Garden ideas to transform your outdoor space

There are so many garden ideas that will enhance your space, whether you have a small or big plot, even if you're on a budget. The best garden designs will make the most of what you've got and make you want to spend time in your garden, such as enhancing a beautiful view or using calming home decor for a patio area to relax in at the end of a long day.

When taking on landscaping it can be hard to know where to start, particularly if you're starting with a blank canvas of lawn. If you're lacking in inspiration, but you want to create a beautiful space, we've got you covered.

From garden borders that won't require masses of upkeep, to the planting golden rules that expert landscapers swear by, to the best garden furniture and choosing that sweet spot for a patio in your garden, our guide is blooming with ideas.

How to plan a garden

Firstly, think about what you want your space to be for – if you love having family over for BBQs and alfresco entertaining you'll want to factor that in, if you're wanting to recreate a country cottage garden with plenty of veg patches, that's your starting point.

What features does your garden currently have? If there's a slope, you could add levels. Perhaps you have a view you want to enhance, or if your garden is quite overlooked, privacy could be high on your list.

Once you know what you want to do in your garden, you can zone out which areas will be for dining, relaxing, growing veg etc.

15 garden ideas to take your design to the next level

1. Create zones with decking or patio

Although this garden is small, the decked areas show clear zones for dining, cooking and planting. The pergola over the dining area helps to create the impression of a new 'room' within the garden, making the space feel bigger too.

You can then finish your space with decking, patio or gravel - whatever suits your aesthetic best.

2. Outdoor entertaining

This is another great and easy way to get a beautiful aesthetic without much effort. You can get a cute bistro set, a garden sofa, or even create a fire pit area. All of these features will make your garden a perfect area to entertain or to relax. If you need some inspiration, check out some of our top garden furniture picks:

3. Plant in multiples for big impact

You don't have to buy every perennial variety at the garden centre to make an impactful garden. This border only uses two types of plants, but to brilliant effect. The dramatic structural alliums contrast against the relaxed purple backdrop. Masses of plants catch the eye in a planting design rather than odd plants dotted here and there.

4. The planting rule of three

In planting design, three is often considered a magical number – it’s an easy way to think about planting for a pleasing impact as in general, odd numbers are useful in creating dynamic, natural-looking plantings. For example in this garden, three trees have been added, along with three topiary balls along the front of the border.

5. Use tiered planting

Whether it's a necessity or a design decision using levels or tiers in your garden and planting can be really impressive. While this garden is very simple, with greenery and concrete, it still looks sleek and stylish. Think about levels in your planting too – taller plants at the back, and smaller ones to the front. Or mix and match for an undulating border.

6. Choose a key planting colour

When it comes to adding colour to your planting, go big! Choosing one or two colours in a space can do a lot more for your garden than adding anything and everything. Of course if you'd rather do rainbow planting, go for it, but try planting in groups of a similar palette, with one contrasting colour for a real punch, like this purple themed garden.

7. Go for low maintenance plants

Whilst plants are an excellent element of decor for your garden, they can require quite a lot of effort. The good news is that there are lots of low-maintenance plants that can spruce up and brighten up your garden, some of which we've listed below.

Don't forget to utilise layers to make the most of your space, with pots, planters and hanging baskets. If you're looking for low maintenance, you might also want to try planting a wild garden.

For those looking for low maintenance garden ideas, remember to stick to native plants which are used to your area's climate. Perennials will give annual colour, without having to replant every season. You can then fill out any gaps with bedding plants if you do get the green thumb bug.

Don't forget to check out our garden trees roundup, plus our favourite bedding plants.

9. Use artificial grass

Although it gets a bad reputation, artificial grass is a great option for low maintenance landscaping. Aside from being much easier to maintain than the real deal, it'll look bright and have a uniform colour all year round, something that is much harder to achieve with real grass.

10. Maximise your space with optical illusions

A great way to maximise the space you're working with is through optical illusions. This may sound complicated, but in reality, it's quite simple.

With certain elements such as statues, a winding tiled path, or even a mirror gate, you'll be able to make your garden look twice its usual size.

11. Make a veg patch

If you'd like your garden to be functional as well as beautiful, growing your own vegetables is a great way to produce food to eat at home. Raised planter boxes work great for this, either as a dedicated veg patch or interspersed with herbs and edible flowers for more annual colour.

If you'd like a different look to your raised beds rather than the usual wood, why not go for metal.

12. Consider the journey through your garden

The main reason gardens get overlooked or forgotten is because there's little or no incentive to use the space. This particularly goes for the back of the garden. If you're guilty of using the patio just outside your back door but not much else, really think about the journey through your garden and creating reasons to travel through it. For example, if you have a sunny spot at the back of the garden, you could add a small fire pit area or a place to have your morning coffee. Clear paths to these areas will also encourage you and your visitors to travel around your garden.

13. Add definition to your garden with trees

Even small trees can make a big impact in your garden, with the added benefit of supporting the local wildlife. If you're not working with a huge space go for dwarf varieties, and if your budget is stretched go for something smaller but fast growing such as a silver birch. Trees add structure to the garden, and help to create and define additional zones. If your garden feels a bit overlooked, trees can also add much needed privacy.

If you have existing trees in your outdoor space, resist the urge to rip them all out to give yourself more square footage. Consider how you could use the trees to frame your intended design. If they really don't work in their current location, perhaps you could move them elsewhere instead.

14. Include a water feature

Whether it's a pond, babbling brook or sculptural water feature, adding water to your garden has a range of benefits including purifying air and reducing noise pollution. It creates a focal point and can help punctuate hard landscaping to break up areas of patio and add a more natural feel to your garden.

15. Garden lighting

When you've gone to the trouble of making your garden look amazing, add some lights! Good garden lighting extends the use of your space as you can still be comfortable outside on darker evenings, and also creates ambience. You can use lighting in very clever ways to define spaces in your garden and what they're for, such as having bright festoon lighting over a dining area, or freestanding lanterns in a calm seating area, ideal for a couple of evening G&Ts.