10 Home Garden Ideas for Inspiration
If you're planning to buy a house or your first apartment, an empty backyard might seem like a dream come true. But considering how much time you'll spend out there tending to the land, it's worth exploring all of the different possibilities for your future home's garden. Read this article for home garden ideas that will inspire you!
These garden design ideas are key to creating a scheme you'll love for years to come. Such as garden landscaping ideas to overhaul your outdoor space, or more tailored garden design inspiration. We will consider garden furniture, paving, lights, plants, borders, decking, and more. We've compiled some fabulous garden ideas to help you transform your back garden, whether it's big or small. And, it'll most likely boost your property value, too!
Why do you need a home garden?
Aside from the glaring need to circulate the carbon dioxide and oxygen cycle, there are multiple reasons to opt for a home garden.
To begin with, it adds aesthetic value to your property. Plants, climbers, and even succulents represent life. They brighten up your home, adding vigour to the otherwise dull lifestyle.
They bring positive energy. Several plants such as Money plants, Peace lilies, Lucky bamboo, etc. add positive vibes to your living space and enrich your life.
They cut down costs of living. Herb gardens, vegetable plants, fruit foliage, and flower gardens invariably reduce the cost of living. You can grow your own vegetables, flowers to brighten up the house, and cultivate homemade spices for cooking.
Not convinced yet? We have more!
Home gardens help create scenic outdoor spaces for relaxation. You can add climbers and hanging baskets potted with beautiful plants. After a long day at work, you will come home to your own personal oasis.
They create a great atmosphere for romantic dinners. Now you don’t have to stroll down to a revolving rooftop restaurant or a garden café to enjoy a meal with a view. Just whip up a romantic supper and sit in your balcony garden. Enjoy your special someone's company in your own little paradise.
They immensely appraise your property value. If you are hoping to sell your house, a home garden adds the special factor to attract potential buyers.
So you see, a home garden is a gift that never stops giving!
Now let us look at some innovative design ideas to implement inside and outside your home to build your very own home gardens. We have solutions for backyards, patios, and even small spaces that require a little creative thinking. So let’s get started.
10 Home Garden Ideas for Inspiration
1. Mix it up with plants and flowers
Garden design can be used to encompass more than just planting flowers. Even if the focus is on the plants, you can still make your garden interesting by incorporating other types of plantings. For example, think about designing a section of ornamental flowers instead of just reusing bedding plants around an existing vegetable plot. Planting on raised beds can help you to visualize how your garden will look in the future, whilst also improving the quality of the soil.
2. Think seasonal or year-round
Garden design can be used to complement your seasonal interests, so whether it's growing seasonal flowers or year-round vegetables, think about what you want from your garden during different times of the year. For example, if you love entertainment during summer then really make that section of your backyard pop with plants and lighting.
3. Bring color to your garden's borders
Borders are a great way to introduce color to your garden! Whether you choose to stick with one colour throughout your border for a neat look or mix it up with different shades of the same colour, it's a great way to introduce instant style and class into any type of garden design.
4. Consider trees
Many people overlook the importance of trees in their garden. A tree is a fantastic addition to any garden, from a small city balcony to a country estate. They can add both style and character and help with things like humidity control and wind mitigation, while at the same time providing extra shade in summer and some much-needed warmth in winter.
Trees can also screen an unattractive view or help to filter noise and air pollution if you live near a busy road. And they benefit nature significantly, providing pollen for insects and shelter for birds, and converting airborne carbon dioxide into oxygen.
Mature trees can be a starting point for building a scheme. They block the glare of the sun and can also be used as an anchor for shade sails, a hammock, pendant lights or hanging decorations.
5. Speaking of lights...
If you're looking for garden ideas to add some "wow" factor to your outdoor space, then lighting is a great way to add interest and give your garden an added dimension. You can use lighting in lots of different ways. Whether you want lots of smaller pendants or one larger light, there are loads of different styles and finishes available in today's market. Landscape lighting in particular can be really effective in creating the impression that your garden goes on forever in the evenings.
6. Furniture
For smaller courtyards and patios, go for folding furniture, or bench seating that can be tucked under a dining table when not in use. L-shaped sofas can be surprisingly compact, while larger spaces can take full-on seating sets, with matching chairs, sofas and tables, sun loungers and day beds, or on-trend hanging egg chairs or swing seats.
Invest in a good garden furniture set that will last for years to come. Consider the space and allow enough room for each person to be able to sit comfortably and pull out their chair without bumping into anything. And remember, you'll also need room to walk around the table with every one seated. It takes up much more space than you might think!
7. Get some nooks
The more interesting your garden design is, the more people will want to wander over and take a closer look. Adding nooks or little corners where you can place some seating or other pieces of garden furniture will help to make your garden look bigger than it actually is.
8. Containers are key
Containers are a great way to make any garden seem tidier and more organised, even if it's the only part of the garden that really requires any kind of organisation! There are plenty of different things you can grow in containers, too, from flowers to herbs to all sorts of fruit and vegetables. Basil, thyme, and parsley, for example, grow well in containers. Follow this link to find out more about urban farming, and what plants you can grow in containers.
9. Vertical space
Vertical space is a great way to maximize the amount of garden you have. You can use trellis or fencing to grow climbing plants up, or plant something smaller and more delicate at the bottom, such as a creeping herb. Hanging baskets are an alternative option if your balcony is too small for anything heavier.
Here at Agriculturist you can find the best multi-pocket vertical gardening fabric. It will keep your inner homesteaders blood flowing by giving your home exotic, outdoorsy vibes. You can plant different types of plants against the side of your home without taking up any space, with this simple fabric pocket system that fits right on your wall!
10. Don't forget the paving
A hard surface in a garden makes it easily accessible and more likely to be used, but it doesn't have to cost you a fortune. You can pick up some great paving pieces for your garden relatively cheaply, and if you spend some time looking around you'll probably find some pieces that are of the same colour as the rest of your garden design too.
11. Use water features
By adding a water feature to an area of your garden, you will instantly make it look like it's more than just an ordinary plot of land. Water features can be created both indoors and outdoors, which means you can include them in your design scheme whether you're working on the exterior garden or the interior space, too.
12. Think about stargazing!
Entertainment is a must in a successful garden scheme. So, why not turn to what nature has to offer? Choose an open pergola structure in which to create a super cosy outdoor living room space. Complete it with a fireplace, and make sure those seats are comfy as you will gladly be sat there for hours.
13. Add a green roof to your garden!
If you're one for keeping nature at the heart of your space, then adding greenery to your garden outbuildings is a brilliant place to start when designing a wildlife friendly garden. Originally introduced as a means of better insulating homes, and absorbing rainwater, green roofs are both beneficial and beautiful. Not only will it create a harmonious colour scheme, but it will also be really inviting to wildlife. It goes without saying that you will need to ensure the correct structural support of your building, as they can be considerably heavier than a simple roof.
For a thick and lush green roof, that isn't extensively heavy, it's wise to choose, hardy, low maintenance plants that don't require copious amounts of soil. Opt for Alpines, succulents (Sempervirens) and evergreen shrubs and herbs like Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi) or flowering Thyme (Thymus vulgaris).
Yes, we know. Sadly, not all of us have the space to design the garden of our dreams. But, do not despair!
We have a few tips even for those who have limited space at hand.
For one, consider using window boxes to create a small garden space just beyond the confines of your interiors. You can plant small vegetable plants, flower gardens, and herb gardens as you please.
If you have a small space outside your home, then consider planning a cottage garden or a small patio container garden. You can also use hanging baskets to suspend your potted plants from the ceiling. Thus, keeping them securely out of the way.
Don't forget about the sun and water!
Regardless of whether you implement gardening ideas in the outdoor space or the indoor, you need to heed to the necessities of the plants. Most vegetable plants and flower beds need a constant supply of sun and rain to aid their healthy growth.
When designing your home garden, consider the East side where the plants will receive ample sunlight from the break of dawn. Not only will this aid in photosynthesis but the plants will also produce better foliage, unspoiled fresh vegetables, and beautiful flowers and climbers.
It is important to give your plants enough water. Plants are similar to people in that they need water to survive, even if the preference of any individual plant is minimal rainfall. However, if there is no sunlight or insufficient water for your plants then you will end up with poorly-shaped leaves and stems, wilted flowers and roots that are not able to absorb sufficient nutrients.
If you are living in a really tiny space, consider kitchen gardens, too! They are not only adorable but also useful!
Kitchen gardens
A kitchen garden is also an innovative solution, especially when you have limited land space. When you set it up, you can harvest fresh vegetables and plants to use in your cooking.
You can use container gardening techniques in window boxes if you live in a high-rise building. (Find out all about container gardening here). If, however, you have a small garden space beyond the kitchen of your small home, then consider a small door to a garden area or simply plant the veggies and herbs in the small patio beside the kitchen door.
Don't be scared of some little friends that might come for a "visit"
What little friends are we talking about you may ask. Well, whether you have a patch of land outside your home or a window sill planter, you can (and most likely will) attract beneficial insects to your garden. They are not always bad, though. There are insects that play a crucial role in the pollination process of many plants. Many beneficial insects come to the garden on their own accord but if you provide them with specific habitat and diet, they will stay around for a long time. Providing specific habitats can be as simple as building a brush pile or compost heap. You can also get beneficial insects from garden centers for purchase.
Gardening can be a big part of the overall scheme for any home and its garden design so having a little knowledge about everything from basic plant types to clever tricks that will make your garden pop is essential.