play around instead!
Experimenting with various creative containers is a great way to liven up your garden without changing much.
You can find plenty of fun containers at flea markets and thrift stores. We’d recommend vintage tins, old wash tubs, and galvanised buckets as good starting points. You can even use your old gardening wellies as cute planters to line your garden paths or plant flowers by your backdoor.
But if you aren’t feeling too ambitious just yet, you can simply add some colour and personality by painting generic flower pots with bright colours.
5- Set Up A Lounging Area
A lounging area is a great way to add a laid-back touch to your garden and make it appear inviting and homely.
So consider setting up a hammock or a couple of comfy lounge chairs around a rustic centre table. You can also incorporate some funky cushions to add a pop of colour, add a picnic rug, and grab some cosy blankets and other soft furnishings to take your lounging space to the next level.
6- Don’t Shy Away From Colour
For a quaint, dreamy garden space, don’t shy away from colour. While neutral browns and creams compliment greenery very well, adding a pop of colour with bright furniture and funky decorations makes your garden space more unique and lively.
Bright-coloured bistro sets are a reliable decoration choice if you don’t know where to begin. If you’ve already got dreamy garden furniture but simply want to liven it up, we recommend purchasing some bright hues and painting it yourself. It makes for a fun DIY activity and allows you to get more hands-on with designing a garden space that truly reflects your personality.
7- Elevate Your Garden Path
If your garden path currently comprises boring trampled grass, it’s time to step it up. Decorative garden paths are more practical and add more personality and structure to your garden.
When deciding where to lay your garden path, take a walk through your garden and note the usual routes you take to access your plants, sheds, and lounging area.
Also make sure the materials and colours you install complement the overall design theme of your garden. For a whimsical cottage-core feel, gravel or large stepping stones are a great choice, while pavers and tiles work best with a more neutral, toned-down theme.
8- Add A Statement Wall
Just like paint can transform the interior of your home, it can also make your garden space look fresh and more unique.
If you don’t want to paint your garden wall, you can always opt for a pretty picket fence. Choose a classic colour like green, white, or duck-egg blue, and refresh your garden with a newly-painted fence.
Make sure to purchase wood paint specially formulated for exterior use, so your chosen colour looks its best all year round.
9- Garden Decoration Simplified
We hope you’re already excited and can’t wait to implement one of the ideas we’ve discussed. After all, they’re all simple, budget-friendly, and can serve as great DIY activities for you and your family.
If you’re looking for a more advanced outdoor project, check out our post on how to build a deck yourself.
