If you’re lucky enough to have some outdoor space, you may be considering upgrading it as 2025 gets underway. And there are many good reasons for doing so. After all, gardens and gardening are known to be excellent for people’s mental health, and are a great way of connecting with nature and plant life.
Last year, for example, more than 600,000 people did just that by participating in the RSPB’s Big Garden Bird Watch and counted nearly 10 million of our feathered friends. And if you add plants which attract pollinators, such as sunflowers, daisies and lavender, you can do your bit for wildlife in another way.
What’s more, you can create a brilliant space no matter the size of your patch of land. Plus you can spend quality time here with friends and family as you relax and enjoy each other’s company. So no wonder we all love our gardens so much.
Even the simplest of makeovers will alter the way you use this open-air space, and ensure you use and enjoy it just as much as you do any other part of your home. So consider your garden as an extension of your home.
Here are some ideas for your al fresco transformation:
1. Keep it simple
Planting doesn’t have to be complicated. Focus on hardy, long-lasting shrubs and evergreens which look great all year round.
2. Mulches mean less weeding and watering
Mulch – incorporating material such as gravel or bark chippings – can cover up any bare soil between your plants. It helps stop weed growth and water evaporation, saving you time. What’s more, it’ll look really smart in your garden.
3. Go a bit wild!
It’s becoming increasingly popular to love the wilderness, so embrace the natural world. A leaf or weed out of place doesn’t have to spoil the overall look of your garden.
4. York stone paving
Durable, weather and slip-resistant and naturally elegant and versatile, York stone paving is sustainable and suits a broad range of applications, including paths, driveways, steps and more. Its natural beauty gives it a timeless appeal.
Made from a range of minerals, its colour varies from deep sandy to grey, with elements of blue and silver. Think about how you could use York stone in your outside space.
5. Add an outdoor coffee table
The best garden furniture is functional, visually appealing and completes your outdoor space with a focal point.
One item you may not have considered is a stylish outdoor teak wood coffee table. These pieces are more versatile than you may have realised; you can use them for many things, from stylish storage to outdoor entertaining or as part of a cosy spot for reading.
So coffee tables aren’t just somewhere to rest a drink. And you’ll find a huge variety of shapes and sizes to suit different spaces and occasions. A piece like this could also make a smart-looking alternative to a larger dining table.
What’s more, teak is a gorgeous hardwood which has so many benefits, making it worth a closer look. Low-maintenance and eco-friendly, this material is well known for its natural resistance to moisture, its high concentration of natural oils, resins and rubber, not to mention its astonishing longevity and durability. And it just shrugs off decay, splitting or rotting and insect damage.
Not only that but its warm, inviting look will set off any garden or outdoor space to perfection.