Design the perfect garden in 10 simple steps - our tips and examples for modern garden design will provide you with helpful and affordable alternatives.
The owners of thisgardenrecognized the potential of the landscape and, after careful garden planning, realized their own concept using simple materials. The end result is a small island of peace and quiet, which has proven to be particularly successful thanks to an economical budget.
Before the renovation, the terrace was covered with cold concrete and there was hardly any free space for a small table and grill. Not a really welcoming atmosphere where you can relax.
The small garden offers great green space, although a slope presented a challenge for the gardeners. The grassy area ended with several bushes that seemed rather unkempt.
With a clear plan in mind, the first logical step in the transformation was to expand the existing patio area. First, the owners leveled the property. A retaining wall was also installed. DIY tip - use what is given - extending the terrace not only created more space for furniture, but also saved time and money for a thorough renovation.
A plastic pipe was placed along the retaining wall to drain the area. Approximately 15cm of soil was removed from a defined area so that the new patio floor could be covered.
The next step was priming. The area for the new terrace was primed - 7.5cm was filled with chipped limestone, then a layer of approx. 2.5cm of sand was laid.
If you also want new flooring for your patio, you can rent a tamper and use it to level the earth. After you're done with this task, you can level the 2x4 again for a perfectly smooth finish. Take your time with this task - it is very important that you do it correctly, otherwise the flooring can be destroyed over time.
In this case, the gardeners decided on an interesting and unusual alternative - they made tiles out of the concrete and filled the area between the concrete slabs with river stones. The design is similar to tiles in the bathroom or kitchen. Do-it-yourself tip – if some concrete slabs need to be cut to specific dimensions, you can ask a stonemason for help.
As a result, a wide patio area was created where a table for 10 people can easily fit. But no garden is complete without a personal decoration idea. Tip – mix different materials such as wood, concrete and plastic. The contrasts give the area a spatial structure, and the neon colors of the chairs stand out against the natural tones of the plants.
Save yourself the constant walks to the kitchen and back and organize a buffet in the garden. An old planter was used to create a buffet for the patio.
No garden can do without the necessary dining area. Similar to the house, you need more space in the garden for drinks and food - the owner made these chic side tables himself - here are the instructions how:
Step 1 - You will need a 24" tall piece of chimney, depending on the size of table top you have. The terracotta colored exhaust pipe used for this table has a diameter of 45cm. Place the exhaust pipe upright on the patio floor and secure it in place.
Step 2 – Place wooden grilles on the flue pipes.
Step 3 - Place a glass plate, between 1/4" and 1/2" thick, on the wooden grid. You can cut the glass plate according to your dimensions and have the glass edge polished.
The owners chose this beautiful decoration that combines different types of stone. The stone wall is low and provides additional seating, the perfect area to decorate with plants or gnomes.
Gardening can be done without the right picnic table for meals in the fresh air. This project is easy to do yourself and offers more than enough space for the homeowners and their guests. Here comes the instructions:
Step 1 – Cut cedar boards of different widths and lay them out as a table top, leaving some free space between each piece.
Step 2 – Cut 4/or more depending on the table length/cedar boards whose length is the table width. Place these under the first as a connector and support.
Remains of patio construction and other materials found in the garden served as structural elements of a concrete column and flowerpots. A brick column creates beautiful contrasts, looks rustic and is reminiscent of the country house style.
Billiard balls were placed in the green flower pots as decoration. You can find other extraordinary decorations at the flea market that will add charisma to the room. Similar to this, you don't necessarily need large items to make a big impact. In any case, they should be waterproof!
To protect your private area, you needwooden panels. Here are the instructions for making it yourself –
Step 1 – Plan the space and need to dig holes in the ground that are at least 106cm deep. You can optionally rent a backhoe.
Step 2 – Position cedar logs in the holes, then fill them with pebbles and then soil. Use a level to make sure the joists are straight.
Step 3 – Attach 1*4 cedar boards to the joists horizontally.