Hands up if at the first glimpse of blue sky and sun on your skin you’re reaching for the latest garden decor ideas to primp and pretty up your yard! Yes, that’s us too!
Having access to an attractive outdoor space is hugely important for our mental wellbeing. During lockdown, those of us with a garden or backyard felt incredibly fortunate to be able to breathe fresh air and feel connected to nature.
So let’s keep that vibe going and celebrate our outdoor spaces with help from our round-up of DIY garden ideas! You’ll find inspiration for all types and sizes of yards, from tiny balconies to landscaped lawns.
Think about garden furniture
1 Refresh your space with new patio furniture
There are so many patio sets on the market right now. From contemporary string seats in neon brights to elegant egg chairs, and sturdy dining tables and benches for al fresco entertaining, there’s glorious garden furniture aplenty!
Upgrading your seating is the easiest way to give your garden a zhuzh. We’ve picked pieces for every space and budget, from diminutive front gardens to spacious backyards.
Find patio furniture ideas on Gathered
2 Upcycle a garden chair with macrame
Many of us will have an old metal folding chair or two hiding away in the shed or garage. Perhaps it just needs a good dust off and clean to make it worthy of your garden.
But if you really want to give it the star treatment and try your hand at a little DIY garden idea, how about upcycling the seat and back with this marvellous macrame design?
Using our detailed step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to loop and knot macrame cord to produce a garden chair that exudes on-trend charisma!
Discover the DIY garden chair tutorial on Gathered
3 Add texture with a garden rug
The sun’s out, the sky is cloudless, and you’ve got a fridge full of goodies. Why not take lunch outdoors for a picnic on the grass?
As well as having delicious things to eat, the next important thing to have is a picnic rug. And this bright and beautiful crochet number is top of our list!
Hooked up in a chunky aran-weight yarn, this rug is perfect for throwing on the lawn and lazing about over a prolonged lunch hour. We love the boho tassels, which take this rug to the next level!
Make a garden rug with this pattern available to buy from Ravelry
4 Spruce up metal garden furniture ready for summer
Perhaps you have a metal bench or bistro set that’s in pretty good working order still, but is covered in unsightly rust.
The joy is that with a little elbow grease and a fresh lick of paint, you can rescue your metal furniture and have it looking as good as new!
Did you know?
There are plenty of weird and wonderful natural remedies for removing rust from metal. Check out our tried-and-tested solutions, from potatoes to cola, via lemon and salt!
Find out how to remove rust from metal furniture with Gathered
Focus on your plants
5 Make a DIY plant stand
Perfect for balconies and patios, or any flat and even areas in your garden, a colourful plant stand will add zest and zing. Giving your plants extra height also helps them to absorb the sun’s rays better.
You can buy a stylish readymade plant stand, or make your own. Creating your own plant stand is a great way of repurposing items that would otherwise end up in landfill. Think wooden pallets, chimney pots, milk churns and even tyres!
And how about giving your bug hotel a dual purpose as a plant stand? We show you how!
Find out how to make your own DIY plant stand with Gathered
6 Relaxing rock garden decor idea
This is one of our favourite garden decor ideas…
For anyone whose garden has areas of poor soil, a rock garden is the perfect solution.
Perhaps surprisingly, rock gardens date back to the 18th century in England. But their roots stretch much further back to ancient China and Japan, when Zen gardens emerged in the 8th century.
Zen gardens are constructed very carefully, with raked gravel and perfectly positioned rocks and water features to promote a sense of calm and reflection.
Rock gardens can be a little more freeform, but the basic principles are similar. Use stones and gravel to create pleasing curves, and trickling water to soothe the soul. Add some alpine plants, which thrive in less-than-perfect soil, and you’re away!
Take a look at our ideas for rock gardens. We even have options if you only have space for a small container.
Create a relaxing rock garden with Gathered
Get your garden glowing
7 Curate the right ambience with outdoor lighting
When it comes to lighting, think of illuminating your garden as you would your home.
Layered lighting is key to creating a warm and welcoming ambience so it’s important to have various types of light to get that glow where you need it.
You can use lighting cleverly to zone your space. Think festoon lighting above a dining table, with lanterns and candles along the centre; wall lights by a door or over an archway to help you navigate; and rope lighting to highlight a walkway.
There are so many styles to choose from to suit your personal taste, from classic, timeless vintage-style lamps to playful light-up rattan animals and more abstract decorative displays.
Choose the right lighting for an inviting garden with Gathered
Design a walkway
8 Make over your outdoor space with a DIY garden path
Even the smallest gardens can be improved with a neat path that draws your attention from one area to another.
You can use reclaimed bricks or flagstones to produce a pleasing tessellated effect or arrange pebbles in unique decorative patterns. Space them far apart for a stepping stones effect, or closer together for neatness. You’ll find laying the stones a meditative process.
Whatever you decide, we’re sure you’ll find the path to success…
Take a look at our cheap DIY garden path ideas on Gathered
Serve up an al fresco pizza party
9 Become a pizza pro with a pizza oven
The Italian staple has become one of our fast foods of choice in the US and UK too. It’s such a crowd favourite and so easy to slice up and share. The perfect al fresco party pleaser!
Takeaway pizzas can be expensive though. And while shop-bought pizzas certainly hit the spot, they aren’t necessarily the oozy, crispy gourmet treat we might be craving!
What you need is a pizza oven so you can cook scrumptious homemade pizza pies in 60 seconds flat.
Get that coveted leopard crust and charred bottom with a top-notch pizza oven! It’ll look great in your garden and really up the luxe factor.
With ovens priced from £190 right up to £799, there’s one to suit every pocket.
Take a look at our selection of the best pizza ovens for 2024 on Gathered
Sprinkle some magic with these garden decor ideas
10 Craft a DIY fairy garden
If you have young children in the family, scope out an area for them to explore their limitless imaginations.
Make them a magical little fairy garden, centred around a miniature door, just waiting to be knocked! Add a tiny fence, a play area and plenty of plants. Ooh, and don’t forget some places to sit, like toadstools and logs.
You could even craft a teeny BBQ set for fairy al fresco dining!
See our round-up of DIY fairy garden ideas on Gathered
Pick your favourites from our edit of garden decor ideas
Making over your garden is easy when you tackle small areas at a time. Pick a few from this list of DIY garden ideas and concentrate on them one by one.
New or buffed up patio furniture makes an instant improvement, while carefully considered lighting will put your garden in the spotlight!
When it comes to adding personality to your outdoor space, it’s so easy when you can whip up a picnic rug or macrame a chair. Take a look at our garden decor ideas above and start your garden glow-up today!
Discover more DIY garden ideas with a flower wall
Bringing the outdoors in is often a key focus for interior designers, and with good reason. Filling our homes with greenery, in the form of houseplants, flowers and green tones, lends a sense of peace and tranquillity.
But take it one step further, and create a wow-factor feature wall bursting with blooms! It’ll lift your spirits every time you see it and will be a talking point for visitors too.
Learn how to make a flower wall with our step-by-step guide and you’ll have an Instagrammable backdrop that’s worthy of the stars! Home improvements are easy and fun with Gathered by your side each step of the way…
