10 Creative Ways to Add Interest to Your Garden
Whether you’re considering new garden seating or want to incorporate a unique detail, browse these ideas for adding character to your space
There are lots of accessories out there for your garden, but have you ever thought of creating a focal point, a wildlife haven or even a seat for yourself? Maybe you could get a local craftsperson to make you a bench or table, hunt out some off-the-shelf furniture, or create your own bespoke garden furniture and detailing. Tempted? Take inspiration from these ideas.
Incorporate a simple water feature
This water bowl by Australian company Willie Wildlife Sculptures (which ships to the UK) is great placed on the ground, but would look equally good on a plinth. It’s the perfect focal point for a garden, either as a main feature or in a small, snug corner surrounded by seats.
Water doesn’t have to be complicated and you can use any large bowl or dish like this to provide some water for wildlife. Make sure birds can jump in and out without being open to predators, such as cats, by leaving plenty of open space around your bowl. Standing water might go stale, but in a rainy climate, it usually tops up and stays fresh. Include some oxygenating plants for more interest.
Find more fabulous ways to bring water into your garden
This water bowl by Australian company Willie Wildlife Sculptures (which ships to the UK) is great placed on the ground, but would look equally good on a plinth. It’s the perfect focal point for a garden, either as a main feature or in a small, snug corner surrounded by seats.
Water doesn’t have to be complicated and you can use any large bowl or dish like this to provide some water for wildlife. Make sure birds can jump in and out without being open to predators, such as cats, by leaving plenty of open space around your bowl. Standing water might go stale, but in a rainy climate, it usually tops up and stays fresh. Include some oxygenating plants for more interest.
Find more fabulous ways to bring water into your garden
Bring your living room outside
One of the more popular trends in gardens over the past few years has been the introduction of the outdoor living room. There’s a huge number of companies supplying big, comfy sofas with fabrics that stay in good condition uncovered, but we’d always recommend covering up for the winter.
The way you lay out the seating is up to you, but here is a great idea to form a square using three sides of sofa and an informal stool at the ‘entrance’. The view out to leafy planters adds to the cosy feel.
One of the more popular trends in gardens over the past few years has been the introduction of the outdoor living room. There’s a huge number of companies supplying big, comfy sofas with fabrics that stay in good condition uncovered, but we’d always recommend covering up for the winter.
The way you lay out the seating is up to you, but here is a great idea to form a square using three sides of sofa and an informal stool at the ‘entrance’. The view out to leafy planters adds to the cosy feel.
Tuck in a swing seat
In a small garden, a great way to add interest and pleasure is to bring in some movement, and a swing seat really fits the bill. You just can’t walk past without trying it! But it’s not just swing seats that will encourage you down a path – any seat will do the trick and there’s a huge range available, from flatpack to hand-crafted.
Locate your bench or seat so you can enjoy a great view of another part of the garden, especially a focal tree or a big, colourful summer border.
In a small garden, a great way to add interest and pleasure is to bring in some movement, and a swing seat really fits the bill. You just can’t walk past without trying it! But it’s not just swing seats that will encourage you down a path – any seat will do the trick and there’s a huge range available, from flatpack to hand-crafted.
Locate your bench or seat so you can enjoy a great view of another part of the garden, especially a focal tree or a big, colourful summer border.
Create natural shade
It’s easy to think you need a parasol to create shade, but here’s a clever idea for using vines instead. Grapevines are usually hardy in the UK and, while you might not get a great edible crop, you can use tough fruit for preserving. An old vine bought from a garden centre or nursery will quickly provide shade – either grown like this one, as a ‘mop head’ on its trunk, or by training it over a simple frame.
You could also try other climbing plants, such as roses and honeysuckle, to provide a living, breathing canopy.
It’s easy to think you need a parasol to create shade, but here’s a clever idea for using vines instead. Grapevines are usually hardy in the UK and, while you might not get a great edible crop, you can use tough fruit for preserving. An old vine bought from a garden centre or nursery will quickly provide shade – either grown like this one, as a ‘mop head’ on its trunk, or by training it over a simple frame.
You could also try other climbing plants, such as roses and honeysuckle, to provide a living, breathing canopy.
Repurpose old logs
It’s amazing what you can do with materials you would usually throw away. This row of cut tree trunks forms a neat and interesting sculpture, but it could also be a fun play feature for children.
There are lots of possible uses for old logs in a garden – as a plinth for a homemade sculpture, an informal seating area, or a log pile for insect and wildlife homes, for instance. Get creative, but don’t throw it out.
It’s amazing what you can do with materials you would usually throw away. This row of cut tree trunks forms a neat and interesting sculpture, but it could also be a fun play feature for children.
There are lots of possible uses for old logs in a garden – as a plinth for a homemade sculpture, an informal seating area, or a log pile for insect and wildlife homes, for instance. Get creative, but don’t throw it out.
Group your pots
It’s tempting simply to buy a few pots and spread them around a terrace or patio, but they look so much better when grouped together.
This trio matches perfectly, but a group of pots in contrasting shapes and sizes could also be brought together by using the same plants in each pot. If you get a set of pots in the same colour and style, you could try using different plants for some variety. In both cases, you get diversity and consistency to create a great feature.
It’s tempting simply to buy a few pots and spread them around a terrace or patio, but they look so much better when grouped together.
This trio matches perfectly, but a group of pots in contrasting shapes and sizes could also be brought together by using the same plants in each pot. If you get a set of pots in the same colour and style, you could try using different plants for some variety. In both cases, you get diversity and consistency to create a great feature.
Reinvent household objects
We love the way this decorative plaster corbel has been upcycled with a coat of bright paint so it stands out against the fence. Even better, the owner has added some humour with a planted jug, and the whole picture is surrounded by other plants.
There are lots of possibilities for old household objects in the garden before you throw them away. You can use old tin cans for bright and cheerful pots, and old tiles and kitchenware all have their place. Just use your imagination.
Inspired? See more creative ways to upcycle in the garden
We love the way this decorative plaster corbel has been upcycled with a coat of bright paint so it stands out against the fence. Even better, the owner has added some humour with a planted jug, and the whole picture is surrounded by other plants.
There are lots of possibilities for old household objects in the garden before you throw them away. You can use old tin cans for bright and cheerful pots, and old tiles and kitchenware all have their place. Just use your imagination.
Inspired? See more creative ways to upcycle in the garden
Think in the round
We tend to think of furniture in a typical angled style, but you can now get lots of garden pieces that are a little different.
We love how this rounded furniture has led the structural design of the paving, with the comfy seats set on a plinth right in the middle of the garden.
Circular benches, spaces and single stools set around a fire pit are a great way to get everyone mixing, so are well worth considering when designing your garden.
We tend to think of furniture in a typical angled style, but you can now get lots of garden pieces that are a little different.
We love how this rounded furniture has led the structural design of the paving, with the comfy seats set on a plinth right in the middle of the garden.
Circular benches, spaces and single stools set around a fire pit are a great way to get everyone mixing, so are well worth considering when designing your garden.
Get arty
There are lots of great artists creating pieces for gardens. We particularly like these glass flowers because they fit perfectly into their surroundings. The colours of the glass petals give a watery feel to the planting and create a cool focal point.
This also illustrates a great idea, which is to group a number of similar objects rather than just a single piece.
TELL US…
Have you been creative in your garden? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
There are lots of great artists creating pieces for gardens. We particularly like these glass flowers because they fit perfectly into their surroundings. The colours of the glass petals give a watery feel to the planting and create a cool focal point.
This also illustrates a great idea, which is to group a number of similar objects rather than just a single piece.
TELL US…
Have you been creative in your garden? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
This fun seat might remind you of that game, Pick Up Sticks! It’s a really simple construction made from reclaimed timbers. They were fixed with a nail gun to a series of 12 charred timber posts secured in the ground to create an underlying frame.
Designed for the Australian Garden Show Sydney, it formed a relaxed corner of the September Sky garden, but you could easily transplant the idea to your own garden. A show garden seat that costs peanuts!