How to design your outdoor space

Give your garden the attention it deserves with our guide to creating a space that's functional, looks good and is packed with year-round interest

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A well-designed garden is much more than a beautiful backdrop to your home, it’s a lifestyle upgrade. It can be so many things – a peaceful escape, a lively entertaining hub, a play zone for children or a productive patch of nature. But to get there, you need more than just a few plants and a patio.

You need vision, planning and the right team behind you. Whether you're giving a tired space a new lease of life or landscaping alongside a self-build, renovation or extension, this guide walks you through how to approach garden design like a pro, taking you from dream to delivery.

WHERE TO START

Before you draw up plans or plant a single seedling, take time to imagine how the garden could serve your life. This is your moment to ‘dream big’ - without worrying (yet) about budgets or logistics. Ask yourself:

• Who is the space for? Just you? A young family? Guests?

• What do you want to do in it? Dine, relax, grow vegetables, host parties, work outdoors?

• What features inspire you? Firepits, water features, pergolas, outdoor kitchens?

Create a wishlist based on your lifestyle and preferences. This forms the foundation of a good design brief, just like you would create for an extension or self-build project. A strong brief keeps your project grounded and purposeful, guiding all future decisions. Your wishlist may include some, or all, of the following:

• Desired zones (dining area, quiet nook, kids’ space).

• Key features (pergola, pond, greenhouse, firepit).

• Maintenance preferences (low maintenance versus high curation).

• Sustainability goals (water harvesting, native plants, pollinator zones).