Suns Lifestyle: Tips to Create a Serene Garden

In collaboration with Suns Lifestyle, drawing on many years’ experience working with leading landscapers and garden designers across the UK, this article features their expertise on outdoor furniture and design. 

Any gardener knows the joy of spending time in the garden, tending to the plants and getting your hands in the dirt. It’s a relaxing experience and one that can promote mental wellbeing and calm. However, gardens aren’t always tranquil places and sometimes, careful design is needed to promote peace and serenity.

A serene garden offers the perfect escape, providing a space where you can unwind, reconnect with nature, and find peace in your own home. Drawing inspiration from Suns Lifestyle, experts in outdoor styling, a thoughtful approach to your outdoor living can  transform your garden into a haven of tranquillity.

Practice colour echoing

Colour echoing is a design technique that weaves one colour throughout the space using flowers, ornaments, foliage, and furniture. Pick a relaxing hue like white, pale yellow, or pastel pink and tie your garden together by repeating the same tone in various areas of the space. This makes the garden more cohesive and less chaotic, helping to reiterate that calming feeling.

Add spots for shelter

Pergolas and overhead structures provide essential shade and vertical interest, but they also offer pockets of seclusion. A well-positioned pergola essentially creates an outdoor room that feels both open to nature and intimately enclosed. Contemporary pergola designs have clean lines and are made from quality materials that frame the views of your garden while offering protection from harsh sunlight. Climbing plants such as jasmine, wisteria, or grape vines that gradually create a living canopy add another dimension and seasonal interest too.

Create a relaxing soundscape

Water features are the heartbeat of a serene garden. They introduce soothing sounds that mask urban noise and create a meditative atmosphere—a place you’ll want to unwind in every day. Whether you choose a simple bubbling fountain, a reflective pond, or a natural pool, water adds movement and life to your space, while also attracting wildlife. Position water features where they can be enjoyed from multiple vantage points, especially from your main seating areas. The gentle sound of flowing water naturally draws attention away from stress, making it an essential element in any tranquil garden design.

Add cosy furniture to unwind

The furniture you add to your garden should, first and foremost, prioritise comfort and durability. The pieces you choose should invite people to sit and relax—deep-seated lounge chairs, spacious daybeds, or dining sets that encourage long conversations and a stress-free environment. Pay attention to the space you have to work with so you can choose furniture that works with, rather than overwhelms, the garden.

Evoke the right atmosphere with light

Lighting has the potential to completely transform any space, and your garden is no different. Turn it from a daytime retreat into an enchanting evening sanctuary simply by experimenting with different lighting. Soft, warm light creates ambiance and cosiness, while layering different types of lighting can create depth and interest. Arrange overhead string lights for a magical canopy effect, subtle spotlights to highlight architectural features or specimen plants, and pathway lighting to guide movement.

Use natural materials where possible

So often, when we’re designing a garden, we opt for plastic or metal but while these are durable options, they don’t always lend themselves to the most tranquil feeling. Natural materials like stone, bamboo and wood are rustic and neutral in colour, so they blend seamlessly and evoke peacefulness.

Include storage to reduce clutter

Subtle storage ensures that your serene garden remains uncluttered and peaceful. Discrete boxes for garden tools, cushions, and other essentials will make sure everything has its place and can be easily maintained. You might even choose built-in storage benches or stylish outdoor storage boxes that serve dual purposes while maintaining clean sight lines throughout your garden.

The garden is the perfect place to escape the hectic hustle and bustle of work and daily responsibilities, and with these design choices, you can enhance your outdoor space to make it as peaceful, calming, and stress-free as possible.

Image by Robin23 from Pixabay