UK households urged to do one thing before splashing out cash on garden

Daily Mirror

4 days ago

MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares tips on making your outside space feel like a sanctuary – no matter how big or small your budget
We're spending a lot more time outside as the heatwaves roll in, but do you love your outdoor space or could it do with some TLC?
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You don't need to be green-fingered or have loads of space to turn an outdoor area into a summer sanctuary. Just a few little savvy changes and you'll want to spend all evening outside!
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Find free garden items first
It's easy to get carried away in the garden centre or home goods shops, so before you start buying things to spruce up your outdoor area, pause and consider what you really need.
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Think about what you already have and could use. Are there old items of furniture taking up space inside, that you wouldn't mind exposing to the elements for a last hurrah? Perhaps your Christmas outdoor fairy lights could lend themselves to a year-round evening twinkle. You can even use old boots, boxes, and vases as plant pots! Get creative and save a lot of cash.
Check out local Facebook groups, Gumtree, and Freecycle for free items that could transform your garden without spending a penny.
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Under £50 garden updates
Check out Online Home Shop (OHS) for affordable home and garden furniture and accessories. Something as simple as an outdoor rug, with prices starting from £3 in the summer sale, can brighten your patio or balcony and make it feel summery and comfortable. They also have a wide range of cushions and all-weather décor to make your outdoor space feel like an extension of your home. You can't ever go wrong with a Woodwick candle for the sound of crackling fires (without the heat!), too.
Outdoor dining is some of the fun in the summer. It's easy to pick up some affordable, fun, plastic or bamboo plates, bowls, and cups and pitchers from shops like The Range, Wilco, or your local garden centre. You can even find some gems at your local Poundland for 'cheap and cheerful' garden items that will bring you joy when you see them.
£100 or under garden ideas
British weather is unpredictable, so a weighted parasol that offers both shade in the sunshine and protection against showery spells will help you enjoy your garden all summer long. A large parasol with a heavy weighted base is ideal; B&M have some from £40, while Argos has a range from £12 plus a weighted base for £12. If your budget stretches a bit further, consider a parasol heater to keep the chills away, too.
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Comfortable seating is important if you want to spend a lot of time outside. Consider picnic benches for family areas, folding chairs for versatile spaces, or even something like the OHS Macrame Swing Chair for a cosy nook on your patio or balcony. Add a Night Lark outdoor duvet to keep on hand to stay warm if the breeze picks up.
Lighting can completely revolutionise an outdoor space, taking it from functional to feeling luxe. Julian Page, Head of Design at BHS, says: 'Outdoor rechargeable table lamps are the perfect solution for garden party lighting; these can be scattered across your seating area and garden to create fun and ambient spots of light for your guests. Driveway lights and spike lights are also the perfect fit for garden pathways to create an illuminated pathway that is guaranteed to wow any visitors to your home'.
Invest in some solar-powered garden lights to put in flowerbeds or line pathways for a subtle look, or consider a luxury outdoor lamp like the Pagazzi LED Lantern if you want a flexible option to light different areas depending on your mood.
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£250 to spruce up your space
A £250 budget is ideal for adding a few smaller items, like an outdoor rug, an inexpensive patio bistro set, and a parasol. You could even invest in something like a drinks trolley for your cocktails, and a BRITA Glass jug to have filtered water on hand all sunny afternoon. But with this kind of budget, you can also look at adding greenery.
Even if you live in a rented property or only have a balcony, plants are possible! Pots are fantastic, as you can move things around and change up the scenery, while balconies often have space for a hanging trough or basket. If you don't know your sunflower from your gerbera, try ordering from a specialist like Tree2MyDoor. It's easy to pick something without being overwhelmed by your senses at the garden centre, and you can spend time choosing the perfect plants.
Do you like to sit around a fire and chat long into the night? An Eco Fuego Firepit is just the answer, the world 's first wax fire pit for a smokeless, odourless, low carbon fire. There are two sizes, one being a camping or smaller version of the original – making them ideal for almost any size space.
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£500 garden spend
This is an ideal budget if you need to upgrade your garden furniture or landscape some new raised flowerbeds. A new six-seater dining set with a parasol can take up the full £500 budget, but should last a long time.
You can even install a more permanent garden bar or seating, especially if you're a bit handy at crafts and carpentry. Pick up old pallets for cheap wood that can be easily transformed into benches, tables, and even a plant shelf or vertical garden. Look for fabric sales to pick up some bargain metres of curtain fabric, and turn them into cushion covers, quilts, or even a whimsical table cloth.
Definitely consider your plants and greenery with this kind of budget, too. You can either get more, smaller plants with this budget or invest in established plants that fill space as soon as they go in the soil. You might even want to look at installing a solar powered water fountain or similar focal point, especially if you want your garden space to be a calming sanctuary after busy days.
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If you like to relax in your yard with some music, or want to relax listening to an audiobook as the sun goes down, investing in a reliable Bluetooth speaker can make a world of difference to bringing your home comforts into your outside space. While budget options like those from JML provide a broad sound, they can be a little 'tinny', so if your budget can stretch consider a Bose Soundlink Max Portable, designed to be used outdoors and on the go.
£500+ splurges for a year-round garden investment
If you've got a £500+ budget, you've got a choice of a few things to do. You can either invest in more, cheaper items from above to turn a bland space into an outdoor living room you want to stay outside in all the time. Or: blow the budget on something you feel is a true investment for your home and family.
A gas-fired BBQ will be useful all year around – yes, really! This is especially true if you have the budget to build an outdoor kitchen area, with a cover for your chef to avoid the rain. They are instant to heat, and offer top-notch cooking with an even burn, which is far more predictable than cooking on coal. Look for BBQs that will last a long time with regular use, such as the Genesis E-315W triple burner with handy side tables – it's compact, but big enough to entertain a family and friends.
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For those who enjoy a movie night in with friends and family, transform your garden into a home cinema. Invest in bean bags, comfy chairs, and a table filled with snacks. You could even splash out on a popcorn machine and let people pick their own toppings! And it wouldn't be film night without high-quality viewing: the Dangbei MP1 Max has superior quality image even in daylight. While you can pin up a bedsheet or find a wall to project onto, regular outdoor movie nights would benefit from your own portable projection screen for a truly luxe experience.
If your budget is higher, a few thousand pounds can truly transform your space. Install a patio or decking, create new flowerbeds, build an outdoor kitchen – the options are endless. Even small spaces can become something you use for most of the year, with some savvy design with overhead cover, heating options, and furniture.