From making your green space a holiday destination in its own right to recreating a festival feel at home, the latest gardens have the fun factor firmly at their heart.
When the sun is out and the weather is balmy, there’s nothing like eating al fresco for feeling that bonhomie that only summer can bring. One major trend that has gained momentum over the past few years, and which perhaps has encouraged us to dine outside continental-style, is the popularity of rattan furniture. Once only found in the confines of conservatories, the new weatherproofed rattan furniture has suddenly reinvigorated our garden dining rooms, transporting us from mundane to Miami. While well-established homeware stores such as John Lewis and Neptune sell an interesting array of styles, from traditional to modern, if you are after a cohesive garden look with matching sofas and loungers, it’s advisable to head to a rattan specialist, such as White Stores.
The rattan fashion also lends an organic, ethnic feel to our green spaces. It’s a trend that has been echoed from many of this season’s catwalks and can be boosted with tribal-print pillows, tablecloths and floor cushions. Choose a colour palette of burnt oranges, taupes, blacks and browns, animal prints and geometrics to bring a touch of the exotic into your garden.
Meanwhile, for smaller gardens, a ffordable bistro sets are good options for dining à deux. Choose candy-coloured metal, such as the Joules Garden Furniture Set from Garden Trading and the Primrose Garden Furniture from Oliver Bonas for a young, vibrant look. Alternatively, choose an ornate wrought-iron style, such as the Chatsworth Bistro Set from Dunelm Mill, for a French-inspired theme. John Lewis’s Nicola Gidlow continues: “If you have a balcony or small urban garden, bistro sets make an ideal choice. They can fold away when they are not in use.
Combining the best elements of your garden – a space to be at one with nature and your own private escape from the stresses of everyday life with a practical, social purpose – means that the garden has become our go-to space when we really want to relax. Enhance the comfort factor by investing in garden corner sofas, deep seated chairs and oversized day beds. Hang hammocks in pretty prints between trees and maximise the time spent outdoors with a feature patio heater or authentic clay chimnea.
Outdoor spaces can also be livened up with the clever use of colour. Sarah Cole, director of paint experts Farrow & Ball gives her advice: “You don’t have to have acres of land or lots of garden furniture to create an inspiring outside area. Even repainting a window box in a bold colour, like Charlotte’s Locks, can upgrade the look and feel of an exterior space. Look at metal railings, wooden summer houses, and masonry walls as potential areas to freshen up with new shades of colour. For a stylish and considered look, try replicating the themes used in your interior rooms outside.
Bunting has become a favourite garden accessory in recent years, and outdoor lights can look great too. Hannah Browne, owner of Pastel Lane, an online emporium inspired by English country living, adds: “With their flickering light, pretty lanterns look beautiful dotted around the garden and are an ideal way to enjoy those relaxed summer evenings for longer. Place freestanding lanterns on tables, walls and at the edge of pathways to create an inviting ambiance; lanterns also look great used as table centrepieces. Complete the cosy, party look with hanging lanterns; perfect for nestling in trees.”
