easy-going gardens

THE SUN IS OUT AND SO ARE WE HERE'S HOW TO GET AN OUTDOOR SPACE AS CHILLED AS YOU ARE 

- Hugh Metcalf

If there's any argument about summer being the best time of year, it's surely won by the fact we are finally able to fully embrace our outdoor spaces. Our gardens, which can often be out of bounds for a large proportion of the year, suddenly become the place in your home everyone gravitates to, with little more to do than just bask in the glory of being outside.

Outdoor spaces offer us a valuable escape from the stresses of modern life, with the best ones designed to be calming retreats. But not every garden is created equal and while some are better suited to being relaxing havens than others, there are ways to bring a little more zen to your outdoor area whatever you have to work with if you pay close attention to the details.

Nature is the best tool in your arsenal when it comes to creating a calm space, so it makes sense to start with the planting. Taking advantage of not only ground covering but also vertical opportunities may be the best way of cocooning yourself in the great outdoors. 'I love being surrounded by nature, both outside the garden boundary and planted within the space,' says designer Brad Ramsey of Brad Ramsey Interiors. 'It transforms this space from a ordinary garden into a personal oasis that elicits heightened relaxation.'

What you choose to plant is important, too. You should consider colours and textures that make you feel more relaxed avoiding harsh combinations or vibrant but clashing shades. 'Colours give off certain energies and it can be helpful to consider how you want your garden to feel when making colour selections,' says Kat Aul Cervoni, founder of New York City-based landscape design firm Staghorn.