Many of us are looking forward to spending more time at home this summer. With overseas adventures on ice, our gardens will play a more important role in keeping us entertained over the holidays than ever before. If you’re keen to make the most of the sunshine and blue skies, here are some top tips.
Entertaining
Do you enjoy inviting friends over or hosting family gatherings? Coronavirus restrictions may have put pay to big parties, but there’s no reason why you can’t entertain small groups in your garden. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, such as a birthday, or the kids are desperate to see family members after a long time apart, you could host a barbeque, afternoon tea, an al fresco brunch or a picnic. If you don’t already have an area of your garden sectioned off for entertaining, you can create one very easily using blankets, throws and oversized floor cushions for an informal, child-friendly gathering and tables and chairs for an adult party. To make the most of your outdoor space and cater for the unpredictable weather conditions, it’s a great idea to set up some sheltered spaces. If you have a gazebo or a retractable awning, for example, you can cool off in the shade or keep dry if there’s a passing shower.
Splashing around
There’s nothing better than splashing around in the garden if the sun is shining and it’s lovely and warm. There’s a vast range of pools and cheap hot tubs available now, and you can find products to suit your budget, the amount of space you have available and your individual needs. Add style and opulence to a terrace or sun deck with a hot tub, let the kids mess around and cool down in an oversized paddling pool or cater for all eventualities with an inflatable pool you can use all summer and then store in the shed when grey skies arrive.
Sectioning off child and adult-friendly areas
A versatile garden can be an incredible spot for all the members of your family, providing a base to play, hang out and catch up with friends and relatives, unwind and relax, soak up the sun and hone your horticultural skills. If your garden isn’t as versatile as it could be, it’s an excellent idea to section off child and adult-friendly areas. You can do this by adding different levels if you have older kids, or by using different materials, such as decking, paving, bark chippings, turf and gravel. Small children will love a grass area to play outdoor games, stepping stones, sandpits and chill-out zones to get cosy and read books, while older kids will appreciate areas to read, write, listen to music and play sports. For adults, it’s great to have a zone to retreat to with a glass of wine and a good book at the end of a busy day and to have access to seating to chat with friends and family. Once you’ve designed the different areas, you can use accessories to bring each part to life. Outdoor lighting and weatherproof soft furnishings are excellent investments.
With exotic holidays on hold, many of us will be spending more time in our gardens this summer. Take these tips on board to make the most of the sunshine.
Disclosure: This is a featured post.