With the stress of everyday life very much back on the cards, why not ensure that you have a peaceful oasis in the comfort of your own home, where you can sit back and unwind after a busy day.
It’s very clear that throughout 2020, being stuck at home has pushed garden renovations to the top of our to-do lists, making them a top priority.
That’s why we have created a list of several elements to consider when making a calm and relaxing space in your garden, in collaboration with Sansums Sand and Gravel, leading providers of Paving Chippenham. Read on below for our top tips.
Firstly and most importantly, you need to find a peaceful area within your garden. Take time to consider where you want the space to be, whether that’s in the sun or the shade, by a pond or under a tree; simply choose what feels right for you.
Then, think about what shape the area should have. Removing sharp angles and corners to create a circular space can be very soothing, and should you consider creating a path to this space, make a meandering route for a much softer, organic feel to the space.
If you’re planning to spend lots of time within your new space, carefully choose your furniture. You’ll want something elegant and comfortable where you can spend hours in quiet contemplation.
When you’re trying to create a relaxing space, the colours you choose are important.
As we all know, green is a very calming and soothing colour. It helps us to reconnect with nature and lowers blood pressure, making for the perfect contemplative space.
You’ll find that there are many different green plants to choose from and a variety of different textures.
When you’re looking to introduce other colours, you’ll need to think carefully about the impact they’ll have and the feeling they’ll create. Paler colours such as whites and blues will fit well into the background and add intrigue to your space, whereas reds and oranges will jump out and dominate the view, so make sure to use them sparingly.
You could also try layering plants of various shapes and sizes to create different areas of interest.
When you’re choosing your paving, you also want to carefully consider the colours. Do you want a contemporary dark colour that’ll boldly stand out or a gentle sandstone with an intricate natural pattern throughout?
All of the above is a personal choice, which will depend on complementing your home and other spaces in your garden.
At the end of the day, “less is more,” and this definitely goes when you are creating a peaceful garden. Once you have decided on a palette of materials, don’t be afraid to repeat it throughout your space.
This will create harmony in your design and link multiple areas to each other.
There’s a tendency to buy one of every type of plant when you’re in the nursery, but you want to keep your planting palette as simple as possible. Choose a plant you love and buy lots of them to use throughout the space.
Birdsong is tonic for the soul, so you’ll want to encourage as many birds as possible into your garden to provide you with beautiful background noise.
Should your space allow, a small pond can also attract frogs in the spring, which can be just as lovely.
The sound of water can also be a great distraction, so for a much more simple and cost-effective garden addition, try a water feature for a soothing sound.
At the end of the day, creating a relaxing and peaceful space in your garden is all down to your own personal preferences. Everyone is unique and adding different focal points, textures and colours will depend on what you find calming. That’s where bespoke garden design is so important and sometimes, enlisting a professional garden designer can take your space to another level.