Even if gardening isn't your passion, creating an outdoor oasis to spend time in with family and friends, or even just to gaze out from the comfort of indoors, is pretty appealing to most of us. I most certainly do not have green fingers, yet that doesn't stop me from appreciating beautiful garden schemes.

Where my own outdoor space really falls flat is when it comes to my garden lighting ideas — or, more precisely, the complete lack of a properly planned scheme. Two wall lights stuck to the extension might do the job of lighting the patio table, but that's about as exciting as it gets. I long for more but have no idea where to start.

Planning a garden lighting scheme from scratch can feel overwhelming, so I approached some top designers who, helpfully, have broken the process down into easy-to-understand stages and what and when to factor in when buying garden lighting for your space.

1. Decide exactly what you want from your garden

While there is a sea of inspirational modern garden ideas easily accessible, understanding how to translate them into your own space is not always so easy.

Mike Kazer, founder and design director at London Lightworks, explains that the starting point should be to ensure everyone knows the end goal, be that something to enhance your small patio ideas or a grander scheme. Even if you're not planning on using a lighting designer, his approach definitely makes sense. "We want to understand the overall landscape concept: What are the feature areas? What are the key views? Which elements should draw attention, and how will the garden be experienced after dark?

"We also want to understand the client's personal preferences," continues Mike. "Do they enjoy a garden with lots of light and dramatic features, or are they looking for a delicate and minimal garden, with subtle pockets of light that create atmosphere without overpowering the landscape?

"And there's one piece of information we're rarely given up front but always ask for — the budget," adds Mike. "Understanding the budget from the outset allows us to develop a lighting scheme that is realistic, considered, and in line with the client's expectations, rather than designing something that looks great on paper but isn't achievable. Once we have this information, we can begin to develop a lighting approach that complements the landscape, enhances the architecture, and creates the right atmosphere for the people using the garden."

2. Plan the scheme in layers

With a clearer idea of what it is you are aiming to achieve with your lighting, your next step should be to get to grips with how to plan in a layered garden lighting scheme — this will ensure you are maximizing the space you have to work with.

Travis Hogue, owner of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives , explains just why this approach is so important. "A garden lit with only one layer reads flat — no matter how good the fixtures are. I approach it like a designer might light a stage. For the foreground, use soft step and pathway lighting, in the midground opt for accent uplighting on trees and focal features and, finally, in the background use architectural wall washers or silhouette lighting." Map everything out and ensure you have covered all bases.

Mike Kazer has some further advice when planning layers into your scheme. "Ideally, each layer should be controlled independently, rather than having everything switched on at once. This allows the lighting to respond to different uses and moods. Where the budget and control system allow, we also recommend making these layers dimmable, giving even greater flexibility to adjust the atmosphere." Factoring all of this in from the start will avoid headaches further down the line.

3. Choose the right fittings for the job

Now the stage is set for your lighting scheme; you need to select the right type of light fittings to get the job done — and it isn't just a case of looking at the latest garden lighting trends.

Garrett Cunnington, founder of Loudoun Lighting, says that the wisest place to begin is by focusing on your hopes for the end result. "Start with the lighting effect you want and work backward to the fitting. Think about beam angle, output, glare control, mounting position and adjustability — all are usually more important than the fitting itself. You generally want the fixtures to disappear into the landscape anyway. In most gardens, you should notice the lighting effect before you notice the equipment creating it."

Mike Kazer is keen to emphasize the important role the climate should play in the fittings you choose too. "The environment needs to be carefully considered. When working in coastal locations, for example, we look for fittings with appropriate materials and specialist finishing processes that can withstand the more demanding conditions created by salt-laden air.

"We also favor 24V light fittings over constant-current LED systems, as these systems can share drivers more easily and give the client greater flexibility to add further fittings to the installation in the future," continues Mike. "Maintenance is another important consideration. We look at how easily fittings can be accessed and serviced, and whether LEDs can be replaced without having to disturb or replace the cabling.

"A well-designed lighting scheme should look good when it is installed and then stay practical to maintain over many years. The best fittings are those that combine durability, flexibility, and ease of maintenance with careful optical control, allowing the landscape to take center stage."

4. Work out the best installation routes

Installation and cabling might not be the most glamorous aspect of garden lighting, but according to Raine Clarke-Wills, principal designer and director at Raine Garden Design, early planning is essential for any scheme to be a success. "We always try to think about lighting before the hard landscaping goes in. You really don’t want to finish beautiful paving or build a wall and then realize you need to run cables underneath it.

"You might not know exactly where every light is going at that stage, but it’s worth planning where power might be needed and thinking ahead. It just makes life so much easier later and means the lighting feels like it belongs in the garden rather than something that has been added afterwards. The electrical side should, of course, be planned and installed by a suitably qualified professional."

Landscape designer Caroline Ervin of Caroline Ervin Landscape Design explains that hard landscaping ideally needs to be put in place before any wiring. "Hardscaping should be mostly completed before lighting is installed — so that there is no chance of construction damage to wires in the ground — but conduits should be planned and installed underneath hardscapes (such as paths and patios) before any concrete is poured so that lighting wires can be run through them afterwards. One important exception is any lights that are built into walls or steps — these would need to be installed in conjunction with the installation of the hardscape."

Mike Kazer's approach is very much a collaborative one, where everyone involved communicates. "We begin by producing a circuited lighting drawing, as not all fittings will be switched on together. As almost all of the fittings we use outdoors are low-voltage systems, they require remote drivers.

"The next step is to work closely with the contractor and landscape designer to identify suitable locations for driver hubs," elaborates Mike. "These need to be discreet and out of sight, while still remaining easily accessible for future maintenance. Drivers should always be installed within waterproof enclosures to ensure long-term reliability and protection from the elements. Finding the right locations for these enclosures early in the design process helps avoid compromises later in the project. This coordinated approach means the electrical infrastructure sits neatly within the landscape and gives the lighting scheme a solid, maintainable foundation," adds Mike.

5. Prioritize mains-powered lighting but don't discount solar

Anyone keen to avoid too much disruption when it comes to installation, perhaps because they are retrofitting, may well be toying with the idea of solar-powered lighting.

Caroline Ervin says that while solar has its place, it rarely works as the sole solution. "Solar power is a great option for accents such as lanterns or portable table lamps, as they are easy to move as needed for charging. On a larger scale though, the unpredictability of sunlight makes it difficult to charge every fixture to the same degree of brightness and longevity. Technology is improving constantly, however, so this will hopefully change in the near future."

For Mike Kazer, however, mains-powered wins hands down. "We don't use solar-powered lighting in our garden projects. In the UK, we generally don't have sufficient hours of strong sunlight throughout the year for conventional solar lighting to provide the consistency and performance we expect from a lighting scheme. For solar power to work properly, we would typically be looking at a larger, professionally designed solar panel system with battery storage, with the stored energy then feeding the lighting system electrically. At that point, however, it becomes a much more substantial installation than the small standalone solar fittings often used in gardens.

"The lighting we use is already LED and extremely low in power consumption. A surprisingly small amount of light goes a long way outdoors, particularly when the lighting is carefully positioned and controlled," points out Mike. "For us, it is less about using as little power as possible and more about using the right amount of light, in the right place, at the right time. A well-designed garden lighting scheme can create a dramatic effect without using much energy at all."

6. Make controlling your scheme a breeze

The way in which you control your newly-installed garden lighting needs not only to be uncomplicated but should also allow for creating the right ambience for the moment.

According to Caroline Ervine, thanks to modern advances, it is easier than ever to set up flexible lighting controls. "It seems as though each year there is new technology available to make it easy for homeowners to control their outdoor lighting. I recommend clients use an astrological timer which will automatically turn on at dusk and shift throughout the year as sunset moves. The timer can then be set to keep the lights on as long as is desired, making it something the homeowners just don’t ever need to worry about when the lights turn on and off."

"I'd also recommend a digital astronomic timer, with a battery backup at minimum, so it adjusts automatically with sunrise and sunset," picks up Travis Hogue. "Beyond that, app-based smart controllers with independent zones let homeowners build scenes — outdoor dining and entertaining, everyday, holiday and so on — and to control each area separately. We can also work with the home automation integrators to bring the landscape lighting under the control of the home automation systems, which is preferred for most of our projects."

FAQs

How many lights does a garden need?

While it's tempting to think in numbers when it comes to lighting, particularly when trying to budget, according to Caroline Ervine, the number of lights you'll need totally depends on the size of your space as well as the effect you're aiming for. "Start with a plan that achieves the basic goals of safety and creates soft and subtle light. From there, layer additions as needed, always keeping balance in mind. Typically, lights on a path are placed about eight feet apart. If trees are properly spaced (another topic altogether), uplights would be spaced every 12 feet or more. Additional accent lights in the garden should be spaced similarly to how tree lighting is spaced."

Travis Hogue feels that the size of the garden doesn't always have to dictate how many lights are used. "Size matters less than what needs to be lit. We design to focal points and safety-critical circulation, and leave deliberate darkness between since contrast is what makes a scheme feel dimensional. A well-planned quarter-acre property might use 15 to 25 fixtures and outshine a larger one lit with twice as many but without a plan. Typically, a greater number of lower output and intentionally placed fixtures look worlds better than fewer, higher output fixtures."

Finally, Hazel Park, lead lighting designer at John Cullen Lighting, points out that the garden's location plays a part too. "In urban gardens, more light may be needed to compete with ambient light pollution, whereas in the countryside very little light can have enormous impact. It is about putting light in the right places rather than lighting everything."

Should all trees have uplighters?

There is no denying that placing uplighters at the base of trees can result in some stunning effects — but a little restraint and consideration are required here if you don't want your garden lighting to look cheap or over-lit, says Raine Clarke-Wills. "I definitely wouldn’t light every tree. I think you need to be quite selective. If there’s a really beautiful trunk, interesting bark, or a lovely shape to the canopy, then absolutely make something of it. Sometimes a tree at the end of a view can look incredible when it’s lit at night. But if every tree is illuminated, nothing really stands out anymore."

"Multi-stem trees look particularly beautiful when up-lit from close to the stems," adds Mike Kazer. "The light picks out their structure, creating texture, depth and interesting patterns of light and shadow," advises Mike. "Larger trees, such as oak or beech, can also be beautifully illuminated, but we tend to use this approach sparingly. Rather than lighting every tree, we select individual trees or small groups that contribute to the views through the garden and help create depth."

That said, Mike adds that there are instances where a braver approach works best. "There are occasions where lighting every tree, or every alternate tree, can be very effective. For example, where there is a formal, manicured and symmetrical avenue of trees leading up a drive — repeating the lighting creates a strong rhythm and reinforces the geometry of the landscape."

What color temperature is best for gardens?

Just as when developing a lighting design scheme for the interior of your home, it pays to think about light color temperature in the garden.

Garrett Cunnington reveals his strategy. "For the majority of residential garden lighting, I prefer warm white light in roughly the 2700K to 3000K range, with 3000K being a very useful starting point. Warm light is generally flattering to foliage, natural stone, wood and residential architecture, and it tends to produce the comfortable atmosphere most homeowners want from a garden after dark."

Don't miss the opportunity to moonlight your garden too — using a cooler temperature can create some ethereal results according to Garrett. "If I'm installing fixtures high in mature trees to create the effect of moonlight filtering through the canopy, I may use 4000K or potentially a cooler source. As with almost every aspect of lighting design, color temperature is a tool rather than a rule. It should serve the effect we are trying to create."

To ensure plenty of atmosphere in your outdoor spaces, spotlights are perfect — but take the time to consider the best position for garden spotlights before popping them randomly all over the place. Located thoughtfully, they can highlight focal points and add a rich sense of depth to even the simplest of spaces.

And for more advice for your garden and beyond, why not subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter? All the latest will be delivered directly to your inbox.

After the summer we've just had, you might be looking for ways to add more shade to your garden. Structures like pergolas and awnings are among the best ways to provide shelter while adding a stylish architectural element to backyards, and whether you have a small patio or a sprawling lawn, I guarantee there's an option to suit your space. Finding one is the easy part. The difficulty usually comes when deciding where to put it.

Blocking the sun is typically the number one priority, so you'll need to consider factors like where the sun's rays fall in your garden at the hottest part of the day. You shouldn't stop there, though. The layout of your garden, proximity to your house, and screening and privacy should also be important considerations when deciding where to place canopies like awnings or pergolas.

Unlike a gazebo or parasol, these permanent shelters also offer less flexibility. That means that once they're installed, moving an awning or pergola won't be easy, so you'll want to get the positioning right first time. If you're planning to introduce some stylish shade to your backyard but you're undecided where to put it for maximum impact, I asked landscape designers for their advice. From sun exposure to privacy, these are the key spots to consider before you commit.

1. Find Out Where the Sun Is Strongest in Your Garden

If you want your pergola or awning to provide plenty of shade, assess where the sun actually shines in your garden. Patio shade ideas come into their own when the rays are at their strongest, so think about where the sun hits your garden between 2 PM and 5 PM.

Kat Aul Cervoni, NYC-based landscape designer and founder of Staghorn Living, says this late afternoon sun can be especially uncomfortable in west-facing patios. She says it isn’t just about the heat, either. "It’s also about the direct sunlight, which can be uncomfortable for our eyes," says Kat. "If possible, orient the pergola or awning to intercept that western sun while still allowing softer morning light into the space."

Of course, the time of day when the sun is strongest will depend on where you are in the world and the time of year, so use the conditions you experience during midsummer as your guide. We all have that area of the garden where the sun feels most intense, and this should be where you place your pergola or awning.

And while the afternoon sun might be strongest near your house, that doesn't necessarily mean this is the hottest part of your garden (and vice versa). Depending on the orientation of your space and the surrounding buildings, trees, and structures, this area could be more shaded, while the bottom of your garden may receive longer periods of direct sunlight. Pay attention to where the sun moves across your garden throughout the day before deciding where your shade structure will be most useful.

2. Think About How You Actually Use Your Garden

Finding out the hottest part of your garden is a good start, but it shouldn't be the sole factor in deciding where your pergola or awning should go. There are certain areas of your garden that deserve shade during hot weather more than others. For example, the end of my patio receives the most direct sunlight during the afternoon, but this is an area dedicated to my container garden. In my case (and many others), it makes far more sense to add shade to my outdoor dining area, since this spot gets the most use.

"A pergola shouldn't feel like an isolated feature that's been dropped into the garden," explains Raine Clarke-Wills, landscape designer and founder of Raine Garden Design. "It should connect naturally with the way you use the space." She urges us to consider areas like outdoor kitchens, garden furniture, and children's play areas which would benefit most from shade structures. "I always try to position outdoor seating so it feels like an extension of the house, while still encouraging you to enjoy being in the garden itself."

Kat shares the same sentiment. "You’ll enjoy the pergola the most if it’s in a location that naturally fits into your daily routine," she says. "If it's tucked into a forgotten corner of the yard, it won't get used no matter how well it's shaded or how lovely and cool it is." Leave the sun loungers in a spot with plenty of sun, for example, and let your bistro table receive early rays if it's where you prefer your first coffee of the day. Reserve your pergola or awning for those areas that need shade during peak sunshine.

3. Consider Proximity to Your House

If you have a patio or deck that extends from your house, this area will likely benefit most from some added shade. "A pergola or awning is most successful when it feels like a natural extension of the home, just like a screened-in porch would," says Kat. "If possible, I like to position it just outside the kitchen, dining room, or family room for the utmost convenience and proximity to the main living areas."

Perhaps your family enjoys al fresco dining on the patio through the summer, or maybe you've positioned your grill on your decking so it's conveniently placed near your indoor kitchen. If you then install your pergola down to the bottom of your garden, you'll be carrying food and drinks across the lawn to find solace in the shade, so think carefully about how close you'd like to be to your house when positioning your shade structure.

While pergolas are more flexible, awnings will also need to be fixed to a building's exterior wall. Bear this in mind when you plan. A north-facing patio might actually receive shade in the afternoon, for example, while your side yard could be more exposed to the sun and therefore benefit most from an awning or canopy.

4. Position It to Improve Privacy

Don't overlook the fact that pergolas and awnings make great garden screening ideas. If your outdoor seating is overlooked by neighbors, or if your side yard is visible from the street, provide some extra shade and enjoy the perk of added privacy.

"Before choosing a location, sit in the space and consider the views in every direction," Kat advises. "Don’t forget seasonal changes too; does that tree lose its leaves in fall and suddenly open up a huge view?" Sometimes, she says, shifting a pergola just a few feet or adding layered planting nearby makes all the difference.

Raine also recommends pairing your shade structure with planting ideas to turn it into a more secluded, shady oasis. "Sometimes a pergola can help define a more intimate outdoor room, especially when combined with pleached trees, multi-stem trees, or carefully positioned planting," she explains. You can also opt for a retractable awning, or a louvered pergola with rotating slats, depending on whether or not you want the benefit of shade and privacy.

5. Use It to Complement the Landscape

In a similar vein, think about how your structure complements the rest of your garden design. Pergolas and awnings make a great architectural statement, often adding a focal point to your backyard. Whether you position it near your house, another outbuilding, or let it stand alone, make sure it complements your landscape.

"Instead of putting it in the most obvious place, consider whether it could draw you towards a quieter corner, frame a beautiful view, or provide a peaceful retreat away from the main entertaining area," Raine suggests. "The surrounding planting also plays a huge role in how comfortable and inviting the space feels. I like to soften structures with soft planting or add trees nearby to provide natural dappled shade."

Think about how your pergola or awning can interact with existing features to cool down your garden, too. "Mature trees, hedges, and even neighboring buildings can all contribute to shade throughout the day," says Kat. "Rather than fighting those conditions, I love to layer a pergola, awning, or shade structure with existing shade so the space feels naturally cool and comfortable."

Adding a pergola or awning to your garden is a great way to provide more shade during the summer months, but sunlight is just one of the factors to consider when positioning it. From privacy to proximity to your home, be sure to weigh up all the factors above before you commit. As Raine notes, "it might look beautiful in the morning, but if it's uncomfortable during the hours you'll actually use it, it quickly becomes somewhere you avoid".

Want to ensure your shade structure stays stylish for years to come? 2026's garden pergola trends will have you on the right track.

And for more ideas for your garden and beyond, why not subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter? All the latest will be delivered directly to your inbox.

As summer draws to an end, I know that spending money on your garden is the last thing on your mind. But if you're willing to hear me out, it could actually be the smartest move you'll make this year.

The thing with the best garden furniture is once you've bought it, you've got it for life. So while the long summer days may be behind us, there are many more to come. And instead of putting it off until June rolls around again (when you'll have to fight with the masses to get your hands on an overpriced garden sofa that won't even arrive until August), why not think smarter and make your purchases now, right when everything's going on sale. Not only will you get a far better deal, but it won't be a problem if it takes a while to arrive, as is so often the case.

And if you don't trust me, take it from Livingetc's editor, Hugh Metcalf, who just bought himself a gorgeous set of Swyft Outdoor Armchairs for 50% off. He may have suffered through the summer without proper garden seating, but now he's sorted and didn't have to break the bank to do it. "Realistically, going all summer without proper garden chairs wasn't ideal, but we made it through with a combination of dining chairs and folding stools, and in the end, it landed me a great deal," he says. "I just bought these armchairs from Swyft, and they're £200 cheaper now than they were in the middle of summer, and that's just one deal of many similar ones around right now."

But as I said, it's certainly not the only garden furniture on sale right now. Here are some other hot deals you won't want to miss.

Once you've got your hands on a new set of garden furniture to enjoy next summer, you may want to spend some time thinking about your garden storage. If you want to make sure your furniture will last you for years, you need to make sure you're storing it right, and our experts have plenty of ideas for storage that's as stylish as it is practical.

For more helpful tips and design ideas, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

While the summer months will soon be behind us, our garden isn't going into retirement quite yet. And when those 9 pm sunsets become a thing of distant memory, the lighting in your garden becomes more important than ever, and I've just found the perfect solution for bringing some brightness to even the narrowest of gardens.

Buying garden lighting is no easy feat; we're well past the days when a few strings of fairy lights could do the job. Nowadays, our outdoor lights are just as stylish and considered as the ones we'd use inside our homes. But finding a lighting style suitable for the tiny shoebox gardens so many of us are stuck with can be a particularly tricky task. You want something that provides a suitable amount of illumination without taking up too much space, but in gardens where floor space is already at a minimum, this can often feel close to impossible.

So, when I stumbled across these Solar Powered Outdoor Faux Bamboo Lanterns, it was as if a light switch had flicked in my head. Of course, the idea of an outdoor lantern is nothing new; they're practically a staple in any boho-chic garden. But what hadn't occurred to me was the idea that you could hang these lanterns straight off your garden fence. Providing all the same laid-back, atmospheric warmth without dominating any of your precious floor space, this may just be a new garden game-changer.

Hang Your Lanterns in Style With These Chic Hooks

More Chic Wall-Hung Lanterns to Shop

Still on the lookout for some more design ideas for your outdoor space? You're in luck. We've got countless outdoor furniture ideas for small spaces, so you can make a big impact no matter how tight the area you're working with is.

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It might sound screamingly obvious, but without the right lighting, life would appear a little flat, particularly after dark. Nowhere is this more true than in the case of garden lighting, where the right design scheme can mean the difference between a space that feels just as welcoming and considered as the inside of your home, and one that is nothing more than a bland patch of outdoors.

According to Mike Kazer, founder and design director at London Lightworks, the key to getting your outdoor lighting ideas spot on is to step into the project with a crystal-clear idea of what you want and how you plan on using the space. "Do you enjoy modern garden ideas with lots of light and bold, dramatic features, or are you looking for something much more delicate and minimal, with subtle pockets of light that create atmosphere without overpowering the landscape?"

Once you have a concept of how you want the end result to feel, you can begin to develop a lighting scheme that really delivers. Let this selection of inspiration be your starting point.

1. Don't Overlook the View From the Inside

Before ever setting foot outside, your garden lighting begins to have an effect — particularly in heavily glazed spaces, where creating the right view is everything. Come nightfall, simply staring out into a black abyss is hardly appealing.

When developing a garden lighting design scheme, Luke Thomas, group design director at John Cullen Lighting, makes the outlook from inside a priority. "A garden is often viewed from inside the house for more months of the year than it is experienced outside, so always stand inside and look through each important window when positioning fittings. Avoid glare or visible light sources and make sure fittings aren't directed back toward glazing, pathways or seating areas."

"One of my favorite techniques is to position discreet miniature spotlights or floodlights in pots and borders just beyond windows and glazed doors," continues Luke. "By illuminating planting immediately outside, you draw the eye beyond the glass at night, making the interior feel larger and creating a much stronger connection between the house and garden."

Fran Deanes, senior lighting designer at Brilliant Lighting, agrees that the right outdoor lighting scheme can transform your indoor spaces. "Exterior lighting isn't only for when you're outside. A beautifully illuminated tree or garden wall can effectively become artwork viewed through the windows at night."

2. Use Mirrors to Enhance Your Lighting Scheme

The lighting ideas you choose for a small garden should have the power to add richness and depth to the scheme, drawing the eye to individual and carefully curated planted spots and features rather than toward its limitations.

Mirrors and reflective surfaces — even water garden ideas such as small pools or channels — work so well in more compact spaces, allowing light to bounce around freely at the same time as creating some beautiful shadow effects.

Within this scheme, a stairway has been surrounded by architectural plants and lit by a combination of downward-facing stake lights and hidden uplighters — a mirror adds sparkle and an enhanced sense of space.

3. Celebrate Darkness as Well as Light

It is important not to get so carried away with your exterior lighting design that you end up with a space that feels more like a floodlit football pitch than a garden in which to linger — and this is where leaving a few areas in darkness comes in.

"Resist the temptation to illuminate the entire garden," picks up Luke Thomas. "Darkness is just as important as light in creating a successful scheme. Instead, choose a few beautiful features to light, perhaps a sculptural tree, an architectural shrub, a piece of sculpture or textured stone wall, and selectively light these."

This scheme uses lighting to ensure the waterfall steps remain just as much of a feature after dark as they do in the day, while hidden light sources highlight the quirky sculpture and a select handful of trees — these features are made all the more striking thanks to the areas of darkness that intersperse them.

4. Uplighters Aren't the Only Way to Give Trees a Glow

Adding in tree lights is a quick way to create focal points within gardens of all sizes — even more petit species can be transformed into works of art when illuminated.

That said, while uplighters are undoubtedly a fantastic way of doing this, it is important not to feel restricted to these light sources — mixing things up a bit avoids the whole thing looking too paint-by-numbers.

David Haslehurst, founder of Moonlight Design, reveals the technique he favors. "We sometimes put hanging lights into trees, such as these Starry lights, which are copper tubes with holes in. They tend to work best if a few are installed into a canopy of leaves — you get a glittery light filtering through the foliage."

5. Strategically Place Floor Lanterns to Soften Paving

While spacious patio ideas on which to sit and host your outdoor parties might be top of your wish-list, large areas of paving can end up looking characterless and overly formal. This is where the right lighting comes in — in particular low level floor-washers and exterior lamps.

"The use of floor lamps is something we regularly like to use in the garden," says David Haslehurst. "The low-level lanterns offer a layer of lighting to a terrace or path and are also a good way to define an area. We hardwire these, so they are not portable, but permanent features."

The entire finish of the above hard landscaping scheme is lent a beautiful, diffused glow thanks to the combined use of floor lanterns and hidden light sources to draw attention to the surrounding greenery.

6. Light the Architecture, Not Just the Ground

Don't overlook your front garden when thinking about exterior lighting — they arguably more important than those tucked away at the rear of your house, and certainly have more of a role to play when it comes to setting the right tone and adding curb appeal.

While practical lighting needs to stay at the forefront of your mind in terms of ensuring safe passage from your vehicle to your front door after dark, Fran Deanes, is keen to highlight the importance of enhancing the design of your home with your garden lighting too. "Use discreet uplights to graze brick, stone, columns or textured walls. This creates depth and makes a property feel much more considered after dark."

Wall washer lights work really well here too, giving a spread of light that can often be adjusted to suit your particular property.

7. Anything Can Become a Feature When Well Lit

While lighting up your favorite tree, piece of garden artwork or a water feature is the perfect way to ensure all eyes are directed where you want them, don't feel you must rush out and hunt down something new to illuminate — in many cases, the right lighting can transform what you already have into something that looks spectacular once the sun has set.

Travis Hogue, owner of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, explains that he begins the process of designing an outdoor lighting scheme by assessing what's already there to work with. "I always start by walking with the homeowner outside so we can identify the focal points and sightlines that matter most."

Look around your garden and note down any trees, shrubbery, walling and so on that could become a stand-out feature. In the case of patio lighting ideas, even the paving materials or any changes in levels can become features when properly illuminated.

8. Explore Floor Lighting Options Thoroughly

Garden lighting needs to be multidimensional if you really want to make the most of whatever space you have available. What that means is looking at each and every element that goes into making up the space and assessing its lighting potential.

The 'floor' of the garden — be that a grassy lawn or a paved pathway — is an area that often gets overlooked, yet it can underpin the rest of the entire scheme.

That said, Luke Thomas suggests exploring all the options to ensure you are getting the right effect. "Rather than always using a narrow spotlight, consider a miniature floodlight to softly wash light across a wider area of planting or paving. The effect can feel wonderfully natural and understated."

9. Build Up Layers of Lighting for a Multi-Dimensional Finish

A layered lighting scheme is always the way to go if you want a space that can be used for all kinds of activities, as well somewhere that enjoys visual depth.

"Layering is key to creating a successful lighting scheme, both indoors and out. In exterior lighting, we use the different heights, depths and distances within the landscape to build a sense of depth and atmosphere," says Mike Kazer who goes on to explains how he approaches the process of building this kind of scheme. "We might start with low-level lighting within planting beds, particularly those close to the house or outdoor seating areas. From there, we look at interesting mid-level planting and trees.

"Finally, we look further into the landscape and use taller, more distant trees to create a sense of perimeter and enclosure," continues Mike. "This helps to extend the perceived boundaries of the garden and creates depth beyond the immediate seating or entertaining areas."

10. Draw the Eye Upward as Well as Out

When layering lighting outdoors you need to take into account the height of your garden too, and the levels within it, be that a fence, hedging or trees. This can work particularly well in making a small garden feel bigger, distracting the eye from the boundaries and drawing it upward instead.

Fran Deanes explains how its done. "Combine low-level path or step lighting with mid-level wall lights and higher-level illumination through trees or façades. This prevents the garden from looking flat."

String lights running overhead are a great way to finish things off with a sparkling flourish.

11. Create a Moonlit Effect With Cool Light Temperatures

Just as when designing a lighting scheme indoors, you need to pay attention to the color temperature of your light sources if you want to ensure they are delivering want you want.

"Moonlighting is a good example," picks up Garrett Cunnington, founder of Loudoun Lighting. "If I am installing fixtures high in mature trees to create the effect of moonlight filtering through the canopy, I may use 4000K or potentially a cooler source.

"Most of our garden lighting is warm – typically around 2700K to 3000K – but a 4000K, or even somewhat cooler source, high in a tree can help suggest the cooler, slightly blue appearance we associate with natural moonlight."

12. Subtlety Is Key to a Cozy Dining Experience

There is a real skill to lighting outdoor dining areas in a way that allows them to feel warm, welcoming and inviting at the same time as being bright enough to be fit for purpose as the light fades.

Mike Kazer highlights the importance of glare control in this kind of space. "It's fundamental. Good glare control comes partly from the fitting itself, but mostly from how it is positioned and angled within the surrounding planting. We want you to see the effect of the light, rather than the light source itself here."

Along with lighting that is wired in to your overall scheme, a few strategically positioned portable lamps will really help create the right ambience for al fresco dining, shedding cozy little pools of light wherever you want them.

13. Be Selective With the Features You Highlight

Too many focal points quickly equals no focal points — just overwhelm. In terms of garden lighting, this means being a little picky with the features you choose to highlight rather than just aiming a beam of light at each and every tree or structure within the space you have available.

"Pick a beautiful tree, sculpture, planting bed or architectural feature and make that the hero," advises Fran Deanes. "You don't need to illuminate everything."

In fact, a less is more approach was something all the design experts encouraged, including when it comes to pathway lighting. "Avoid creating an airport runway effect by using evenly spaced lights on both sides. Staggered fittings or lighting nearby planting usually looks much more natural," says Fran.

One of the biggest outdoor lighting mistakes is to overlook the beauty of natural light from features such as outdoor fireplaces or firepits — they are the perfect way to add both visual and physical warmth.

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Nurturing your green thumb can be one of the most rewarding hobbies for your home. And according to psychologists, the way you hone this skill says a lot about the kind of person you are. Do you regularly check in on your garden, stick to a watering routine, maintain a tidy tool kit, group plants by type, or use a planting planner?

If you have a beautiful modern garden and you fancy yourself a Type A individual, at least when you're tending to your backyard, then you probably partake in one or more of these five habits.

Here's why it means you're an organized person and the benefits of making an effort to do so.

1. You Regularly Check In on Your Garden

"Whether that's trimming dead leaves, watering your garden regularly, or looking for pests, if you're regularly checking in with your plants, this shows a level of future thinking and problem-solving that is essential to being an organized person," says licensed psychologist Dr. Anna Nouzovsky.

"What this means is that you're not constantly waiting for crises to erupt but engaging in maintenance tasks to prevent them from happening in the first place."

You can hold yourself accountable to this routine by putting down your tasks on paper through this Yop & Tom Garden Planner. Or, if you prefer going digital, this Ultimate Garden Planner by Jessica Hollie Designs is an online option.

2. You Return Your Gardening Tools to Its Spot

"Keeping your tools where they can always be found is one example of how your habits are demonstrating that you do create order," says Dr. Shannon Franklin, psychologist at Element Q Healing Centre.

"This habit creates an advantage by making the next job simpler before it even begins. In general, this type of habit demonstrates your ability to make good plans and maintain simple systems while avoiding wasted time searching for gardening accessories you need."

And you don't require a full-fledged garden closet to keep your tools tidy. Smaller garden storage solutions like the Grib Metal Storage Box from Ferm Living work just as nicely.

3. You Group Plants by Similarity

"Organizing plants based on their water and sunlight requirements is an example of a practical, systematic way of organizing information. Grouping items that are used in common is an effective method to make managing these items easier," says Shannon.

"This also demonstrates your ability to think systematically by recognizing how many steps can be eliminated from a process (in this case, watering) as long as all of the required steps are completed at one time."

Changing your garden's planting scheme can be arduous at first. However, it's exactly the type of habit that helps you stay more organized in the long run.

4. You Use Garden Planners

"An important part of being organized is knowing what to keep in your memory and what to rely on an aide for. Manually making a list of plants you want to grow is a garden habit I recommend," says Anna.

"Using a calendar to remind yourself of when to plant certain plants is another example of externalizing cognitive load, which leads to less strain on your memory."

This Notion Garden Planner from Etsy is a neat way to keep up with all of the cultivars sprouting in your backyard. And if gardening is a part of your outdoor offline rituals, then try this Dreams & Schemes Planner from Papier x Damson Madder.

5. You Have a Regular Watering Routine

"Regularly watering helps you develop a routine so you can focus on your other tasks," says Shannon. "Organizing using regular routines will help establish structure, which allows you to consistently perform tasks without thinking about them each time."

It might seem like a simple task, but if you keep up with a regimented watering routine, then your garden routine deserves its flowers. Whether it's through a controlled slow watering system or with help from a manual hose, it's a rewarding habit to master.

Now, tracking a similar pattern indoors, it turns out that people who make their beds every morning share habits, too. And to learn more about your design personality, sign up for the Livingetc newsletter.

Color trends come and go in garden design but green never gets tired. The latest trend for layering green on green planting puts the focus firmly on green as the star of the show rather than simply a color that is so often overlooked and undervalued.

A combination of restful greens will bring harmony to any planting scheme. It's not just about foliage either. There are plenty of green flowers that add zingy beauty, and are a good fit for modern garden ideas such as euphorbia, hellebores, and nicotiana.

The green on green trend recognises green as a color in its own right and reappraises the way we view it, especially the variation of form and texture found in green foliage and flowers. The value of green in the winter garden should not be forgotten either.

We asked leading garden designers to share their favorite things about the green on green trend and how it can be used to transform a garden, as well as sharing their own favorite designs.

Why Green on Green Planting Is Trending Now

"An all-green planting scheme can be highly effective because it encourages us to notice texture, shape and light rather than relying on color," says landscape designer James Scott. "Different tones of green, from silvery olive foliage to deep evergreen shrubs and soft ornamental grasses, create subtle contrast while giving the garden a timeless, elegant feel."

Being surrounded by green planting naturally creates a sense of calm and can make a garden feel noticeably cooler, particularly when planting is used generously to soften hard surfaces and provide shade. "I always aim for planting to be an integral part of the design rather than something that's simply added afterwards," says James.

Where possible, increasing the proportion of planting over paving helps create a more comfortable microclimate, while choosing lighter-colored paving or gravel reflects more sunlight and reduces heat build-up compared with darker materials. According to James, combined with layered planting, these choices make outdoor spaces feel fresher and more inviting during hot weather.

1. Create A Sense of Calm and Timeless Elegance with A Green Palette

“We typically aim for around 70% evergreen planting, ensuring a garden retains its shape, presence and architectural character throughout the year rather than feeling sparse during the winter months," says landscape architect Sophie Bertrand, head of design at Rosebank Landscaping. "Prioritising a predominantly green palette creates a sense of calm and timeless elegance, while subtle variations in tone, from deep emerald and silvery-green to fresh lime, bring richness and depth without overwhelming the space."

Flowers become moments of celebration rather than the focal point, with evergreen planting providing a strong framework that allows seasonal blooms to make an even greater impact when they appear.

"To create visual interest, we combine plants with contrasting leaf shapes, sizes and textures. Fine ornamental grasses sit alongside broad-leaved shrubs, glossy foliage is balanced by softer matte finishes, and upright forms are complemented by looser, more natural planting."

Layered from low-growing ground cover plants through to shrubs and feature trees, green on green planting creates a garden that feels established, immersive and full of depth while softening the surrounding hard landscaping.

"Evergreen planting also keeps borders looking lush and structured throughout the year, providing the perfect backdrop for trees, sculpture, water features and the architecture of the house," says Sophie. "The result is a landscape that changes beautifully with the shifting light and seasons, revealing new textures, tones and moments of interest all year round."

2. Allow the Textures and Forms of the Landscape to Become the Focus

"This verdant garden explores the relationship between architecture and planting," explains garden designer Andrew Duff. "The restrained palette of predominantly green planting allows the textures and forms of the landscape to become the focus, with seasonal highlights provided by the soft white flowers of Mexican fleabane."

Find Mexican fleabane at Crocus, and allow it to cascade over walls, soften pathway edges, or scramble around urban nooks.

In this design flowing grasses contrast with the crisp geometry of the in-situ concrete, creating movement against the solidity of the hard landscaping. The limited color palette brings a sense of calm while allowing subtle differences in foliage shape and texture to stand out.

"The planting was chosen for its resilience and long season of interest, creating a garden that feels contemporary yet relaxed," says Andrew. "The design was inspired by the idea of creating a sanctuary where architecture and nature enhance one another without competing for attention."

3. Go for Green If You Want To Create A Tranquil Retreat

This roof garden was designed as a tranquil retreat above the city, creating the feeling of being immersed in planting despite its urban setting. Structural evergreen planting forms the backbone of the design, providing year-round enclosure and privacy while softening the surrounding architecture.

"The predominantly green planting palette creates a calm, timeless atmosphere, with carefully selected flowering plants adding subtle seasonal moments rather than bold displays of color," says the garden's designer Andrew Duff.

Every plant in this scheme was selected for its ability to thrive in the challenging conditions of a rooftop environment, including exposure to wind and periods of drought. The result is a garden that feels lush and immersive, offering texture, movement and seasonal change within a carefully ordered framework.

4. Use Contrasting Color and Texture to Stop the Design Feeling Flat

"An all-green garden can be wonderfully tranquil, but it needs contrast to prevent it appearing flat," says garden designer Katrina Kieffer-Wells. "Treat green as a spectrum: combine fresh lime and yellow-greens with olive, blue-green and deep forest tones. Darker foliage visually recedes, while brighter leaves come forward, creating a surprising sense of depth."

Texture is just as important as color. Place large, glossy leaves alongside fine fern fronds, soft grasses, clipped evergreens, and matt or silver-green foliage. "Contrasting leaf shapes – from bold and architectural to delicate and feathery – give the planting rhythm and movement. Repeating a few key plants throughout the garden creates cohesion and calm."

As summers get hotter there are other benefits from green planting too. It can also make a garden feel cooler. "The color green evokes woodland and shade, while dense planting shades the ground and reduces the amount of heat-absorbing hard surface," explains Katrina. "Where paving is necessary, pale stone or light-colored gravel reflects more sunlight and feels visually cooler than dark materials. Gravel and other permeable surfaces also allow rainwater to return to the soil."

Natural timber, weathered steel and pale stone work particularly well alongside green because they add texture without competing for attention.

5. Opt for a Layered Look to Showcase Textural Plants

Trees and leafy plants create dappled shade from the upper canopy down through the layers, filtering the harsh sun light that reaches the seating area, creating a microclimate and reducing the heat from hard surfaces.

"Layered planting, creates a great showcase for multiple green textural plants from bulbs and ground covers to medium-height leafy plants, shrubs, and climbers, as well as the tree canopy," says garden designer Karen McClure. "This "green on green" layering intercepts sunlight at different heights before it reaches the ground."

This sheltered seating nook is nestled into the corner of a compact urban garden design by Karen. Foliage from the acer griseum, fatshedera, hellebores and ferns help make this the coolest part of the garden, a perfect little place to take a moment.

Acer griseum has bold green foliage that slowly transitions to pink and red. It's a slow-growing variety that is good for smaller gardens. Find Acer griseum at Suttons.

6. Create a Composition that Changes Beautifully Through the Seasons

"This design demonstrates how a carefully considered green on green planting scheme can create a garden that feels both elegant and refreshingly cool without relying on colorful flowers," says landscape designer James Scott. "Instead, the design celebrates the subtle beauty of foliage, using layers of different leaf shapes, textures and tones of green to create depth, movement and year-round interest."

Although the overall style is formal and contemporary, planting is the defining feature of the space. "We deliberately incorporated approximately one-third of the garden as planting, using raised beds and carefully positioned planting islands to soften the clean architectural lines, enhance privacy and divide larger entertaining areas into intimate garden 'rooms'."

A structured grid of four olive trees forms the backbone of the green on green planting design, complemented by flowing ornamental grasses and naturalistic herbaceous planting. The restrained green palette allows texture, form and light to become the focus, creating a timeless composition that changes beautifully throughout the seasons.

The hard landscaping was designed to support this feeling of freshness, with light-reflective paving, bespoke seating, raised beds and clean-lined terraces. Together, the balance of generous planting and lighter materials helps the garden feel bright and naturally cooler during warm weather.

One final tip on green-on-green planting from garden designer Katrina Kieffer-Wells: "For year-round structure, combine evergreen shrubs and climbers with ferns, grasses, tree ferns and bold-leaved architectural plants such as fatsia. Ground-cover planting helps conceal bare soil, while restrained white or pale-green flowers can be used as small points of reflected light without disturbing the predominantly green atmosphere."

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In this leafy North London neighborhood, you can expect to find some of the city's most charming pubs and an endless slew of trendy establishments, serving up small plates and natural wines. What you may not expect to find, however, is a garden haven of biodiversity, complete with an outdoor sauna and a turquoise-hued natural pool.

In this De Beauvoir home, the classic makings of an urban space are swapped for something that feels a little more magical. Designed by the team at Mosley Thorold alongside garden designer and landscaper Sophie Gordon, this wellness garden, with winding paths and verdant greenery, explores how to create a space that supports the natural world just as much as it supports the homeowners.

Consistent throughout this project is the commitment to tranquility, harmony, and cohesion, relying on natural materials and sustainable processes to build a home that feels like a true escape from everything that lies beyond it.

The Brief

Leading directly from the glass-walled open-plan modern kitchen, the garden was designed to be in conversation with the wider design of the home, existing as a natural continuation of the property.

For the interiors and exteriors alike, there was one clear intention running through this project: "Our client wanted a retreat within the city," explains Nathaniel Mosley, from Mosley Thorold.

The desire was for a space that could support the clients' lives, offering an escape from the rush of the city, as well as a place to invite friends and family. They were looking for a space "which could feel restorative, but would also work naturally when they were entertaining," says Nathaniel, and this was as important in the garden's design as it was in the rest of the house.

The glass extension on the lower floor, with a large open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, makes the intention for entertaining clear. In summer, with the glass doors swung open wide, it's easy to imagine the party flowing into the outdoor area, allowing that same calm, laid-back style to be maintained throughout the indoor-outdoor living space all the more important.

As you move through the garden, however, passing through the initial paved outdoor dining area, through to the grassier, nature-covered outdoor wellness space, the atmosphere shifts slightly, taking on a more whimsical, transportive quality. This was, Nathaniel says, the intention of the design. "We wanted the garden to have the same sense of calm as the house, but to feel more immersive," he explains. And through the softly winding paths and thick, luscious planting, this immersive aspect was able to flourish.

So much of this seemingly magical quality comes from the landscape design of the garden, and the way verdant planting envelops the space in a thick, lush hug of greenery.

"We worked with garden designer Sophie Gordon to create a landscape that felt secluded yet abundant, with a slight dramatic quality," explains Nathaniel. With a combination of low, potted plants and tall shoots of bamboo, there is a softness to this messy gardening style; an organic warmth that provided a welcome contrast to the harsh lines and hard materials of the surrounding architecture.

Thick, lush hedges make this urban garden more private, making it feel like a truly secluded escape for both the homeowners and their visitors.

The Process

Part of a full, transformative restoration project, this garden bears little resemblance to what once lay in its place. After years of abandonment, the garden "had become quite overgrown and enclosed, with dense planting making it feel dark," explains Nathaniel.

But while time had not been kind to the space, shrouding any definition beneath a messy jumble of weeds, the overgrown garden did allow for the growth of some rather impressive, mature plants and trees. So, rather than rip away the years of nature's hard work, Nathaniel decided to adopt a more considered approach, taking care to retain the more established plants while making space for new growth, too.

Maintaining older, established plants, like the impressive lime tree, while integrating new shrubs and trees made for a beautifully varied effect, where the old and new seamlessly interweave, practically indistinguishable from one another.

Even the newest additions were designed in such a way that they seem as though they'd always been there, and no feature exemplifies this more than the stunning natural pool.

An obvious focal point in the design, this pool was introduced as a way to bring function and beauty to what was an otherwise underused plot of land at the far end of the garden. "A natural pool transformed that space into a destination while making the water feel like part of the landscape rather than an inserted object," explains Nathaniel.

Getting to this point, however, was not without its struggles. "The main challenge was fitting the pool, filtration, deck and planting into a relatively constrained London garden," explains Nathaniel, "Access was also restricted, with materials having to come through the house." But, looking at the final result, it feels fair to say the struggle was worthwhile.

The Design

Contrast and balance sit at the heart of this modern garden design. While the natural pool brings a bright, organic flow and softness to the space, the black-painted sauna that overlooks the water feature feels comparatively sleek and modern.

Then, as a further point of contrast, next to the sauna is a quarried stone-covered changing room, providing a textural finish that looks mature next to the crisp black coating on the outdoor sauna.

Reflecting the growing trend for wellness gardens, this combination of natural pool and sauna brings a ritual of mindfulness into the space for the homeowners to incorporate into their daily routine.

As much as this practical, ritualistic aspect played a role in how the garden was designed, there was also plenty of thought that went into the visual aspects, too.

Designing the space with sightlines in mind, Nathaniel built a garden that told a story, and one that culminates at the beautiful pool. "The journey towards the pool is inviting and serene," he explains.

Intentionally creating a build-up within the journey, Nathaniel says, "The whole garden is not revealed all at once; the planting creates a series of thresholds and moments of enclosure before you reach the water.

"It echoes the idea we used throughout the house of designing spaces and moments that slowly reveal themselves."

The beauty of this garden is how nature and wellness intertwine, forming a harmonious and cohesive design that feels like a true escape from the city. If you want to create an outdoor retreat of your own, here are a few things you can do to make your garden feel calmer.

And for more design ideas, why not subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter?

Any Mediterranean-inspired planting design tends to have a color theme that relies predominantly on the addition of cool shades of olive green, silver, gray and blue-green foliage. Plants in these colors often have an interesting architectural shape too that adds a sense of drama, as well as making ideal plant partners

Many plants with leaves in these colors are drought tolerant, and thrive in full sun, and this is why they tend to be a key part of Mediterranean garden ideas. In addition their foliage reflects harsh sunlight, loses less water, and enhances the signature Mediterranean color palette of pale stone, warm terracotta, and the deep blue of sea and sky.

There is something cooling about the addition of these colors to your planting design too, especially when combined with white or blue flowers. Plants with silver and gray-green foliage will add impact by introducing luminous contrast to the other elements in your planting scheme. Really, this Mediterranean garden trend makes so much sense on every level as summers are getting hotter. Leading landscape design experts now reveal how you can get the look in your own garden.

1. Choose Layers of Cool And Elegant Resilient Planting

Resilience is the buzzword on everyone's lips at the moment and there's no better place to look for inspiration than Mediterranean plants. Easy to grow, tough and drought-tolerant, these don't need a lot of attention and thrive in hot temperatures. So if you're aiming to create a cool place where you can retreat from the sun, always opt to add gray-green and silver-leaved plants to the mix.

“We favor a restrained palette of silvery-green foliage to create a sense of calm, sophistication and timelessness, particularly when working alongside contemporary architecture," says Sophie Bertrand, head of design at Rosebank Landscaping.

"Mediterranean species such as Teucrium fruticans ‘Azureum’, Ballota pseudodictamnus and Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ are favorites for their ability to thrive in dry, sunny conditions once established, making them increasingly well suited to warmer, drier summers."

In this London garden design, layered planting creates a relaxed, immersive feel, combining clipped evergreen forms with softer ornamental grasses and perennials, and moving from low-growing ground cover plants through to mounding shrubs and architectural trees. "We often use this approach to blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, repeating colors, textures and materials so the garden feels like a natural extension of the home."

Inspired by the understated elegance of Mediterranean landscapes and courtyards, the result is a garden that feels tranquil and luxurious, but is also designed for longevity, with a planting palette that remains beautiful and resilient well beyond the summer months.

2. Make A Gray-Green Olive Tree The Focal Point of Your Design

With their elegant silvery-green hues, slender leaves and resilience to drought olive trees are at the heart of every Mediterranean garden. They can endure extreme heat and lack of water. They are extremely tough, can withstand neglect, and are very easy to grow.

Olive trees are a versatile, elegant addition to Mediterranean garden ideas, with the gray-green leaves introduce a cooling note. You can choose one whatever the size of your space, as they thrive in pots too, like these standard olive trees from Thompson & Morgan, which are happy growing in a large pot.

There is a trend right now for introducing mature olive trees as sculptural focal points, bringing an immediate sense of character and a strong Mediterranean identity to a garden design.

"In this design the grand, architectural entrance is framed by a pair of mature olive trees," says designer Katharine Pooley. "On this particular occasion, the olive trees were flown in. However, for our other Mediterranean projects, if there is an olive tree in a place of pride, we like to ensure that they are preserved in their designated roots and to form the surrounding setting around them."

Katharine approaches each project with sensitivity, prioritising the preservation and repurposing of elements where possible. This includes established planting, as well as the paving tiles pictured in this Mallorca property, carefully recycled from a Barcelona renovation.

3. Add A Sculptural Element With Reflective Silver Planting

Silver foliage is invaluable in a Mediterranean-style garden because it reflects the light and gives a border a luminous, sun-bleached quality. It also acts as a visual bridge between stronger colors: pinks and purples appear richer beside silver, while fresh green foliage looks more vibrant. Many silver-leaved plants are naturally adapted to hot, dry conditions, but good drainage is essential.

"I prefer to repeat silver foliage through a border rather than confining it to one isolated plant," says garden designer Katrina Kieffer-Wells. "Combining different leaf shapes is particularly effective: broad, velvety leaves can provide a focal point, while finely divided or needle-like foliage creates movement and texture."

But in this design Katrina uses shapely Senecio candicans ‘Angel Wings’ as a bold punctuation point instead, rather than dotting individual plants throughout a border. We asked Katrina for more recommendations for silver planting that adds a sculptural touch. "Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ is one of my favourite plants for creating a soft, billowing layer with its finely cut, aromatic silver foliage."

Lavender is on everyone's list of Mediterranean garden ideas too but there's one in particular that Katrina is a fan of. "I like the lavender cultivar ‘Richard Gray’ for its woolly, silver leaves and deep purple flowers. It brings fragrance, movement and pollinators into the garden, so it contributes far more than color alone."

Katrina is also a fan of Santolina ‘Pretty Carroll’, a compact evergreen with finely divided, aromatic silver-gray foliage (Santolina makes it onto my list of the 9 best mediterranean garden plants too). "It's ideal for repeating along the front of a border or beside a path, where its neat mounds give structure throughout the year. The yellow button flowers add a warm accent, although the foliage is attractive enough for it to earn its place even without them.'

As well as the aesthetic and practical plus points of using plants with silvery-green and gray foliage as part of Mediterranean garden ideas, they also help to create a cool and calm garden retreat that's a wonderfully soothing space. It's a good idea to add gravel landscaping ideas to the mix too as it's the natural medium to set off your Mediterranean garden ideas perfectly.

Gardening is one of life’s simple pleasures. Pottering around, pruning flowers, and planting new varieties is something that brings joy to many. Having a dedicated space in your garden or shed to store all of your potting bits and bobs is key. Instead of using an old workbench or a piece of used garden furniture that doesn’t tick any style boxes whatsoever, consider investing in this galvanized steel potting table from John Lewis.

Your garden should feel like an extension of your home. Just because it’s an outdoor space doesn’t mean it should be lacking in style; that’s why you should carefully consider what kind of garden furniture you choose.

Galvanized steel is a great option for the garden because it is highly durable and it will only get better with age. It’s good to be aware that it will tarnish over time, but that’s all part of the appeal. Keep reading to discover more galvanized steel garden picks as well as a stylish potting table or two.

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Adopt the Japanese principles of 'Wabi-Sabi' and celebrate imperfection with your choice of garden décor. Whether it's a substantial piece of furniture or a smaller accessory, you can introduce galvanized metal into your garden design however best suits you.

For more finds for your home and garden, sign up to the Livingetc newsletter.

Not every garden is blessed with abundant space. From short and wide to tall and thin, gardens come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to know how to maximize your space and elevate your design, no matter the shape.

So you've got yourself a narrow garden? Often seen in more urban areas, especially in Victorian and Edwardian properties, long narrow gardens may seem tricky at first, but with the right treatment, they’re a dream for a keen gardener — especially if you’re a bit indecisive!

One of the most common questions asked is 'how can I make a small garden look bigger?' After all, no one wants their garden to feel cramped, especially if your interior is a squeeze. With help from the experts, we’re going to shed some light on the tricks designers use to draw the eye around a space and give narrow gardens that airy illusion. So, here's what to do.

1. Section Your Space

If you’ve inherited a garden that’s more post-apocalyptic wasteland than botanical beauty, don’t panic. Blank narrow gardens are more common than you may think, especially with first-time buys. But according to designers, it’s actually a great place to start. From here, you can conquer the all-important layout.

Layout is the foundation of every design, but particularly in narrow gardens. To create the illusion of width, you need to break up the length into smaller sections. “Zoning is one of the most effective ways to make a narrow garden feel wider and more spacious,” says expert garden designer Kitti Kovacs. “Rather than allowing the eye to take in the entire garden at once, I like to create a sense of journey, with different areas gradually revealed as you move through the space.”

Turns out, seeing the end of your garden is a big no-no for high-end designs; as Kitti points out, “Even in a large garden, if everything is visible at first glance, we can lose interest quickly. A successful garden layout should always invite exploration.”

Instead, designers strive to break up the linear space with contrasting curves and shapes. Garden and plant expert Julian Palphramand adds, “Anything that breaks up a straight run helps a narrow garden. Curved beds, angled paths, and planted stopping points stop the eye racing to the end. It’s a simple way to take the corridor feel out of the space."

To figure out a section’s starting points, Kitti advises paying close attention to your garden’s surroundings. “It also helps to blur the division between the garden and its surroundings,” says Kitti. “Existing trees in neighboring gardens can be treated as a borrowed backdrop and incorporated into the overall composition. When boundaries are softened with planting, it becomes less clear where the garden begins and ends, making the space feel considerably larger.”

2. Frame Your Plants with Fencing

Just as a paint color affects an interior, the same can be said for garden fences. If you’ve got a long-narrow garden, chances are you’re looking at a lot of fencing, so a replacement may be out of budget. But one of the real perks of fencing is how drastically it can be changed just with a lick of paint.

Now comes the all-important question — what fence color makes a garden look bigger? Kitti recommends something dark. “I would focus less on making the fence a feature and more on helping it visually recede,” she says. “Dark, muted colors such as charcoal, deep olive, soft black, or earthy brown work particularly well because they create depth and allow foliage and flowers to stand out."

That said, the end boundary can be treated differently, she adds. "A slightly lighter tone, a focal feature, or generous planting can visually bring it closer, helping the garden feel less like a corridor and more balanced in proportion.”

If you have money to invest in your fencing, head for the horizontal fence panels. “Horizontal fencing can also help the garden feel broader,” says Julian, adding that fence climbers such as “clematis, climbing roses, or espalier fruit trees, can make the boundaries start to feel much softer.”

And experts agree that if you’re able to invest, horizontal fence panelling will give an illusion of a much wider design. Kitti adds, “Horizontal battens can also make the space feel broader, especially when softened with layered planting, climbers, or trained shrubs. However, the pattern should remain simple; too many decorative panels or contrasting colors can draw attention to the narrow shape.”

Designer Vicky Lincoln adds that, "Fencing is really important for a narrower garden, especially as you can’t hide it behind a three-meter garden border. Horizontal slated fences work really well. If you can go custom, choose really wide boards. It really does change the proportions, and it acts like a piece of art in itself.”

3. Use Large Plants for Sectioning

Just because your garden is on the narrower side doesn’t mean you have to shy away from larger trees and shrubs. That’s the beauty of a sectioned design. Simply position the trees in between sections, and you'll form a beautiful natural barrier that creates shade and vertical interest.

Kitti Kovacs thinks trees and shrubs have a well-earned place in a design, and shouldn’t be overlooked in a narrow garden. “Used carefully, they can add drama, structure, and a sense of maturity that smaller plants alone may struggle to achieve," she adds. "They encourage the eye to travel upwards, rather than focusing on the narrow boundaries."

The same principle can be applied to bare new-build gardens, too. A new garden full of small plants can often feel incomplete. It’s the addition of larger shrubs and trees that make a design feel established and like it’s always been there, plus they’re great at creating movement and curves in a design.

But which trees and shrubs work best for narrow gardens? "I like to include one or two well-positioned small to medium-sized specimen trees, particularly varieties with elegant forms, light canopies and strong seasonal interest," says Kitti. "Acers, Amelanchier lamarckii, Sorbus, Cercis canadensis, multi-stemmed Himalayan birches, and flowering cherry trees are all excellent examples. They create attractive focal points, make the garden feel established, and can provide welcome dappled shade during increasingly hot summers.”

And then there are the plants worth avoiding in narrow gardens.“Scale and placement are crucial," says Kitti. "I would avoid very large trees with dense canopies or vigorous root systems, as they may overwhelm the garden, block valuable light, and create deep shade.”

Julian Palphramand agrees: “Too many bulky plants will crowd the space,” he says. “In a narrow garden, balance is everything.”

4. Plan Your Paths

The path to a perfect narrow garden design never runs straight — literally. Straight lines are a dimension-killer for narrow gardens and, according to the experts, will only make the space feel more boxy. The answer? Curved paths.

“An interesting path can also change how the space is perceived," says Kitti. "A gently meandering route draws the eye from side to side rather than straight towards the end boundary, helping the garden feel broader and create a sense of journey.”

Vicky Lincoln agrees, adding that garden paths and paved patio areas can actually play a big part in distracting your eye. “We really try and use shapes," she says. "We don’t want pathways that just run straight up the center. You don’t want to be able to measure the space with your eyes, so we use things like diagonals or zigzags, or even diamond-shaped patios to trick the eye.”

Natural path materials, like limestone slabs, are great for nestling inside a lawn. The darker tones of the grass contrast beautifully against the light stone — perfect for more contemporary or Japanese-inspired garden designs. Or, if cottage-core is more your vibe, gravel paths can feel more traditional. Just be sure to edge your gravel path well and provide a physical barrier against any grass, otherwise, you'll be sweeping spilled pea shingle all summer.

Though narrow gardens can seem a disadvantage, with the right design treatment, they can be made to look twice the size. Each section — or 'room' as designers like to call them — offers a chance to explore a new design feature. A cut flower patch in one section, a fruit and vegetable garden in another, a Japanese-inspired water feature in the next? The world is your oyster!

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I don’t know about you, but I’m still clinging to every last golden hour the British summer has generously handed us. I’m certainly not ready to retreat indoors just yet, and I’m all for finding ways to zone my garden for the sun, to make the most of it while it's here. If anything, this feels like the moment to give the garden one last refresh. That’s why I went through John Lewis’s outdoor collection, looking specifically for pieces that can carry your garden from late summer into early autumn.

I focused on the playful little details that can wake the garden up again; think patterned plates for one more long lunch outside, a sculptural side table you’ll happily bring indoors later, or, my personal favourite, rattan lighting that keeps glowing long after your dinner guests should probably have gone home. Better still, the rechargeable, wireless designs can move wherever the evening takes you.

These are pieces worth bringing home now, but with enough longevity to earn their place well beyond August.

And if your garden still feels like it’s missing something, Find, our free sourcing service at Design Lab by Livingetc, can help. Tell us what you’re after, whether it’s a slim table for an awkward corner or the right light for those later dinners, and I’ll handpick a few options for you. One less thing to scroll for, and a little more time to enjoy what’s left of summer.

You can also sign up to the Livingetc newsletter for more shopping finds and plenty of reasons to keep tweaking your space.

I might ruffle some feathers here, but until recently, I was staunchly opposed to all-weather rattan furniture of any form. I grew so tired of those bulky, synthetic furniture sets that dominated virtually every suburban patio in 2018 (you know the type I'm talking about). They're just so overdone and aged so poorly that I never wanted to lay my eyes on rattan again. That was, until I came across West Elm's Sorrento Garden Lounge Chair.

In 2026, 'resin rattan' (a term for rattan-effect furniture made with plastic fibers) has had a stylish makeover. It's in part thanks to innovations in production that can now mimic the natural fiber better, but also thanks to the sleeker profile of outdoor furniture more generally. Gone are the days of those imposing grayscale sets that tore at the edges and slumped in the middle. Instead, it's all about natural-looking weaves, slimmer forms, and sculptural shapes.

The West Elm chair does it best. With its low, relaxed silhouette and gently reclined backrest, it points towards a new age of outdoor furniture that feels laid-back and casual, not rigid and formal. Both the seat and back are formed from a continuous woven rattan, while the sculptural frame creates a striking contrast, leaving the profile light and open. Dare I say, it's been enough to change my mind about rattan garden furniture altogether. Plus, it's on sale right now.

For a few years, the Livingetc team has been mulling over what would replace rattan garden furniture. Could the answer, it turns out, be nothing? Rattan furniture still has a worthy spot in our backyards. Modern iterations are just doing it better.

That said, those ubiquitous matching sets are, fortunately, a thing of the past. Instead, just like our interiors, rattan garden furniture is becoming more varied, allowing for more personality and character to reach the farthest depths of your garden.

It's a trend designers are noticing, too. "With retailers embracing the all-weather wicker, you can now find a fabulous range of styles and seating options out there," says designer Jessica Hobson. "The West Elm Sorrento Outdoor Lounge Chair, for example, has a modern, sleek silhouette that exudes cool while still being super comfortable to lounge in and soak up the sun."

Feeling inspired? I've rustled up my favorite picks to shop right now. If you're looking to make the most of the last days of summer, the addition of one of these to your garden is sure to encourage you. Plus, there's no better time to buy than now, while the garden furniture sales are still going.

It's confirmed — rattan garden furniture has had a facelift in 2026. Not only is it more convincing, but the forms of the furniture have also been modernized. The result? Sculptural chairs that blend the rustic, organic nature of rattan with contemporary silhouettes that add visual interest to your garden. And now you can shop them with ease at the touch of a button.

For more product recommendations across the home and garden, subscribe to Livingetc's newsletter.

Have you ever walked into a garden and instantly felt unwelcome in the space? More often than not, this is a simple disconnect in furniture placement that majorly alters the al fresco ambiance.

According to garden Feng Shui, positioning your furniture so that the backs of your chairs face the entryway to your backyard is tampering with the free-flowing energy of this space.

So, if your outdoor living room finds itself in a similar layout, here's what you can do to fix the harmony of your garden.

Which Direction Should Your Outdoor Seating Face for Feng Shui?

"For good Feng Shui, the outdoor seating should be positioned in such a way that you are in command position," says Feng Shui practitioner Marina V. Umali. "Essentially, this means your back should be protected, so it should have the fence, the house, and plantings behind it."

Ideally, Matina adds, all your garden furniture should be facing the entry to the yard or the door. "This way you see who’s coming in and you can welcome them," she explains. "With the seating facing towards them rather than the back of the seating, they will feel invited and welcome."

Which Direction Should You Avoid Facing Outdoor Seating for Feng Shui?

According to Marina, one of the biggest garden Feng Shui mistakes you can make is facing your furniture so that anyone who enters sees your back first. This disrupts the path for energy to flow and creates an unbalanced space.

Arranging your outdoor furniture in a way that naturally disrupts movement through the space is another mistake that can impact the harmony of your backyard. Once you rethink your furniture placement, you'll instantly notice a shift in the way this space opens out to you and your guests.

If you're already planning for the crisp, cool fall months, knowing where to place your fire pit for Feng Shui is next. And why not sign up for more interior advice through the Livingetc newsletter while you're at it?

Folding furniture once had a reputation for being the sensible but slightly boring choice in a small garden. Handy, yes, but not often something to get excited about. Today’s foldable designs are little moments of joy, whether that’s a powder-coated chair that looks like it’s arrived straight from a Parisian terrace or a petite bistro table that brings just as much attitude as any sprawling outdoor set. And when you’re working with a small garden, that kind of personality matters.

Take IKEA’s DJUPÖN folding table, for example. It’s smart, compact, and unapologetically made for small spaces, with two chairs neatly stowed inside. It’s exactly the kind of clever detail that makes you want to show it off rather than hide it away — proof that designing a small garden can be about creativity rather than compromise.

In small outdoor spaces, flexibility is everything. The right foldable piece can disappear after dinner or add the pop of color the space was missing. Having less room doesn’t mean settling for less style. These 12 finds from the best garden furniture brands prove practical can still feel full of personality.

A small garden needs pieces that are more thoughtful about how they use the space. That’s what makes folding furniture so useful. It gives you the freedom to host, move things around or simply clear the floor when you want the garden to feel more open.

And if you’re still trying to find the right piece, Find, our free product sourcing service at Design Lab by Livingetc, can help point you in the right direction. Send over your brief and we'll curate a shortlist that works with your space, your style and how you actually want to use your garden.

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Whether it’s a tiny balcony or a big backyard, the right furniture can completely change the way an outdoor space feels. While neutral pieces will always have their place, I’ve found myself drawn to warmer, earthier colors lately. Terracotta has that rare ability to make a garden feel instantly more welcoming, adding richness without overpowering the surrounding greenery. If you’re looking for beautifully made pieces, it’s also worth exploring our guide to the best garden furniture brands before choosing where to invest.

It’s no surprise that these warm, sun-baked hues are everywhere this year. One of the biggest outdoor furniture trends for 2026 is embracing earthy palettes that make gardens feel softer, more expressive, and far more connected to the landscape. Rather than sticking to one flat shade, layering different terracotta tones, rusts, clay colors, and soft cinnamon hues creates a space that feels collected instead of perfectly matched.

Another trend I can’t get enough of is powder-coated metal outdoor furniture. It brings a clean, contemporary silhouette while the matte finishes keep everything feeling warm rather than industrial. You’ll spot plenty of these designs throughout this collection, from bold terracotta statement pieces to quieter clay-toned options, making it easy to mix different shades together for a layered, stylish outdoor space. Plus, there's no better time to buy than now, while the garden furniture sales are still going.

If you’re always hunting for the next great outdoor find, subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter. It’s where you’ll get first access to the design trends, shopping edits, and clever decorating ideas we’re talking about long before everyone else catches on.

Forget continuous optimisation. It’s time to lean into slow-living and actually enjoy your time at home.

We’ve all come across those reels telling you how to up your game, battle procrastination, and constantly improve your lifestyle. Whether it’s advocating five am wake-ups or outrageous gym programmes, I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted from videos telling me I need to be working on myself constantly.

Instead, I’m following the slow-living lifestyle. One where we have permission to veg out, potter around the garden, or simply enjoy spending time in our own spaces at home. But first, we have the challenge of creating a space that we actually want to spend time in. That’s where the fun part comes!

If you spend your days lusting after Chelsea-worthy spaces and modern garden designs, wondering which parts you’d sandwich into your own garden, but seem stuck when it comes to pulling a design like this together, you’re not alone. To fix this, we’ve spoken with the professionals to understand how they create a garden design that gives you a place to pause for thought. With their guidance, you’ll soon be on your way to creating a haven that swaps the hustle for healthy harmony.

1. Make Sure Your Garden Caters to Your Needs

It may sound obvious, but before any ground gets broken, it’s essential to understand what you want to achieve from your garden space. A garden design revamp can be a long project to take on — you need to be ready for when that hyperfixation inevitably fades two weeks in, and you’re surrounded by nothing but plants, soil and landscape materials.

Award-winning Gardener's World designer Vicky Lincoln says understanding what matters to her client as an individual is her non-negotiable starting point. “Relaxation looks quite different to different people,” she explains. “I have some clients, for example, whose garden design included a lower deck that’s immersed in planting because it’s where they’re going to do yoga and kettlebell workouts, because that’s what relaxing meant for them.”

If you’re still stuck on where to start, Vicky has a great method to hone in on her client’s preferences. “I often ask people, What’s been your loveliest evening?’ They might say there was a time in Crete, for example, that they had a really intimate dinner with a friend, while someone else would say they love having a large party. Another could say when the whole family gets together, and the kids have a separate area to play. We start to pull those out and think ok, we need a spot for a casual breakfast, or a larger entertainment zone.”

Garden designer Shweta Mehta shares Vicky’s approach, but encourages her clients to focus on their everyday habits. “Before starting out, we always ask how people live rather than socialise. The most successful social spaces are those that feel inviting every day, not just when friends come over. Social spaces in gardens need to be inviting; comfort is always first, you want to sit for a while and feel at ease. Small cozy nooks with one chair to enjoy your morning cuppa are equally necessary.”

2. Slow Down Your Spaces

However, when it comes down to core design principles, Vicky says flow of space is fundamental to creating a calm garden atmosphere that makes people want to linger. “It’s about having a really good layout of spaces and ways of moving around them. It has to feel like it flows. Much like when you go into a well-designed kitchen, and you automatically know your way around and where to find things, a relaxing garden is very similar.”

One useful tool Vicky uses to slow down parts of her designs is the use of garden pathways. “It’s really important, I think, to help people slow down and create relaxing, beautiful spaces which are well constructed and put together. We pay particular attention to paths. Sometimes we’ll make functional paths that are quick and direct, and then we’ll create other longer paths that psychologically welcome you into a space and encourage you to pause for a moment.”

For designer Shweta, it’s important to create pockets of spaces in her designs. “I like to add what I call ‘destination spaces’ that encourage people to explore the garden. These might include a natural swimming pool with a pool house, a greenhouse that's as much for entertaining as it is for growing — imagine long candlelit lunches and dinners surrounded by scented pelargoniums. That would make winter entertaining much more pleasant. A garden room overlooking vegetable and cut flower areas provides another peaceful place to work, relax or arrange freshly cut flowers.”

3. Create Ease

For gardens to make you want to linger, they have to feel easy. But for top garden designers like Vicky, this goes further than you may think. Forget wind chimes, she’s looking for the barefoot factor.

“Barefoot-friendly gardens are usually quite important. You want no barriers to get into that space. I want somewhere where people can kick their heels off — if they even wear heels nowadays — and pad out barefoot into the garden to relax,” explains Vicky. “We’ll draw you out with that first seat that’s nice and close and then continue to give little intriguing views, plants, and sculptures that make you want to keep wandering. I often think ‘how can we make this a space which slows people down and gives them that opportunity to pause?’”

Outdoor seating is just as essential for ease of movement. “Relaxed seating is really important. I always like to put in my designs some spots where you could get home from work, walk outside and flop on them with no effort.”

As Shweta highlights, if you want to lounge for hours, high-quality comfortable seating is a must. “Narrow benches are great to perch on, but to lounge for hours in the garden, comfortable seating is a necessity. Go for cushioned chairs and sofas, or a day bed to lie and read on, or an egg chair but with soft cushions. Make sure the seating is facing each other to ease conversation. Uncomfortable seating won’t be used for long, so steer well clear of that unless you want it as a perch while meandering through your borders.”

4. Focus on Greenery

Planting and color will always dictate a garden’s overall feel. Shweta’s advice for those gardens that draw you to want to spend time in them? Stick to earthy natural tones.

“Atmosphere can be achieved by choosing a calming, restrained color palette, be it paving or plants,” she says. “Using earthy tones and natural materials for hard landscaping can instantly change the mood of the garden. Color combinations play a huge part in creating a relaxing garden too. Using softer purples, pinks, and an array of greens can help create a calming, relaxing mood. Make your planting pollinator-friendly too — nothing beats the low hum of a border buzzing with wildlife.”

Designer Vicky fully invests in the message fresh greenery inspires in a design. “As someone who is a bit of a plantaholic, I’m bound to say plants, but there is a lot of science about it. Studies have actually measured how people’s cortisol levels drop when they’re surrounded by green. Just a few minutes in a green space can help you relax.”

If you want a designer planting tip, think about repeating plants within a bed to create consistency. We’re not talking a uniform row of geraniums as such, but rather 4-5 different types of low, mid and tall plants that you can mix around within a bed and repeat in other areas of the garden with similar soil conditions and positions. Just make sure your greenery anchors your space with a strong and calming foundation.

5. Bridge the Indoor Outdoor Gap

Indoor-outdoor gardens are still ranking high on the lust list for homeowners, but creating that seamless transition is easier said than done. According to designer Vicky, it’s one of her top client requests, and certainly ticks the box for easy garden access. But for this feature to remain a relaxing and inviting design asset, you’ve got to future-proof it.

“If you’re building an indoor-outdoor space, you’re probably going to have a vast wall of glass," says Vicky. "This is a glorious thing but also a challenge if you’re positioned in a sunny spot, as it will get incredibly hot. A really important part of indoor-outdoor living now is shade. We’ve got quite a few clients who are retrofitting things like pergolas and verandas because it’s just getting too hot, especially this year.”

To accomplish a stylish shaded area outside your living space, Vicky advises taking inspiration from Mediterranean garden designs. “Think about places on holiday, maybe Italy or Spain; they’ve always got a veranda or shaded area so you can enjoy the covered space.” Though if you’re planning on planting a vine to climb your pergola, don’t make this hardscaping rookie error. Vicky explains, “Many people have a vision of something lovely growing around the pergola, like a grapevine or jasmine, but they then don’t leave space in the paving for planting, and later have to rely on pots which can be quite high maintenance.”

Designer Shweta emphasizes the need to consider the home's interior design and how it will interact with the outside. “The interior of the house must be taken into consideration,” she warns. “The garden should reflect the mood of the house and vice versa. Treat the garden as a direct architectural extension of the house. A level threshold between the inside and the outside to eliminate a physical step, but do consider drainage when doing this. While I wouldn't usually recommend using the same flooring indoors and outdoors, as exterior paving needs to be slip-resistant, choosing complementary materials creates the same sense of cohesion without compromising safety.”

Leaving space to linger in a garden design has to be the top of my design list. I want a space that feels welcoming, calm, and low-maintenance. Though there is certainly an art to creating this seamless design, with help from our designers, you can certainly get started on creating your ideal relaxing outdoor space.

For more inspiration for your garden this end of season, why not sign up for the Livingetc newsletter?

There's nothing quite like spending a beautiful evening basking in the warmth of your glowing garden fire pit. And the only underlying aspect that silently improves this experience is knowing your outdoor space is aligned with harmonious energy.

Now, the placement of your fire pit has the ability to impact the overarching Feng Shui in your backyard. And the experts recommend styling this element in the Southern zone of your garden.

However, to intentionally design an al fresco space that feels balanced, here's a closer look at why fire pit placement matters.

Where Should You Place a Firepit for Feng Shui?

"In Feng Shui, fire represents vitality, confidence, transformation, and active energy," says Feng Shui expert Helen Ye Plehn. "So, I recommend placing a fire pit in an open, welcoming area where it can become a natural gathering point. The South is especially supportive because it carries strong fire energy in Feng Shui and is connected with confidence and conscious action."

When bringing fire to a garden, Feng Shui consultant Rosanna Deflorian explains that it's also important to consider how the placement aligns with the lucky energy of each year. "Also, the final decision depends on what your home's bagua map allows," she says. "And a position that supports fire in one home may not be suitable in the house next door."

So, while South is a typically ideal spot, she also recommends finding a location that feels naturally integrated into the garden rather than added as an afterthought.

Where Should You Avoid Placing a Firepit for Feng Shui?

"Avoid placing a fire pit where it blocks the flow into the home, feels crowded, or creates a sense of unease," says Helen. "Feng Shui is ultimately about how energy moves through a space, so the fire should feel intentional rather than overpowering."

Rosanna tells me that a major garden Feng Shui mistake involves placing a fire pit in cramped corners, narrow passageways, and high-traffic zones. "I would also avoid surrounding the fire pit with too many bright red or orange accessories. The flames already provide plenty of fire energy. Neutral colours, earthy tones, and natural textures create a calmer setting," she adds.

"The scale matters too. A dramatic fire pit may look impressive in a large garden, but the same feature can feel aggressive in a small courtyard. Good Feng Shui is rarely about making the strongest possible statement. It is about finding the right proportion."

FAQs

What Do You Put Around a Fire Pit for Good Feng Shui?

"Natural Earth materials such as stone, brick, gravel, and ceramic are excellent around a fire pit. Visually, they help ground the area, while symbolically Earth contains and stabilizes the intensity of fire," says Rosanna.

"I would also avoid surrounding the fire pit with too many bright red or orange accessories. The flames already provide plenty of Fire energy. Neutral colours, earthy tones and natural textures create a calmer setting.

Now that you're all caught up on placement, knowing where to buy an aesthetic fire pit is next. And for more Feng Shui advice to bring good energy into your home, sign up for the Livingetc newsletter.

We're deep into the swing of summer now, and have comfortably settled into our al fresco lifestyle. But as autumn slowly creeps closer and the nights become that bit darker, there's never been a better time to add an outdoor floor lamp into your garden setup.

In recent years, there's been a pretty notable shift in how we design our outdoor spaces. Gone are the days of lacklustre plastic chairs and rusty barbecues. Nowadays, we see our gardens as a natural extension of our interiors, and have been designing them as such. And no trend captures this better than the rise in outdoor living rooms. With soft, plush furnishings and chic materials, these spaces provide all the comfort you expect from a living space, just in a new setting. And while we've all accepted the importance of soft lighting in our interiors, the same idea has taken longer to catch on when it comes to our outdoor spaces.

Not only does garden lighting set the tone, providing that soft, cozy warmth we crave from our relaxing spaces, but in an outdoor living room, it also helps to elevate the vibe, further cementing that indoor-outdoor living feel. These outdoor floor lamps are chic enough to earn a spot in any modern garden, and, best of all, with one of these in your garden, your night can keep going well past sunset.

Now that you've got the lighting down, there are a few extra changes you can do to get your outdoor living space into the best shape possible, and some of the most transformative changes are surprisingly simple. You'd be shocked at what a difference knowing how to arrange your outdoor furniture right can have on the flow and feel of your space. But of course, a new chic garden sofa wouldn't hurt, either.

For even more tips and ideas, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

Lighting is the ultimate atmosphere maker, single-handedly determining the vibe of your space. And this is as true for your outdoor areas as it is inside your home.

The problem is, so often, the options available from our favorite places to buy garden lighting are designed to make a statement, rather than to simply set the tone. While there's certainly a time and a place for a gorgeous statement light, we have found ourselves struggling to find a more subtle, discreet option for our outdoor spaces. Sometimes, you don't need your garden lighting to be the star of the show; you need it to be the supporting actor, bringing the rest of your design into light with a soft illumination that whispers, rather than shouts. And after months of searching, I've found a product that does just that.

The Portable LED Table Push-Up Lamp by Zafferano (available from Westwing) has perfected the art of understated elegance, offering an impressively discreet design that easily blends in with its surroundings while providing a subtle, warm glow. The clever push-up design means that, when not in use, the light source is completely hidden from view, disguising itself as a petite garden accessory. Simple and elegant, you'll struggle to find an outdoor space where this light wouldn't be a welcome addition.

Other Portable Lamps for Stylish Outdoor Lighting

Just as useful within your home as they are in the garden, the best portable lamps make setting the mood easier than ever, removing the hassle of wires and plugs, so you can place them exactly where you please.

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It should come as no surprise that I firmly believe that every garden should feel like a wellness space. My favorite outdoor spaces are those that cocoon you against a lush landscape and dissipate all the stress from your day. And an overdone al fresco zone goes against this enveloping vibe.

So if your backyard feels overwhelming at the moment, it's less about what to bring in and more about what to get rid of first. Consider losing the clutter, clearing out struggling plants, cleaning up paths, managing overgrown shrubs, and letting go of manicured perfection to make your garden feel calming.

And if you're wondering why designers swear by these rules, here's a closer look at the immediate impact it can make.

1. Lose the Clutter

"Too many small pots, ornaments, or decorative accessories can make a garden feel overly busy rather than relaxing," says Kat Aul Cervoni, landscape designer at Staghorn Living NYC.

"I usually recommend editing down to a few larger, well-chosen pieces that give the eye somewhere to rest. Think of the Coco Chanel rule — get dressed, then look in the mirror and take one thing off."

Start by making a list of things to throw out of your garden and act on it now. That way you can enjoy your backyard for the rest of the summer and into fall.

2. Clear Out Struggling Plants

"I truly understand how tempting it is to hang onto a plant in the hope that it will recover, but tired, diseased, or dead plants tend to draw your attention every time you step outside," says Kat.

"In fact, it's almost always better to remove them and let the surrounding plants shine. However, if you feel really strongly about nursing something back to health, perhaps dig it up and move it into a pot to be nursed elsewhere, or give yourself a deadline to resolve the issue by."

If you find yourself stuck in the cycle of a withering garden, I recommend rethinking your planting choices. There are some beautiful low-maintenance plants for pots that deliver on style with half the effort.

3. Clean Up Pathways and Patios

Similar to the loss of the clutter note, keeping your pathways and patios clear of debris, weeds, and wayward tools and pots can go a long way towards making a space feel calmer (and also function better!)

4. Manage Overgrown Plants

Kat tells me that she often notices people worry that if they prune their shrubs, they’ll harm their progress, and thus let them grow enormous and overtake a space. "On the contrary, it can be beneficial not only for the shrub, but also for making a space feel a bit calmer and more open," she notes.

"This goes for shrubs blocking windows and obstructing pathways. Also, if it’s just too big for the space, get rid of it and choose something better suited to the area available."

You can also pare back your garden and prioritize functional foliage. Think low-maintenance architectural plants or small privacy trees for a backyard.

5. Let Go Of Perfection

"One of the biggest mistakes I see is people feeling like every corner of the garden has to be immaculate," says Kat. "And this is simply impossible!"

As living spaces, she finds that gardens are meant to evolve. A few fading blooms or a volunteer seedling aren't flaws or problems that need to be solved," she advises. "Sometimes the most relaxing gardens are the ones that feel just natural enough and 'lived in'."

So the last thing to get rid of when designing a relaxing garden is the ultimate blueprint of a picture-perfect space. A touch of imperfection is the key to a space that lowers your guard and helps you feel comfortable. The overgrown garden trend is my favorite way to embrace this aesthetic in a silently controlled way.

Now that your garden has a truly unwinding foundation, I recommend building on the ambiance by introducing things in a wellness garden. And it doesn't have to be a major commitment like an outdoor sauna — unless, of course, you've got the room and the budget to match.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter for more design advice.

Before even getting the chance to step indoors, your guests will have already formed an opinion on the design of your home, based solely on your front yard. And, despite what you may believe, you don't need buckets of space to make a good impression. To the contrary, sometimes, the smallest front yards can be the chicest, so long as you know how to design it.

For all the effort and consideration we pour into our garden designs, when it comes to planning our front gardens, that level of care seems to be completely abandoned, swapped out for a laid-back nonchalance, placing convenience over aesthetics. And while it may be true that your backyard will be where you spend the majority of your time, the front garden is what sets the tone for your home, and should be designed as such. Even the smallest front gardens deserve an extra touch of love and care. After all, the less space available, the more important each decision becomes, so you'll want to ensure you're making the best choices for your home.

Here to help you in that task, our experts have shared all their favorite tips for making a big impact in a small space with me, explaining exactly how to turn even the smallest front yards into a luxurious entrance, setting the tone for what's to come.

1. Remember Restraint

Much like with designing any small space, the more you try to squeeze in, the worse it will look. Remember: when you're working with limited space, less is always more.

"Small front gardens work best when the design is restrained," agrees Sophie Bertrand, who has had plenty of experience with making the most of small, London front gardens as the head of design at Rosebank Landscaping.

In smaller spaces, the more you do, the more cramped it will feel. An overfilled, overwhelming design is one of the worst front yard mistakes you could make, so operating with a degree of restraint will serve you well in creating the most attractive front yard. "Rather than trying to include too many features, focus on a clear layout with a limited palette of materials and planting," she says. Selecting a few key features and materials allows each individual design choice a stronger impact, offering them the space to shine rather than forcing them to compete for attention.

Explaining how to achieve this, Sophie shares, “We tend to favour a restrained palette of high-quality materials with plenty of texture." Natural stone pavers, gravel paths, and clay tiles all work well for this. Pick one primary material, and allow that to occupy the majority of the space, with small trims and details to complement.

2. Lead The Way

Your front garden is, ultimately, a lead-up to the main event, so it only makes sense to design it with this in mind.

No matter how gorgeous your front garden is, your home is the real focal point, and this should be communicated within your design by positioning your front door as the clear destination. "A clearly defined path gives the garden structure and makes the entrance feel welcoming," explains Gina Taylor, from East London Garden Design. Creating a clear path towards the front door is one of the best things you can do to make your front garden more welcoming, providing a clear visual cue for guests to follow.

This is a technique Sophie follows, too, suggesting to "treat the journey to the front door as a design feature," using paving and planting to frame the entry and naturally guide visitors towards your house in a way that feels more intentional.

3. Draw The Eye Up

One of the best techniques for making a small space look larger is to draw the sightline upwards, and nowhere does this work better than in a small garden or front yard.

Unlike in small kitchens or living rooms, where there is a natural height limit, in the outside world, the sky, quite literally, is the limit, and you can use this to your advantage. For example, Sophie says, "A carefully positioned multi-stem feature tree helps draw the eye upwards, softening the relationship between the house and the garden." Just one taller tree can be enough to introduce this element of height into your design, helping to create the illusion of a greater amount of space.

As well as small, multi-stem trees, Gina also recommends climbing plants for the front of your house and evergreen shrubs, as they can "draw the eye upwards and create a sense of depth without taking up too much ground space." As an added bonus, these plants also work great to provide some more front garden privacy, too.

Plants that grow up, rather than across, are always the best choice for smaller outdoor spaces, bringing plenty of verdancy and lushness without overwhelming the limited space available.

4. Plant For Year-Round Beauty

"Evergreen planting provides the backbone of a successful front garden, ensuring it feels welcoming throughout the year," argues Sophie, and we can't help but agree.

In smaller spaces, every plant has to work twice as hard, so filling your front yard solely with flowers that bloom in summer probably isn't the best choice. Sure, your house may look gorgeous in June, but by the time winter comes around, it's likely to look rather lacklustre.

Instead, the experts suggest opting for a healthy dose of year-round shrubs and plants, allowing for a consistently attractive front garden design.

Offering an example, Gina says, "Evergreen structure might come from yew, pittosporum, sarcococca, ferns or compact grasses, depending on the aspect." Pairing this with some perennial flowers, like lavender, makes for a beautifully rich planting scheme. Then, for some 'seasonal softness', Gina says, "I love hardy geraniums, astrantia, Japanese anemones, hellebores, foxgloves and spring bulbs such as narcissi and alliums."

For added texture, Gina suggests combining evergreen shrubs for your front yard with "softer ferns, ornamental grasses and shade-tolerant perennials to create depth and texture without making the space feel busy." This combination should help to create a space that flourishes all year round, with plenty of texture and intrigue.

5. Invest in the Details

With less space, every choice means more, so in your small front yard, there's all the more reason to put a little extra effort into choosing the oft-overlooked details.

Finding the most elevated versions of features you may have otherwise left for last is the very thing that can help set your front yard apart from the rest. For example, "Beautiful house numbers, discreet bin storage, a well-chosen wall light and attractive pots can elevate even the smallest space," explains Gina.

Finding ways to communicate your personal style through these features allows you to set the tone for what's to come, without taking up too much space. Beautiful plant pots and small, elegant touches, like a modern front door number, can come together to form a more considered, intricate design, no matter how small your space is.

The way you design your front yard will play a major role in determining the curb appeal of your property, so if you're thinking of putting your house on the market any time soon, it's well worth spending some time upgrading your outdoor area.

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When I think about my dream garden inspo, my mind doesn't float to the perfectly preened shrubs of royal gardens, or the super-modern outdoor designs that litter my Instagram feed. No, my mind goes somewhere slightly more... abstract. What I want is a garden that looks like it was straight out of a fairy tale. Somewhere you could feasibly imagine fairies hiding out, or flowers that come alive at nighttime. Is that too much to ask for?

Well, it seems not, because I've just found a new type of garden lighting that couldn't be much more perfect for this look. It gives you exactly that kind of mystical, enchanted feel I've been dreaming of, making your garden look like something straight out of a storybook.

It may sound too good to be true, but these Wild Fennel Outdoor Solar Stake Lights I found on Amazon aren't only the perfect accessory to turn your outdoor space into an enchanted garden, but they are also less than £15. Plus, the solar-powered design requires absolutely zero complicated installation or wiring; you just stick them into the ground and let the magic glow fill your outdoor space. That's my kind of fairy tale ending.

As much as I love these beautiful designs, it's important to note that it takes more than just some sparkling lights to create a true fairy tale garden. You'll need to build up the design with some equally enchanting greenery too, and these fairy tale garden plants will do just the trick.

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The saying goes: 'good things come in small packages', and for gardens, I think that couldn’t be truer. They’re easier to maintain, cost less to renovate, and are full of creative design possibilities.

Though it may seem like this year's garden window has closed, it's actually the perfect time to get ahead with your design. While the lawn better resembles the moon’s crust than a luscious meadow, you can be planning your planting ready for autumn's much-needed rainfall.

In fact, experts say our super-hot summers have made autumn planting even more essential for a plant's survival. Planting earlier, while the soil is moist but temperatures have yet to drop, gives the plants a head start to develop an established root system and seek out much-needed moisture before the summer drought sets in.

So small garden means small plants, right? Wrong.

One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make in smaller spaces is assuming everything has to be small within it. But take a look at the top garden designers, and you’ll see the plants of all shapes and sizes weaving their way through their designs. But how do they make it work?

1. They Add Scale and Contrast

It seems counterintuitive, but larger plants are essential to create scale and variation in a garden design. Keep everything small, and, put simply, everything will look the same. But place a large plant as a focal point within smaller plants and it will not only draw the eye to the tree or shrub, but also to surrounding plants. In short, contrast matters.

Expert garden designer Hannah Gale advises, “Larger plants such as trees, shrubs and ornamental grasses give a hierarchy and a vertical focus to a garden design. A few large plants can help organise the space - giving anchor points for smaller perennials and ground cover to be arranged around.”

It’s this layering technique which Hannah says adds atmosphere to a garden design in 2026. She explains, “This kind of layering gives a border depth and makes it feel more immersive than having a selection of similar-sized plants.”

When looking at your garden space, think about which areas you want to highlight. Is there a corner by your seating area currently taken up by smaller potted plants? Think about anchoring that space with one large shrub or tree, instead of lots of smaller pieces. The added height is also ideal for hanging ambient outdoor dining lighting, like festoon lights or solar lanterns.

2. They Create Privacy

The only slight downside to smaller gardens, especially in urban areas, is other properties overlooking your space. After all, no one wants a nosy neighbor spying on your Sunday afternoon siesta. Garden screening is where larger plants and shrubs really excel in smaller designs.

The key is to look for plants which can fill vertical space, rather than sprawl out into a large footprint. Expert garden designer Hannah Gale is no novice when it comes to beautiful courtyard designs — in fact, she’s won awards for her unique concepts. She advises, “In an urban front courtyard, one generous architectural plant, like a windmill palm tree or a tree fern for shady spots, can be incredibly impactful and give year-round interest without taking up too much floor space. To help with privacy, multi-stemmed ornamental trees like amelanchier lamarkii or prunus serrulata in oversized pots make beautiful focal points whilst providing screening.” You can buy amelanchier lamarkii trees from Crocus.

If you’re after a more Mediterranean feel, large shrubs like fig trees are great for growing in small containers. By constricting the plant’s roots by container gardening, it forces it to produce fruit as opposed to leaves. Their branches can be trained along a trellis in a fan shape too to help with privacy screening. Or, simply give it free rein to create a beautiful canopy over a seating area. Birds will love the added shelter too.

3. They Enhance Your Vertical Canvas

You’ll hear garden designers talk about this a lot in urban gardening — we’re talking about vertical growing.

At a time when space comes at a premium, small-space gardeners are looking for unique ways of planting and growing. Keeping your planting footprints to a minimum is crucial; after all, no one wants to be climbing over pots to get to the barbecue. Instead, designers are taking a maximalist approach to their property’s vertical space.

Expert Hannah knows first-hand how difficult smaller gardens can be. She explains, “I had a tiny garden in my first house, and we maximized the growing space by planting loads of climbers to cover the fences and grow up an existing mature tree. This gave us a vertical canvas and allowed us to make much more impact than the confines of the planted beds. When you are trying to cover a fence, the bigger the plant gets, the better."

This applies to larger balcony areas too. Limited floor space is a great excuse to maximize vertical growing through climbers and trellises. This can even extend to fruits and vegetables, if you’re interested in growing your own. Plants like runner beans, tomatoes and strawberries are great for a sunny balcony or terrace; just make sure you keep on top of their maintenance so they don’t overrun neighbors’ balconies.

For a fast-growing choice in a small garden, Clematis montana (here from Crocus) is ideal for shadier garden walls. It’s incredibly quick to get established and will smother structures with beautiful pale pink flowers in spring. Just be sure to give it a good trim after flowering — it can quickly get leggy and out of control.

4. They Create Shade

As this summer has proven, garden shade is becoming more and more essential for our outdoor spaces. Not just for ourselves, but for our plants too. According to experts, plants like hydrangeas and acers are easy victims of high temperatures. But one way to help them is with shade. Hannah thinks a natural canopy is a great way to add structure to a small space and help your moisture-loving plants.

Hannah explains, “Large plants can be a very effective tool for creating a more hospitable environment for smaller plants that can thrive beneath their shade. It's good to opt for large plants with an open canopy (like amelanchier lamarkii or betula utilis var. jaqumontii) which allow some light through and cast dappled shade. This keeps temperatures lower whilst allowing a wide variety of perennials to thrive in partial shade.

If your garden space is north facing or particularly shady, don’t worry, a canopy can still be on the cards. Hannah recommends, “If a garden is naturally very shaded, this can be accentuated with species for full shade. Plants like Tetrapanax papyrifer can provide characterful moments if combined with ground cover plants like ferns and hostas that like shady spots.”

5. They Add Architectural Interest

If modern minimalism is more your style, larger architectural plants are your best friend. Instead of smaller dainty flowers, you have the freedom to go bold and opt for one or two show-stopping larger centerpiece plants.

Hannah is a big advocate for bamboo — but before you go planting it straightaway, she has some essential rules. “Bamboo is a wonderful singular plant for movement, and it sounds incredibly peaceful in the breeze, but be sure to plant it in a large pot, never into the ground, as it will take over! A less invasive approach to get the same sense of movement is to plant structural ornamental grasses like Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' and Stipa tennissima.”

For a modern feel in a shady garden, expert Chloe Plumstead loves a Fatsia. “Fatsias require practically no maintenance and are a great option for shadier corners crying out for shape. Not only are they evergreen, meaning they will offer interest through every season, they’re also incredibly versatile, working in most well-draining soils and pots, too.”

Sometimes getting that designer look means stepping outside your comfort zone into ideas that at first seem a bit counterproductive.

By weaving larger plants into your small garden design, you'll create focal points, scale and pockets of shade that will help your garden thrive. It's bound to make your space feel more expensive and thought-through!

It's the two words gardeners dread: hosepipe ban. Given the monsoons we experienced just seven months ago, it's hard to believe our water supply has already dwindled to alarming levels. But with help from a series of summer scorchers, some water areas have reached the hosepipe ban threshold.

Necessary as they are, there's no denying they're rather awkward to navigate — especially in larger gardens. But with heatwaves becoming the new norm, it's time to improvise and adapt if our plants have any chance of survival.

For the meantime, watering cans will have to do, but if you're committed to a longer-term solution, our designers have shed some light on the kind of measures they're taking to future-proof their garden designs, looking beyond drought-tolerant planting.

1. Invest in a Watering System

Perhaps even more important than your garden's plant selection is effectively keeping your garden hydrated. Without a reliable irrigation system or water harvesting design, even the most thought-through planting selections are left vulnerable. They simply have to work hand in hand.

For garden designer Agata Henderson, it comes down to three simple words: automated watering system.

“I cannot emphasize this enough: install an automated watering system in your garden,” says Agata. “A drip-irrigation system allows soil and plants to absorb 90% of the water it delivers effectively. Because the water flows slowly, it has time to penetrate the soil exactly where it is needed. This is especially useful for pots. The system may need to run for only a few minutes, yet the water is gradually absorbed by the compost. When watering with a hose or watering can, much of the water can run off before dry or compacted compost has time to absorb it.”

Though water-intensive systems like sprinklers are usually covered by the ban, some water companies permit the use of timed drip irrigation systems. Anglian Water, for example, allows "a drip or trickle irrigation system fitted with a timer and pressure-reducing valve that delivers water directly to the soil."

Though the initial outlay may be more costly in comparison to a watering can, a drip-irrigation system truly is the way forward for a 'fit and forget' approach, and you can find budget-friendly options on Amazon.

2. Collect Rainfall

We've covered the drip irrigation system, but to future-proof a garden, you'll want a 360º water conservation plan, and that means water harvesting.

Even drip irrigation systems rely on fresh water, so a backup supply of rainwater for your watering cans is essential.

"I always recommend collecting natural rainwater wherever possible,” says garden designer Pip Probert. “It makes a noticeable difference to plants, as they thrive on the natural softness of rainwater. Compared to tap water, rainwater has several benefits: it’s free from added minerals, salts and treatment chemicals, giving plants a gentler and more natural source of hydration. You can often see a physical difference in the garden after a rain shower.”

Water butts are the most common method of water collection, but not always the most attractive. To disguise them in your design, Pip likes to use natural screening like climbing plants. “There are plenty of ways to disguise a water butt or tank, from attractive fencing and screens to climbing plants trained to hide the structure. Barrels can also look appealing, although being open means they’re more exposed to dust and debris, but adding a rain chain helps guide water directly into the barrel and reduces contamination.”

My choice? A large trough. I love the patina you get on a reclaimed water trough; it has a real farmhouse feel. Plus the long, deep design means you can dip your watering can straight in and fill it in seconds – that beats waiting for a tap any day!

3. The Pot Method

Though a water butt and drip irrigation system are conventional, there's a slightly less conventional method that achieves great results. All you need is a terracotta pot.

“Plant some terracotta pots into the ground by your plants, plug the holes in the bottom and fill with water,” says designer Connor. “When the ground is too wet, the pot’s natural unglazed clay will take in the moisture from the ground and release it into the air, but when it's too dry, it will release moisture into the soil and prevent the plants from drying out.”

The pot method, or using an olla which is the same concept, is a great set-up for low-maintenance watering, especially in borders that you wander past frequently. Simply start your morning with a cuppa and a garden stroll and keep an eye on the pots' water levels.

Though watering systems may seem reserved for high-end garden designs, the reality is us gardeners need to think about incorporating reliable water-saving systems into our designs now.

Whether it's a drip-irrigation system, a selection of water butts and troughs, the pot method, or a combination of all three, it's essential if you want to beat a hosepipe ban and keep your plants fresh and healthy!

One of the best modern garden planting ideas we've seen lately is the patio island. You may already be familiar with the concept of adding planting pockets to hard landscaping areas to soften the look. Island planting beds are an extension of this idea, scaling up the size into an island planting bed that becomes a sculptural feature in itself.

Additionally patio islands filled with plants help to bring the garden closer to the house. They are a great linking device, especially if you repeat plants that are elsewhere in the garden for a more cohesive look and feel. Patio islands also enhance the eco-credentials of your patio, providing permeable islands amongst the pavers that absorb water and cool the air, as well as providing a source of food for pollinators.

The patio island trend is big news this year in modern garden ideas, and with this in mind we asked three leading landscape designers to share some of their latest projects to feature this concept. The good news is this design idea works whatever the size of your patio, as long as you scale it up or down accordingly.

1. Use A Patio Island To Create A Green View From The House

As well as adding an aesthetically pleasing detail a patio planting island can serve a practical purpose too. It can be a useful addition to soften the view from indoors, and if the right plants are chosen will offer year-round interest.

"This large modern patio garden with entertainment area has a planting island to create a 'green view' when looking outside from the living area," says garden designer Marlene Lento. "The planting island was strategically placed between the house and the bespoke bar, with its stunning illuminated 3D front serving as a visual centerpiece in the large outdoor kitchen, as well as framing the planting island."

The dream combination for a patio planting island is a changing color palette, a mix of textures, and some structure. Ideally there should be interest throughout the year too. "The shapely Acer Sango-kaku (available from Crocus) has red bark in winter and lime green foliage. The Euphorbia martinii (also available from Crocus) provides evergreen foliage and flowers that start early in spring and change colour in the summer," explains Marlene. "The finer texture of the evergreen ornamental grass Carex provides a constant back foil."

The material used for the raised planting island is black fluted cladding that is carried through from the house and repeated in other garden features such as large planters.

2. Include Patio Islands To Help Zone Outdoor Spaces

Why have one patio planting island when you can have several? If you have the space, divide up your patio with planting islands to separate areas for dining, relaxing, yoga, and so on. More plants are always a good idea and never more so than when you can get up close to them, such as on a patio.

"From large, expansive spaces to smaller courtyard gardens, creating destination points gives purpose, functionality, and maximises the interesting lines of sight," says garden designer Karen McClure. "An island patio guides you, working as an ‘anchor’. Regardless of how big your garden or budget is, you can still create rooms."

The planting does the heavy lifting, such as the stunning 'Limelight' hydrangeas used here and available from Sarah Raven, as a screen as well as a feature: breaking an expansive patio into smaller islands, each with its own purpose yet still very much connected and feeling intimate within a larger garden space.

"We’re now seeing the trend for outdoor kitchens become mainstream, an everyday area in many gardens, yet not everyone likes an ‘open plan room’," says Karen. "Breaking up and zoning your space with planting islands helps to create a journey that will give the illusion of a space feeling bigger than its footprint."

3. Soften Stretches of Hardscaping With A Patio Island

Patios and terraces with too much hard landscaping can feel harsh and unwelcoming. Instead the idea of introducing a planting island is a clever way to balance the space. It will help soften the edges so the design doesn't feel too rigid and formal.

“We conceived the planting island as a sculptural focal point, centred around a mature olive tree that frames the view from the house and creates an immediate connection with the landscape beyond," says landscape architect Sophie Bertrand, head of design at Rosebank Landscaping. "Just as importantly, it breaks up what could otherwise have been a large expanse of hard landscaping, introducing a generous green heart to the terrace."

Layered with evergreen structure, ornamental grasses and seasonal perennials, the planting in this design softens the contemporary architecture with texture, movement and year-round interest, creating a space that feels calm, immersive and effortlessly elegant.

Consider adding an olive tree as the focal point of any patio island planting design. The textured, gnarled trunks offer a timeless structural focal point that works particularly well paired with ornamental grasses and low-growing clipped evergreens.

Now find out how to make a patio look expensive and the things people with beautiful patios always have to elevate the look of your patio even more.

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Practical design choices are notoriously not always the most fashionable, especially when it comes to garden lighting. Sometimes you literally just need to add some illumination to your outdoor space, sans fancy table lamps and lanterns. But that doesn't mean practical lighting can't also look good — good design is not something we stylish individuals are willing to compromise on. Which is exactly why this rechargeable outdoor stake light by Frandsen feels like a garden godsend.

Solar path lights seem to always come in a rather bland variety. The design is typically meant to be hidden, providing light without adding to the overall scheme. But that's exactly where this stake light from Frandsen changes the game. The curved design feels elevated, thoughtful, and somewhat fashionable. It practically illuminates a garden path, and it looks good while doing it. Plus, it's rechargeable (fully charged after 5-6 hours), so you don't need to worry about tricking wiring. Sounds good, right?

So all of this to say, I think this might be the perfect lighting solution for anyone looking to upgrade their outdoor stake lights. It's an intentional piece that becomes a stylish member of a larger layered scheme. Now all that's left is deciding between the chic matte black or the shiny silver or gold.