From Furniture to Flowers: What to Consider When Planning Your Garden’s Layout

Learning the best ways to transform your garden can be a lot of work. We have so many grand plans and ambitions to transform our garden space, but one of the components that we greatly overlook in favour of finding the right lawn or furniture is the layout. The right garden layout will set the scene and provide an amazing backdrop for your furniture, plants, and everything else you need. So, what do you need to think about when it comes to transforming your garden space and laying it out in a strategic way?

Think About Functionality

Functionality is what you intend on using the space for. Is it going to be a place where you potter around looking after plants, or is it going to be party central? When you start to dig deep and think about what you want to achieve with the space, it gives you a far clearer picture of what you need there. 

While you can look into composite decking for your barbecue area, is it something that is essential all year round? Lots of people look to flooring like patio slabs because it is a more functional solution. When you start to think about the purpose of the space and how you can achieve your vision, this will not just ensure that you choose the right things to help you fulfil it, but it could also save you lots of money in the long run in potentially wasted garden implements. 

Lots of people choose to place furniture in the space to see how it looks, but then find it doesn’t work. It’s far better to think about the functional components beforehand and really decide on what that garden will be used for.

Create Zones

A family home is, for better or worse, divided into sections that are for the adults and for the kids. You can use the same type of approach to creating a garden that will please everybody. When you create zones, you can have a far more efficient layout that will not just cater to every member of the family but also helps you make the most of the space. 

For example, there may be parts of the garden that don’t see the sunlight and these would be the ideal locations to place a patio area or seating. 

While most of us want to spend time relaxing in the sunshine, if you also want to plant some of your favourite flowers, they need sunshine and cannot be covered by shade. If you have the space, you can create two separate patio areas, meaning you will always have a nice sunny spot to enjoy a beverage or two.

Which Plants Will Work Best? 

If you want to create an amazing garden space for numerous perennials to thrive, you’ve got to assess the space and determine which plants will fare well. To do this, you’ve got to observe the space over the course of a day. 

When it comes to plants, they will need a certain amount of sunlight. Look at the areas that are in the sun during the early morning, midday, as well as 3 pm and 6 pm, so you can decide which types of plants will work best. 

When choosing the right type of plants, you’ll need to understand your soil type. Some plants need more acidic soil with a pH of around 7. There are other plants that need more alkaline soil. You can always invest in a soil pH kit to test the soil’s alkalinity, or you can test your soil for acidity by adding half a cup of water and half a cup of baking soda to a soil sample. If that soil fizzes, it’s acidic. If you want to test for alkalinity, add half a cup of water and half a cup of vinegar to the sample, and if the soil fizzes, it is alkaline.

Addressing Your Borders

Borders are an amazing way to create natural segments of the garden, but they can also make for a far more appealing aesthetic. When it comes to creating an aesthetically pleasing garden space, right angles are the way to go. Lots of people like that uniformed look, and if you are hoping to lay down a lot of plants, you can also start creating natural borders with these. 

So many people use shrubs and bushes to create that border, but you can then add extras to start bulking out that texture. A border is something that we don’t necessarily consider at the outset, especially when we’re trying to think of the right type of plants to place there, but in the long run, having a uniform garden with lots of right angles won’t weigh so heavily on your mind.

Choosing the Right Furniture

Picking the right furniture for your garden should be the last piece of the puzzle. Once you’ve got the plants thriving in the right soil and you’ve designated your zones, the furniture becomes the icing on the cake. This is also the stage where you can start thinking about long-lasting options like outdoor teak furniture, which tend to work well in most climates and add a warm, natural feel to the space. But how do you choose the right type of outdoor furniture for your garden?

Firstly, you need to look at the right style for your space. If you’re creating a rustic garden, you can easily go for mismatched, upcycled furniture, but if you’re living in a very modern property, furniture with minimalist lines or contrasting styles that provide a more comfy feel.

You then need to find the right materials. There’s rattan, wood, glass, and metal that all have their own individual needs. Deciding what you can realistically look after should affect your decisions. You should also consider the size of the furniture. Taking those garden measurements is essential before you order furniture because if you choose a long garden couch, it could completely overwhelm the space, and you may very well be sending it back!

Laying out your garden space requires quite a bit of work. However, if you do it right, it will result in an amazing-looking space that will give you joy for many years to come.