A 2012 survey by the National Gardening Association showed that home improvement shopping was on the rise, with households spending over $29 billion on lawn and garden supplies that year. As each new gardening season approaches, more homeowners look for fresh ways to liven up their outdoor spaces with decorations and flowers. By following some simple tips, shoppers can choose the right pieces to personalize their gardens with decor, and make the outdoors just as enjoyable as the indoors.
Add Colorful Accents
To avoid having bland, green space in the yard, shoppers can look for bright splashes of color to add to the design. Gardeners can situate colorful ceramic pots with overflowing flowers along pathways, or use decorations like brightly colored butterflies on metal rods that are easy to stick into the ground. Patio furniture is another great way for decorators to bring in pops of color, with patterned cushions and vibrant tables that balance the serenity of nature.
Choose the Right Flowers
Having the right flowers for a specific climate, as well as for a style of garden, is key to creating a harmonized outdoor space. Homeowners can speak with local garden centers or florists for tips and ideas, and they should learn about the different types of flowers and plants before purchasing them.
Annual vs. Perennial
Both annuals and perennials come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Annuals need replacing each year, while perennials need attention as each season passes. Gardeners can use an assortment of annual and perennial flowers in mixed styles and heights to give their garden visual interest. Before planting a variety of mixed flowers, homeowners should also consider the horizontal growth patterns of each variety. Some flowers spread more than others do, and can easily overtake a garden. Planning for vertical and horizontal growth ahead of time ensures that the garden has a cohesive and attractive look when the flowers bloom.
Embellish with Ornaments
Ornaments that might typically decorate the interior of a home also make attractive embellishment pieces for gardens. Shoppers can hang rustic antique lanterns trees, tuck unique benches into greenery, and attach ornamental picture frames to fences in order to decorate the garden. When carefully placed, these items give any outdoor space character, and allow homeowners to express their personal style.
Match the Interior Theme
Another great way to connect the home to the garden is to decorate it with pieces that reflect the home’s exterior. If a garden has a specific color of siding, homeowners can use interior furniture and decor items in that color. Alternatively, if the outside of the house has a rustic style, then shoppers can look for lighting, ceramic pots, and other embellishments that have the same theme. Stone pathways around the home can also continue through the garden space for a fluid traffic area, which works especially well during outdoor parties.
Use Lighting Well
A well-lit garden creates an inviting space that draws visitors in, while adding brightness and visibility. Homeowners can enjoy their gardens at night by using solar-powered lights that hang from trees and stick into the earth. If an electric outlet is nearby, gardeners can also use Christmas lights, lanterns, and decorative lighting pieces to bring dark spaces to life, especially around patio furniture.
Create a Garden Entrance
If the garden is a distance from the house, decorators can use the space to create an entrance for the garden. Metal archways shrouded in thick green plants, such as wisteria, give garden entrances a magical feeling, and small wooden gates attached to wooden fences are quaint and inviting. Decorators can go big with impressive iron arches and citrus trees, or small with simple pots that stand on either side of a pathway into the garden.
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