Your garden can become much more than an idyllic green space; it can become your personal refuge, offering much-needed respite during stressful days. Careful selection of ideas and decor can create an inviting outdoor living area without breaking the bank.
Layer in natural textures such as wood, stone, and wicker to add charm and functionality to cottage-style gardens. Plants with soft foliage or soothing scents, such as ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia or aromatic rosemary, add beauty and function.
Add a Rug
Be more comfortable and inviting in any seating area with the addition of an inviting outdoor rug, from colorful designs and hues that add style and flair. Plus, these durable rugs can withstand outdoor weather without wearing out!
Make your backyard retreat inviting with low-slung garden chairs and loungers from low-slung garden furniture manufacturers, whether the timeless Adirondack chairs are your thing or more relaxing rockers and hammocks provide more relaxation.
Add low-maintenance plants like ferns, succulent walls, or edible gardens into your yard to add color and texture. Or make an impactful statement with a breathtaking water feature or fountain!
Maximize seating in smaller spaces with lightweight patio decor such as floor pillows and poufs that can easily be stored when guests arrive, providing quick and cost-effective ways to provide seating when extra guests show up.
If your budget does not permit purchasing brand-new furniture, give your existing pieces an updated look by using paint. Painting flooring or ceiling can make an outdoor space feel brand new instantly! This simple upgrade can instantly make a statement.
Get Soft Lights
Lights are an easy and affordable way to transform any garden, offering endless design possibilities. String lights can create a magical setting when draped around trees or trellises in your garden; lantern lights come in rustic designs from China, Morocco, or even fairy-style lanterns for more traditional garden styles; uplighting uses lighting angled upwards from features like trees, walls, or urns to provide visual depth—or you could try uplighting, which uses lighting angled upwards on features like tall trees, walls, or urns for an entirely different look!
Make the most of outdoor seating by adding colorful cushions and pillows with bright hues that coordinate with your garden, easily swappable if you wish to change up the color scheme, as well as weatherproof materials suitable for year-round use. Bring indoor entertainment outside by setting up a projector in your garden for movie night!
Create an inviting garden space on a budget with low-slung chairs or hammocks that allow you to lounge close to the plants for an immersive experience, providing shaded spots throughout the day for relaxing in comfort. Or repurpose an old wheelbarrow into an ideal garden bench—providing ample seating for guests and family members—complete with soft lighting, snacks, and blankets for an ultimate backyard escape!
Get Comfy Pillows
Enhance your garden room with extra comfort by adding cozy outdoor cushions and inviting throw blankets. If budget constraints limit you, look for second-hand seating pieces with solid structures that you can spruce up with paint or weatherproof coating to give them new life—then layer these pieces with bright-colored cushions that add color, creating a cozy garden room you won’t want to leave!
Enhance seating in smaller gardens by adding compact floor pillows like this one from Lincove. Packed with premium duck feather down for comfort and cooling properties, its machine-washable cover offers easy maintenance, while two sizes ensure that there’s something that fits perfectly into any space.
If storage space is tight, creating a simple potting station may help your garden run more efficiently (and reduce back strain). Use an old table or scraps of wood as a surface that stores pots, planters, soil, and gardening tools—or take a page from Allie Wilson’s book by upcycling an old pallet into an attractive vertical garden center!
Get a Heat Lamp
Based on how you plan to utilize your outdoor space, incorporating a heat lamp may extend gardening hours past sunset or add extra ambience. There are numerous budget-friendly options, such as hanging lanterns or solar stake lights, that make setting one up easy in your garden; or for those raising chicks, there is even a dedicated heat lamp available that can make their coop an inviting retreat.
Be creative when selecting planters to maximize greenery and add an eye-catching splash of color. Craft DIY stepping stones to give your garden an original appearance, or coat existing metal furniture with protective paint to protect it from UV rays. Utilizing recycled materials, consider building a potting station like Allie Wilson Home’s Allie Wilson Potting Station so as to reduce backache after gardening!
Gas fire pits are an affordable and engaging backyard upgrade that adds warmth for an enjoyable evening outdoors. Combine it with comfortable chairs or lounge areas for an engaging social gathering space, and add soft lighting in earthy tones to define the area. Plant low-maintenance species for added color that’s eco-friendly while supporting local biodiversity; don’t forget the finishing touches such as colorful pillows and warming throws to complete this inviting backyard retreat experience!
