These days, our gardens are becoming more important to us than ever. When we buy a home, the amount of garden space it comes with can be an important deciding factor in whether or not we go ahead with the sale. Sometimes, this can be because people like to have the option to extend their property without taking up all their garden space. But for other people, having a large garden in itself can be a huge selling point for a property. If you have children, this is even more relevant. After all, wasn’t much of your own childhood spent out playing in your backyard? Even with all the amazing pieces of technology our kids now have access to which keep them entertained, nothing really compares to an afternoon playing outdoors in the garden. Plus, our gardens can also be an extension of our own home. Outdoor entertaining is now more popular than it has ever been, and more of us than ever are looking to impress guests with our highly styled gardens. So what exactly can you do to your backyard to make it a great place to spend time in, in its own right? There are some small changes you can make, such as adding decor and doing a bit of gardening to improve the overall appearance. But if you really want to make an impact, you may want to consider some of these amazing garden features that will truly make your home stand out from all the rest.
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A sunken garden
Lend a hand from the Danish tradition of hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) by adding a sunken snug to your outdoor space. There is no direct translation of hygge into English, but it essentially means feeling cozy and spending quality time with loved ones. There is no better environment for creating your hygge vibe than an outdoor sunken seating area. Having one installed is no easy feat, as you will need to build on a space that is below ground level. So, with this in mind, it is advisable that you speak to a professional landscaper who will be able to set up the whole operation for you. Certain areas of your garden may not be suitable to build a sunken seating area on. For example, you will need a relatively flat surface and the soil needs to be good enough to lay foundations down on – anything too waterlogged and your sunken garden may quite literally, sink. Remember to not make the pit too deep. It needs to appear at a lower level than the rest of your garden, but it should be easy to get in and out of! Once all the logistics are in place, you can have fun designing your cozy seating area. You can go for either wood or stone, or even marble if you are feeling super fancy. Buy a selection of soft cushions to place on the seating so people will be comfy enough to sit out there until the early hours. You could also consider installing storage under the built-in seats in which you can store blankets, for when it gets colder as the night draws in.
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A fire pit
A fire pit is something that can be easily tied in with a sunken garden, or you can simply have one built in the middle of your regular patio. There is something about fire that brings out the primitive side in all of us – whether it’s the cozy feeling you get basking in the heat, or whether you just like watching the flames dance. Having a fire pit means that you are able to entertain outdoors all year round. Often, people will choose to sit outside wrapped up in a blanket next to a fire pit, even when it’s the dead of winter! There is just something about it that brings people together. They can also be very visually impressive, and the style you go for is completely up to you. You can go for something traditional like a chiminea, or you can have a modern pit made out of stone or cast iron. Whatever you end up choosing, pull the chairs around, crack open a bottle of wine and spend an evening warming up by the fire with your friends and family.
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A swimming pool
If you have a large garden and you live somewhere warm, chances are you’ve considered having a pool installed before. As well as simply looking luxurious, having your own pool is a great way to indulge in family time together. Your children will probably spend more time in the pool than out of it in the summer months, and it’s an easy way to drag them away from the television to encourage an active lifestyle. Having a pool put in is a big operation and you will need to hire some professionals to see if your garden is suitable for a pool. But once you’ve been approved, you can start thinking about the design. If you have young children, you may not want to build a pool that is too deep. But that doesn’t mean to say that it can’t be impressive. You can easily add an even more luxurious look to your pool by investing in water features for a home pool. Ever glanced through the Instagram accounts of various celebrities and seen them bathing under glittering waterfalls that feed into a swimming pool? Well, now you can make that your reality too. An artificial rock waterfall can transport you to your very own rainforest haven. Or, perhaps you’d like an architectural feat of pots of water spilling into each other until the stream lands right in your pool. There are hundreds of different designs available, so get creative and think about the kind of aesthetic you want. You could even have a slide installed for the kids, so there really is something for everyone.
The Bavarian Summerhouse
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A luxe gazebo/summer house
When people hear the word ‘gazebo’, most of them think of a scruffy white canopy that is brought out from the garage once a year for an annual event or garden party. It doesn’t really scream ‘luxury’. But having some kind of fixed awning or gazebo fixed in your garden can truly make it into a social hub. Gazebos which are fixed in place are generally built to face weather all year round, so are much less flimsy than the store-bought versions. In fact, you can get them in a variety of materials – metal and bamboo, to name just a couple. So with this in mind, they look a lot more high-end than the typical pop-up ones we tend to buy. They are perfect for housing your garden furniture in and can come in useful whatever the weather. If you are hosting a garden party and it starts to rain, having a gazebo means that all is not lost. Plus, they can be a great place to shelter from the sun during summer. If you like the idea of outdoor shelter but want something a little more private than a gazebo, then a summer house could be a great option for you. They can be built as a reading room or an office if you work from home, fitted with all the mod-cons. Many people also use their summer house as spare accommodation for guests.
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Garden lighting
We all know that lighting is integral to creating a relaxing ambience in the home – so why should it be any different out of the home? Plus, as so many of us are choosing to entertain in our gardens these days, having outdoor lighting enables us to stay outside even when the natural light has failed us. Go for LED or solar powered lighting to create a soft glow that isn’t too harsh. After all, you don’t want any complaints from the neighbours, or to end up with something that looks a little too much like Christmas lights. If you want to create a more fantastical, mystical look, putting lights in your trees can give the effect of a fairy-inhabited haven. This is something that your children are sure to love, too! Try draping fairy lights over your trees – you may need an outdoor power source for this unless you have a very long extension cable. Going back to basics with candles is also a great way to create a relaxing ambience in your backyard, although remember to be very careful with them. Buying colored tealight holders which hang from plants and trees is a great way to add interest to your garden long after the sun has gone down. If you would rather stay away from naked flames, why not buy some battery powered candles which give the same flickering effect? Garden lighting can also be practical too. use LED lanterns to lead the way to your summer house and back up to the door of your home. This helps minimise the risk of any trip hazards, as well as looking good too. Creating a garden that works for you and is beautiful too has never been so easy, so go ahead and let your imagination run wild.