Gardens are valuable for many reasons, whether that is to grow food, impart decorative value, or offer a space for pets or children to play. Many people never use their outdoor space, and there are some simple changes that can transform your garden into a lived-in extension of your home.
Getting started is the biggest hurdle – tackling the overgrown mess is no fun – but once that’s done, designing a new outdoor room (or rooms, if greenhouses and sheds are an option) can be easy, fun and creative.
The first step is to assess what’s available. Do you have a large back lawn, an overgrown front garden, a small yard, or just a stretch of space on the side of the house? Measure your outdoor space and create a template. Interior and landscape designers often encourage their clients to draw their space to scale on a piece of graph paper, and to cut additional elements such as furniture and large plants from another piece of paper. This way, you can arrange and rearrange and get a sense for how the space can be used.
After you know what you have, consider what you want. If you want to treat your garden like another room of the house, consider investing in garden furniture so you can eat, read and work outside in sunny weather. If you would rather use the space to grow food, ornamental plants, or other greenery, consider a greenhouse or shed. Storage is important regardless of whether you are storing garden tools, childrens’ toys, pet supplies or a sun umbrella for your garden table, so a shed or greenhouse is something to consider regardless of whether you actually garden in the garden.
Finally, if the weather is poor in your area or you want your new outdoor living area to feel more secluded, a greenhouse or large shed can function as a great getaway. Turn this extra space into a reading room, craft room or home office so you can leave the house without leaving your property, no matter the weather. Relaxing in a well-decorated shed with large windows and a comfy chair can be the perfect way to pass a chilly spring day, since the greenhouse effect will keep the room warm.
Leave a Reply