Gardens can seem like a lot of work when you factor in all the mowing, pruning, planting and digging that is often required. If your backyard, balcony or back garden is in need of some brightening up, but you don’t have the time or the budget for a total overhaul, then take a look at our tips on sprucing up your outdoor spaces, with the minimum of effort.
Use Soft Furnishings
If buying a whole new set of garden chairs and tables is not in the budget, then make use of some inexpensive soft furnishings such as cushions, throws, blankets, and tablecloths to cover up and enhance tired looking furniture. Bring in a splash of color and co-ordinate with painted walls or woodwork. You could even hang some pretty drapes using colorful cloths to create a romantic, light and airy feel to your outdoor space.
Light It Up
There are tons of options for outdoor lighting these days. And most of them require little-to-no effort to put up. There are solar-powered garden lights, fairy lights, string lights, and lanterns to choose from amongst others. Alternatively, tealights in jam jars can bring just as much romance, warmth and that little bit of magic to a backyard. And all with the minimum of expense and hassle.
Create a Bar
Setting up a simple outdoor bar can ensure it always feels like a party in your outdoor space. Although this one may sound like a big project, there are plenty of simple, creative and economical ways to bring the beach bar feel to your backyard. With a few pallets and a lick of paint, you’ll be sipping cocktails and entertaining guests by sunset.
Use Shelves
Shelving can be a great way to create interest in small outdoor spaces such as terrace gardens and backyards. Paint your shelves bright colors to bring contrast and a sense of the depth of the space. Shelves with pegs work really well too and provide some practical solutions for storing outdoor essentials such as folding chairs, tools and baskets. Use the tops of the shelves to store anything from watering cans, plant pots and even hanging plants such as strawberries and tomatoes.
Go Artificial
Let’s be honest, real grass is a bit of a pain. You constantly have to look after it, while watching it turn yellow in the summer and a muddy mess in the winter. And if you have a big lawn, you have to spend your valuable free time cutting the grass, trimming the edges, and removing the unsightly weeds that crop up continually.
If you look at it from an environmental point of view, having natural grass is definitely not going green. Millions of gallons of water are used in watering lawns alone. So it’s no surprise that artificial grass has become one of the most popular outdoor buys of recent years. It’s environmentally friendly, it’s easy to maintain and it looks fantastic all year round.
Conclusion
It might feel disheartening to look out onto unloved-looking outdoor spaces, but don’t despair. With a little bit of time and not very much effort, it’s easy to transform any patio, yard or garden space into a great place for socializing, relaxing and enjoying the seasons.
