As autumn arrives, it doesn’t have to mean we can’t make the most of our outdoor spaces. We have collated our top tips on how to make the most of your garden as summer draws to a close and the days get shorter and colder. We may want to protect and pack away our garden furniture, but there’s nothing stopping us creating enchanting magical gardens that look good by day and night and will serve your needs throughout autumn and winter.
We were inspired by garden designer Helen Elks-Smith at the Landscape Show who said, “As a human being, you will feel better if you sit outside.” We should all utilise our gardens to their fullest potential, and there are plenty of ways we can carry on enjoying our gardens throughout the colder months.
1. Create focal points from joinery
Now is the perfect time to consider updating your garden as most planting dies down over autumn and winter, providing an almost blank canvas to carry out works.
Keep your garden looking its best, by incorporating non horticultural elements such as obelisks, arches and pergolas. When adorned with climbers and flowers, they provide a beautiful and functional element during the summer months; in winter they remain an attractive architectural feature in their own right. Embellish with fairy lights or lanterns to give your garden a magical glow.
2. Invest in a shed to protect your garden furniture from the elements
Protecting garden furniture from perishing due to weather damage over the winter is at the top of many peoples to do list at this time of year.
A shed large enough to house all your furniture is a wise investment. Keep everything accessible should you get an unseasonably warm October afternoon, but protected from the elements when not in use.
3. Experiment with lighting
“It’s what you don’t light that is just as important as what you do light” said Sanjit Bahra of Design Plus Light speaking at the design workshop, ‘Paradise Found: Inside and Out’ earlier this year at London Design Week. He also said, “Lighting should feel natural, like moonlight but warmer”. See further tips and images from a stunning roof top terrace that Stephen Woodhams worked on with Sanjit Bahra that features our bespoke trellis here.
As the evenings draw in, subtle and clever lighting plays an important role, enabling you to continue enjoying and utilising your garden despite the fact that it is dark when you get home from work. It certainly pays to consult a professional designer, but if you’re going solo, there are a few key things to remember: make sure the colour and brightness of the lights match; ensure they are external lights, fully sealed and waterproof; and finally, consider the impact your lighting has on your neighbours.
4. Clever colour choices and mirrors to reflect light
Using light coloured paint on exterior surfaces will reflect light, making space look brighter as well as giving a long-lasting finish against harsh weather.
The clever use of mirrors in your garden, partnered with trellis or a trompe l'oeil, can create the illusion of space and light. When subtly lit, your garden will be partially illuminated, providing an attractive feature and prolonging the use of your garden as the nights draw in.
5. Incorporate a log store
We all love curling up in front of a roaring fire, it’s one of the best things about winter. You will need a stack of logs to keep you warm throughout the season, which will need to be kept accessible and dry. Incorporating a log store in your garden will provide an attractive and functional solution, optimising the space in your garden. Ensuring you’ve got a good supply of dry logs throughout autumn and winter for those cosy evenings in front of the fire. Our log stores are available in a variety of styles and finishes to compliment any garden design.
6. And talking of fires…
There’s no reason why you can’t utilise your garden all year round, even eating al fresco during the colder months. Why not create an all-weather bespoke dining area. Adding contemporary screening, a pergola or arbour to provide shelter from the elements. Building an outdoor kitchen complete with a pizza oven provides a great source of heat, or invest in any number of fire pits, gas or halogen heaters to ensure you are kept toasty whatever the British weather brings.
Ask us about our bespoke service to bring your garden to life this Autumn – from custom-built storage to decorative panels, trellis, obelisks and fencing, we’ve got all you need to bring your garden aspirations to fruition.
