Winter is the perfect time for a garden renovation, before spring arrives and you want to spend more time relaxing outside. In fact, according to Google trend data, many people are getting their hands dirty, with searches for ‘renovate garden’ up by 280%. However, people aren’t just weeding and clearing fallen leaves; searches for ‘luxury garden’ have also increased by 113%.
Creating a stylish and luxurious outdoor space doesn’t have to cost a fortune, so here are7 cheap ways to make your garden look expensive.
MAKE IT SYMMETRICAL
Symmetry is used in formal gardens to provide a sense of balance and consideration, and it’s an easy way to bring luxury into your garden, no matter the size. Even the smallest gardens can feel effortlessly expensive, simply by having mirrored pairs of plants, lights, and furniture.
LESS IS MORE
Clutter can make any garden look cheap – even those that have had thousands spent on them. From too much furniture squeezed into small spaces, to busy flowerbeds with plants that don’t go well together, and unused pots.
ADD WATER
Adding water is one of the easiest ways to add a sense of luxury, but you don’t have to buy an expensive fountain. The gentle sound of water from a small pond or affordable water feature can make it feel like a ‘spa garden’, with soothing trickles that creates a calming and relaxing space. Surrounding your water feature against a dark stone background, such as slate or cobbles, makes it look even more expensive, and can cost very little.
CLEVER LIGHTING
Clever lighting can make the inside of your home look luxurious, and it can have the same effect outside. When lighting is well-considered and well placed, it can make the garden feel warm, cosy, and atmospheric – especially when the bulbs used are warm, not bright white.
REFRESH FURNITURE
You don’t have to buy a new set of furniture to make a garden look more expensive and luxurious. Simply giving it a makeover with a coat of paint can totally transform it, and paired with affordable touches like new cushions, throws, and candles to put on the table, can make it look much more expensive, without having to be replaced.
CREATE ZONES
Creating ‘zones’ in your garden, with each area for something different, is a good (and inexpensive) way to add luxury. For example, a family garden could have a ‘play zone’, another zone for dining, a zone for quiet relaxation, and perhaps another for a vegetable patch. Dividing the zones makes the garden feel more curated and expensive, even if they are only divided by a gravel path or a hedge, rather than paying for new fencing.
GREEN IS KEY
It can be tempting to go for a minimalist, all white vibe when aiming for an expensive style, but it can make it look cold, and have the opposite effect. Even if you’re not a gardener, some well-chosen plants can instantly make the garden feel warmer and more high-end; choose some that are easy to look after and drought-tolerant, so they’ll be ok if you forget to water them!