If you’re anything like me, you might have big plans for your Instagrammable garden, with a long shopping list of pieces you have your eye on. Whilst you save up the pennies and wait for lockdown to finish, you can get started on some things and design your dream outdoor space.

WHAT YOU CAN BUY RIGHT NOW

Plants and garden paint are the main things you’ll need to give your outdoor space a makeover. With garden centres and DIY stores gradually getting back to business as usual, you can get your hands on everything you need (but you’ll have to be quick whilst stocks last!)

However if you’re self-isolating or would prefer to stay at home then you can buy online, but be prepared for longer delivery waiting times. 

If you have the cash to splash, then luxury paint brands including Farrow & Ball and Little Greene have an abundance of different coloured exterior wood and masonry paint. Otherwise Wilko is the best budget buy on the market but garden paint is currently out of stock at the time of writing. So you could put off painting for a few months and start planning the layout and design of your garden now instead.

FIND YOUR INSPIRATION

What do you want your garden to look like? From a simple monochrome design with greenery, to bright and colourful rows of flowers, there are endless options to choose from. Whenever I start a new project, I of course head over to Instagram and Pinterest to browse for ideas. 

But if you’re not sure where to start it can be overwhelming. So just begin with one item. This could be a particular plant, chair or even a colour. You can then build on the design with that as the focus. 

Make a mood board so you can collate all your inspiration together in one place. I love to use Canva and drag and drop my images until it looks right (example below). You might prefer a more tangible result so grab some home magazines and swatches and get glueing!

When deciding on a design scheme, think about extending your interior decor outside. This works really well if you’ve got patio doors so the garden and house have a cohesive look. Think about what you can see from any windows and use the same colours as inside to tie the spaces together.

THE MUST HAVE BUYS

A bistro set is a classic piece and makes the perfect spot for a chilled brunch. If you’ve gone for a neutral shade on the walls and fences, then be daring with your furniture. Go for a bold colour like this hot pink number from Marko Furniture or mustard yellow from House of Fraser.

Everyone loves a grid worthy wisteria shot. But if, like me, you’re not the best plant parent, then artificial is the best bet! Attach a beam of MDF above your front or back door and drape trailing garlands from it, or hang from a pergola for an instant injection of colour and glamour.

For further garden inspiration, read my first post in this series on making the most of the space you have to bring nature into your home.

Disclaimer: We have an affiliate deal with Amazon to keep City Girl Network Magazine running. You can also support us via Patreon or a one-off donation.

Written by Sophie Ebeling

Instagram