Planning Your Outdoor Space? Read This First

Thinking of buying garden furniture this summer? Before you hit "add to basket", there's something worth considering first.

Every year, as soon as the sun appears for more than two consecutive days, we all convince ourselves that this is the summer we'll spend every evening in the garden.

Cue the search for the perfect outdoor sofa or sunlounger!

But creating an outdoor space you'll actually use is about much more than choosing furniture. The best gardens are planned in the same way as a well-designed interior, with spaces for relaxing, entertaining and everyday life.

As an interior designer, I often help clients think about their gardens as an extension of their home. When the two work together, the result feels effortless, welcoming and far more enjoyable to use.

Start With How You'll Use the Space and Think in Zones

Before choosing furniture, think about how you want to live outdoors.

Do you imagine long lunches with friends? Family barbecues? A quiet morning coffee in the sunshine before the rest of the house wakes up?

The answer should shape the layout of your garden.

One of my favourite ways to approach a garden is to create different zones. Colour, texture and practicality are always in front of my mind. 

In my own garden in Bath, I've created separate areas for dining, reading and relaxing, taking into account where the sun falls throughout the day and where we need shade. It makes the space feel much more flexible and enjoyable to use.

In a recent project, we worked with a client who wanted their garden to feel relaxed and sociable without looking overly styled. They also had a challenge with the prevailing wind and wanted a large patio to feel much cosier.

Instead of filling the space with one matching furniture collection, we created separate areas for lounging, entertaining and enjoying a morning coffee and croissant. We replaced the original sofa set with a more adaptable and comfortable option, then layered the space with outdoor cushions, planters and accessories.

The result felt far more inviting and, most importantly, worked brilliantly for the way they actually lived.

Comfort Comes First

This may sound obvious, but outdoor seating should be comfortable. If the cushions are too thin or the seating feels awkward, you'll probably end up back on the sofa indoors.

Investing in good-quality outdoor fabrics, quick-dry cushions and supportive seating will make a huge difference. Especially when the British weather inevitably decides to test them.

I also recommend investing in furniture covers and good storage solutions for cushions and soft furnishings during prolonged wet weather and over the winter months.

Choose Materials Carefully

The materials you choose will affect both the look of your garden and how much maintenance is involved.

Teak brings warmth and a timeless feel, while powder-coated aluminium works beautifully in more contemporary spaces and is often easier to move around. Rattan is a good mix of both lightweight and timeless appeal with multiple layout options.

Don’t Forget the Finishing Touches

If there's one thing people often underestimate, it's the power of planters and pots.

Large planters or pots on wheels can help define seating areas, add colour and texture, and soften hard landscaping. They can even provide a little shelter from the wind without the need for screens or fencing. The wheels give flexibility to move around the space depending on the wind direction or privacy needed.

Alongside outdoor lighting, rugs and cushions, as they help create that feeling of an outdoor room rather than simply a patio with furniture on it.

Bring Your Interior Style Outside

The most successful outdoor spaces feel connected to the inside of the home.

Using similar colours, materials and textures helps create flow between the two spaces and makes the garden feel like a natural extension of your interiors.

Create an Outdoor Space you’ll Actually Use

At Lola Swift Interiors, we help clients create beautiful spaces inside and out, ensuring every area of the home works perfectly for the people living in it.

We regularly collaborate with landscape designers and gardeners to create outdoor spaces that feel just as considered as the interiors they connect to.

If you're planning your outdoor space this summer and would like some expert guidance, we'd love to help.