Looking for garden landscaping ideas? If you're keen to transform your outdoor space, the process starts right here.
We know that brainstorming garden layout ideas can be tricky, but with a few hard and soft landscaping tricks up your sleeve, you'll be a few steps closer to your dream garden. Whether you're designing alongside a lawn, patio or decking, there are options for every space, big or small.
We've rounded up our favourite garden landscaping ideas to help you get started.
1. Combine paving formats
With so many patio ideas to choose from, it can be difficult to settle on just one – so why not try a couple of different paving formats at the same time?
According to London Stone's managing director, Steve Walley, this is one of the best garden landscaping ideas for giving a patio character.
'A stone paving circle set within a rectangular paved area breaks up the space and adds contrasting curves,' he says. 'It also makes an ideal spot to place a round table and chairs, anchoring their position.
'If you prefer not to cut slabs to fit around a circle, set it into a gravel square that fills the gap between it and the surrounding paving.'
2. Raise it up a level
If you're keen to give your garden landscaping ideas another dimension, consider elevating your space with hard landscaping.
Garden decking ideas are a popular choice for adding height and dedicating an area for relaxation and socialisation. They're also a great way to bridge the gap if your house sits higher than your garden.
'Decking can also increase the home value of a property through the addition of more livable space, providing it is sufficiently looked after and treated regularly,' adds Jimmy Englezos, woodcare expert at Ronseal.
3. Merge materials
Height isn't the only way to mix up your hard landscaping – you can also use different materials alongside each other to add interest and help zone your garden.
'Create a sense of transition between eating and seating areas by 'zoning' them with different hard landscaping materials,' says Steve from London Stone. 'Composite decking and porcelain paving are an ideal pairing for this.'
4. Or, keep it coordinated
If you lean more towards minimalist garden landscaping ideas, using the same materials throughout the garden can be an effective move, too.
'Repeat the same materials in different elements around the garden for a design that feels intentional,' says Steve. 'Steps, wall coping, walling, and the bed edging are all features that contribute to a unified design.
'Take a look at Indian sandstone colours such as Raj Green or Kandla Grey for some of the widest ranges of hard landscaping elements to choose from.'
5. Mix up your planting heights
If you're looking for small garden ideas, strategically planting at different heights can make the most of the space.
'More and more, we are seeing smaller garden spaces take the forefront in new garden design,' says Paul Kerr, a building and landscaping specialist at Beatsons. 'The urban courtyard theme is one of the big ones – this includes vertical planting, and a lot of containers.'
A living wall can add interest and greenery to a smaller garden, as can tiered planters like this self-watering tiered garden planter from Thompson & Morgan.
6. Add raised beds
Raised beds can benefit just about any outdoor space, especially when you're looking for great garden border ideas.
From a practical, gardening point of view, you're making things easier for yourself, as everything is self-contained. You can either learn how to build a raised bed as a fun DIY project, or get started with a pre-built kit, like this Verve raised bed kit from B&Q.
7. Incorporate in-built seating
You really need to consider your (and your guests') needs when landscaping your garden, and think about which garden seating ideas will serve you the best.
If you love to entertain, then make sure you build in seating to your walls or raised beds. It's cheaper than doing it later on, and you won't have to worry about choosing outdoor furniture.
If you're short on space, create versions which have integrated, waterproof storage to tuck away your outdoor cushions and seat pads.
8. Go large to make a statement
Play with scale in a container garden to create impact in a small space. Use oversized containers filled with a glorious mix of trees, shrubs and perennials to create an impressive oasis. Make the plants work extra hard by choosing those which are known for attracting wildlife.
'Include multi-stem birch trees underplanted with evergreen Ferns and spring-flowering crocus,' says garden designer Butter Wakefield. 'Beech balls with Erigeron daisies and Muehlenbeckia and shrubs and perennials including Syringa microphylla ‘Red Pixie’. Euphorbia schillingii, Geranium pyrcenaicum ‘Bill Wallis’ and Cirsium rivulare ‘Blue Wonder’.'
9. Soften a sloping garden with grass steps
If you're looking for ways to correct a sloping garden but you're not keen on hard landscaping, go for softer landscaping instead.
Opt for grass treads, integrating them into the existing lawn to connect the lower and higher parts of the garden. It's a lovely way to achieve a softer, more organic feel to your garden.
10. Pave the way
No list of garden landscaping ideas would be complete without a few garden path ideas, and the options are endless – not to mention convenient, if you want to avoid treading an unsightly channel into your lawn.
Whether you go for an affordable gravel path or other cheap DIY garden path ideas, or splash out on a paved path that matches the rest of your hard landscaping, a dedicated walkway is a great way to zone and protect the rest of your garden from foot traffic.
You could even dot some ornamental stepping stones like this Bradstone Half Penny Stepping Stone from B&Q around the garden to add some extra interest.
11. Favour environmental choices
If you're concerned about the environmental impact of your garden and looking for ways to make it more sustainable, you're in luck – you can create an oasis that can benefit the planet which still bursts with texture and visual interest.
'Uses a rich palette of drought-tolerant planting including native seaside plants, grasses and Mediterranean shrubs surrounded by a stone mulch in different sizes and set amongst paving of locally reclaimed York Stone,' suggests The Society of Garden Designers.
'Try plants like Verbena bonariensis, eryngiums, euphorbias, lavender, achillea, ballota, Miscanthus nepalensis, pennisetum, and thymus. Make sure you use permeable surfaces to allow water to be released naturally into the ground, too.'
12. Create a flowering roof
Green roofs, living roofs, vegetated roofs – whatever you call them, planted roofs are sprouting up everywhere! The growing new trend can be home to an array of plants, from grasses to flowers, as well as being the perfect way to bring biodiversity into your garden.
'Create a stunning sedum roof in pastel powdery pinks to add a softness to the surrounding garden,' suggests The Society of Garden Designers. 'You can create a green roof on any flat surface or unsightly roof, from bin stores to bike sheds, and if you're not sure what to plant, simply lay a ready-seeded wildflower turf.'
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FAQs
Can I design my own garden online for free?
Absolutely – and there are plenty of brilliant garden planning tools out there that won’t cost you a penny, whether you’re hoping to design a vegetable patch or your entire garden from scratch.
What is the cheapest way to landscape a garden?
If you are tackling the job yourself, there are plenty of books, online guides or even short construction courses to help you get started. Gravel is one of the more affordable options, but most building materials are easy to obtain from garden centres and builders merchants. Don't overlook access points to your garden if materials are to be delivered and stored.
Off-the-peg materials such as bricks, blocks, slabs, timber are more straightforward and cost-effective when building along straight lines. If your design is curved, use more flexible materials such as gravel, poured concrete or drystone techniques.
Which garden landscaping ideas will you be trying out next?
