Outdoors: 10 Affordable Ways to Perk Up Your Garden Beyond Plants
Not all of us are lucky enough to have green fingers, but there are other ways to create an enticing outdoor space – and on a budget, too
Planting is only one part of what makes a beautiful outdoor space. From making your own simple furniture to being clever with fabric and tactical with paint, there’s plenty more you can do to upgrade your garden or patio. And the best bit? None of it needs to cost a bomb. Be inspired by these creative and affordable tips to spruce up your space…
Pop up some bunting
Bunting is such a lovely and refreshing way to liven up a garden space, and you can find plenty of lively prints and designs. However, if you really want to save the pennies, then search online for one of many tutorials on how to create bunting yourself. You can go bold and graphic, floral and soft or even transfer letters onto your design for bunting with a message. Whatever you go for, it’s an affordable and instant way to add character to an outdoor space.
Bunting is such a lovely and refreshing way to liven up a garden space, and you can find plenty of lively prints and designs. However, if you really want to save the pennies, then search online for one of many tutorials on how to create bunting yourself. You can go bold and graphic, floral and soft or even transfer letters onto your design for bunting with a message. Whatever you go for, it’s an affordable and instant way to add character to an outdoor space.
Create ambience with lighting
It’s little things like lighting that will provide your garden with the magic it needs when evening falls. Fairy lights can be picked up relatively cheaply, and they create the perfect ambience for entertaining. Weave them through shrubs and trees or tuck them into large glass jars and add to tables and seating areas. And if you don’t have an electricity source, try solar-powered or battery fairy lights.
For something a little more classic, simply accessorising with candles will turn your garden into a magical space. And there’s no need to buy candleholders: use old jam jars for tea lights and wine bottles for longer candles for a cost-effective option. Play with space and lines, perhaps running your candles along a pathway or across a wall, although always be aware of safety where bare flames are concerned.
Get more tips for lighting your outdoor space
It’s little things like lighting that will provide your garden with the magic it needs when evening falls. Fairy lights can be picked up relatively cheaply, and they create the perfect ambience for entertaining. Weave them through shrubs and trees or tuck them into large glass jars and add to tables and seating areas. And if you don’t have an electricity source, try solar-powered or battery fairy lights.
For something a little more classic, simply accessorising with candles will turn your garden into a magical space. And there’s no need to buy candleholders: use old jam jars for tea lights and wine bottles for longer candles for a cost-effective option. Play with space and lines, perhaps running your candles along a pathway or across a wall, although always be aware of safety where bare flames are concerned.
Get more tips for lighting your outdoor space
Create a colour theme
Giving the wooden elements in your garden a lick of paint is a tried and tested way to smarten up your space, but sticking to one colour adds an extra dimension, creating a cohesive theme. Not only will this give your space some added design clout, it also won’t break the bank, as you’ll only need to buy one pot of paint, and you won’t need much to cover small details, like the table legs and shed door in this garden.
Make sure the paint is weatherproof – a good paint retailer or DIY store will be able to suggest the best types.
Giving the wooden elements in your garden a lick of paint is a tried and tested way to smarten up your space, but sticking to one colour adds an extra dimension, creating a cohesive theme. Not only will this give your space some added design clout, it also won’t break the bank, as you’ll only need to buy one pot of paint, and you won’t need much to cover small details, like the table legs and shed door in this garden.
Make sure the paint is weatherproof – a good paint retailer or DIY store will be able to suggest the best types.
Embrace what you already have
Most of us will have pieces lying about that we’re not making use of, whether it’s a rusty wheelbarrow, a superfluous watering can or even a leaky pair of wellies. Rather than throwing them away, all these pieces and more could be used as planters and unusual ways to display your foliage.
Most of us will have pieces lying about that we’re not making use of, whether it’s a rusty wheelbarrow, a superfluous watering can or even a leaky pair of wellies. Rather than throwing them away, all these pieces and more could be used as planters and unusual ways to display your foliage.
Pep up some pallets
One of our favourite items for use in any room in the house is the humble wooden pallet. You can make really cool outdoor furniture using these pieces, which you can often pick up for free from your local supermarket or building supplies warehouse (keep your eyes peeled at the rubbish and recycling areas – but do check before you remove any).
Pair them with some home-made outdoor fabric cushions if you’re crafty – it’s simple to get foam cut to size and places like JAB Anstoetz have great plain outdoor fabric collections that won’t break the bank. Alternatively, seek out ready-made garden cushions in the sales.
Check out upcycling ideas for the rest of the house
One of our favourite items for use in any room in the house is the humble wooden pallet. You can make really cool outdoor furniture using these pieces, which you can often pick up for free from your local supermarket or building supplies warehouse (keep your eyes peeled at the rubbish and recycling areas – but do check before you remove any).
Pair them with some home-made outdoor fabric cushions if you’re crafty – it’s simple to get foam cut to size and places like JAB Anstoetz have great plain outdoor fabric collections that won’t break the bank. Alternatively, seek out ready-made garden cushions in the sales.
Check out upcycling ideas for the rest of the house
Recycle and reuse
There are lots of ways to get crafty in the garden. Using natural and recycled materials, such as wood, pebbles and even glass bottles, as seen here, can add an eco touch to your outdoor space. Here, the bottles have been used as lighting – and we’ve already talked about using them as candleholders – but even using your old bottles as dividers and borders would add an interesting element to the space.
There are lots of ways to get crafty in the garden. Using natural and recycled materials, such as wood, pebbles and even glass bottles, as seen here, can add an eco touch to your outdoor space. Here, the bottles have been used as lighting – and we’ve already talked about using them as candleholders – but even using your old bottles as dividers and borders would add an interesting element to the space.
Reinvent scrap wood
You may have scraps of wood lying around from various projects in your home, or you might get lucky and pick up some nice slabs in junk yards or dumped out on the street. Alternatively, seek out beautiful railway sleepers cheaply online from a few pounds each.
Once you have a good collection, you can use these odds and ends to create fantastic furniture, like this table, that has a personal touch. Using a base of MDF, make a simple frame, then cover this with your sourced wood, trying to use pieces of similar thicknesses (and sanding them down where the heights don’t quite match up). Give the whole thing a few coats of waterproof oil or varnish… et voilà – bespoke outdoor furniture that’s as individual as you are.
You may have scraps of wood lying around from various projects in your home, or you might get lucky and pick up some nice slabs in junk yards or dumped out on the street. Alternatively, seek out beautiful railway sleepers cheaply online from a few pounds each.
Once you have a good collection, you can use these odds and ends to create fantastic furniture, like this table, that has a personal touch. Using a base of MDF, make a simple frame, then cover this with your sourced wood, trying to use pieces of similar thicknesses (and sanding them down where the heights don’t quite match up). Give the whole thing a few coats of waterproof oil or varnish… et voilà – bespoke outdoor furniture that’s as individual as you are.
Make a simple statement
Just because you’re on a budget, it doesn’t stop you from craving style updates for your space. However, keeping things really simple can often not only work out to be the most economical route, but the most stylish, too.
With this in mind, statement pieces can work wonders – but not the sort you’ll need to splash out on. Instead, look at what you already have and update it. This could be painting two tired deckchairs or a trio of uninspiring flowerpots in a bold burst of colour, or even updating a hammock with some fun printed fabric.
TELL US…
What affordable ideas have you used to spruce up your outdoor space? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Just because you’re on a budget, it doesn’t stop you from craving style updates for your space. However, keeping things really simple can often not only work out to be the most economical route, but the most stylish, too.
With this in mind, statement pieces can work wonders – but not the sort you’ll need to splash out on. Instead, look at what you already have and update it. This could be painting two tired deckchairs or a trio of uninspiring flowerpots in a bold burst of colour, or even updating a hammock with some fun printed fabric.
TELL US…
What affordable ideas have you used to spruce up your outdoor space? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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Take inspiration from the East and create an oasis of tranquility with colourful fabrics. Shade a seating or dining area by draping the fabrics over a simple wooden frame (try something like this or a more solid, wall-mounted construction, as in the next image). This could be as simple as using old curtains or sheets and, as long as you have structures on which to secure the material, the space can be as big or small as you desire.
Adding rugs, cushions and homely accessories will create a serene and relaxing mood. Ensure your fabric is easy to remove from the frame so you can easily take it inside if it rains.