Yes, I agree that you need accents of colour, I would add the cushions and the canvas (where the mirror was) in the orange / brown shades. Can you change the curtains? You would benefit with stronger colour. Also I would go with one big statement piece of canvas to make an impact. Also some decorative bottles collection on the sideboard will look nice, and orange platter with brown pot pourri as a colourful accent for the coffee table. Or any decorative piece in these colours if you're not fan of pot pourri :) maybe some fancy place matts?

@lisamarie1000 it looks like you've got quite a blank canvas to work with there but as well as giving lots of opportunities it can also be quite daunting if you don't know where to start. As a starting point I would look at where the sun falls in the garden as this can be important for growing vegetables and the greenhouse which need to be in as much sun as possible. Draw a plan to scale of the garden and use cut out shapes to represent the different areas (growing area, play area, sitting area etc.). You can place these on the plan and move them around until you get a layout that you are happy with. The size of the shapes needs to be big enough to represent what their use is. You can also base this on the dimensions of the house such as location of windows and doors. Try to avoid pushing everything to the edges as this can just draw attention to the boundaries and make the space feel small. Think about how you would move through the garden to get to the different areas. If you are going to have a path through, it will be more interesting if this isn't just a straight line down the middle. By making the route through have changes in direction you can add focal points (such as the apple tree) and make the garden seem bigger. If space is tight consider growing vegetables mixed in with ornamental plants so that the garden doesn't look like an allotment. Finally think about using screening with tall plants or trellis at various points so that you don't see the whole garden at once. This can also make the garden seem more interesting and enticing.

Kids love to play outside. Your own garden is a managed space where you can feel confident that your children are safe. If you are preparing your garden as a space for young children to play then these tips will help you consider any potential risks so that your garden is child friendly and baby safe. To help make your garden baby proof you might consider the following: Remove plants with inedible fruit - Children may be tempted to eat fruit they see on the ground - but not all fruit is edible. - You might also prune off any overhanging branches from neighbours fruit trees. Discourage pests - Regularly remove fallen fruit that could attract wasps. - Remove wasp nests from your garden. - Consider a wasp trap to keep babies safe from stings. - Cats may use your garden as a toilet. The best remedy could be to buy your own cat and they will likely stop other cats entering your garden/their territory. Cats don't like to use their own territory as a toilet. - Rubber toy snakes left on the lawn can also sometimes help to deter cats - and kids can play with them! - Keep sand boxes covered to avoid cats using them as a litter tray and keep cats out. - Slugs come out at night and slime over toys! Wash toys and avoid leaving small toys outside at night. (see also plant choice) Baby proof ponds and water - Fill ponds with soil. - Or fence ponds off but remember that children like to climb. Children develop quickly and what was adequate a month ago might not stop your child today. - Stagnant water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes - empty unused buckets etc. Pets - Have any area for dogs/pets fenced off separate from the childrens playing area. Alternatively, you might simply fence off an area as a specific dog toilet area. - Keep dog toys separate from childrens toys. Children like to put toys in their mouths. Child friendly plants - Avoid buying/remove prickly plants. - Avoid buying/remove plants that develop berries that a child may think are edible. - Slugs love plants that are soft and squashy. Plants that become squashy and slimy when they decay are attractive to slugs. - Buy plants that grow back easily when broken or trodden on! - Don't cut the grass too short. This will help stop your lawn getting muddy with heavy use. However, cut regularly so your grass doesn't get too long. - Do buy plants that are colourful and stimulate young minds! - Do buy plants that attract beneficial insects like butterflies! - Do teach your children to respect plants, to admire them and to treat them delicately. - Teach your children to identify prickly plants and stinging nettles! - Why not set aside an area where children can plant seeds? Weather - Be aware that plastic toys can get very hot in the sun. - Create areas of shade and shelter from the sun. - Obviously, children need to be protected from over-exposure to the sun - hats, sun block but also insect repellent etc - Clean/pressure wash algae covered decking and paths as these can become slippery after rain. Remove heavy objects - Secure or remove heavy objects that could fall over - stone bird tables, garden ornaments. - Check stone walls for loose masonry and re-point as necessary. Secure chemicals and tools - Avoid using chemicals in the garden such as slug pellets. Always read the label. - Keep other garden chemicals securely locked up and out of reach. - Keep garden tools locked up and out of reach. - Check/remove garden wire and string or plant supports that may look like a climbing frame! Baby proof gates and fencing - Ensure that gate locks and latches are out of reach of small children. - Fix any broken fence panels or gaps in the fence. - Lock gates to keep people out.

I wouldn't bother with a bench - not very comfortable. I agree with others - get as much storage as possible, leaving enough room for a play area on the floor, at least one comfy chair for supervising adult, and a child sized table. To make a loooong storage unit attractive, I found the stepped Trofast system good (from Ikea). When you put two units together it creates an interesting 'top-line' where you can store and display toys and teddies that don't lend themselves to being kept in boxes. Also a good surface for a CD/music player and lamp. Since you have a long wall, you might like to put a standard unit in between the stepped units, or to increase the storage volume you could put units beneath the stepped units (increasing the overall furniture height). There are also wall units in the Trofast range. These are shallower, but accept the same drawers, just in a different orientation. Are you familiar with the Trofast system? you can get Trofast drawers and bins/boxes of varying sizes. The extra deep bins (see white bins in last photo) are great for costumes, balls of various shapes and a big wooden train collection. Medium drawers (see pink bins in first photo) are great for all sorts. Ordinary drawers (see white drawers in lower photo) are great for paper, face paints, crafting bits, sorting lego, miscellaneous small things that kids always seem to accumulate (whistles, bubble mixture, plastic dinosaurs). The bins/drawers are cheap so can be changed arranged as needs change. Various colours avail; and the pine wood option can be easily painted. Although it's not as attractive as some systems, e.g. the bookcases in your photo, it is much more practical having drawers of varying sizes. You can improve the look by adding wall art decal / stickers / transfers. Trofast is also very sturdy system. Ours has lasted years and is still going strong. We even used it for makeshift kitchen storage for 6 + months when renovating our backroom. It stored all sorts of plates, cutlery, bowls, glasses, dry goods, and we could pile the top-line with microwave, cereal packets etc. It has now returned to the playroom. i.e. very versatile for family life. The above photo shows a unit that could go between the stepped unit. A bit like your bench idea. You could add a suitable facing piece, and you can also create 'changing station' for any little ones. The last photo shows a unit that could go under the stepped units (also three columns wide), provided you secure them safely together. Also available in white. If you google "Trofast Ikea hacks", you'll get loads of ideas. Including ways to include a child's desk in the long run. e.g.