Relaxing in your garden

7 Tips for relaxing in your garden

Juggling work, family and social life commitments can seem endless at times. Yet, how great is it when you can manage to snatch some quiet time, to relax in your very own garden or outdoor space. However, as we all know, flicking the switch to ‘relax mode’ isn’t always easy. In this blog, you can find a number of tips to help you relax in your own little piece of paradise.

1. Comfort in your garden
2. Make space
3. More green in your garden
4. A makeover
5. Water in your garden
6. Adding some atmosphere
7. The right time

1. Comfort in your garden

The best way to enjoy the sun, is of course, if you can sit or lie down comfortably. A maintenance-free lounge set can offer you, not only a lot of comfort during those long, hot sultry days, but there’s also no need to spend hours painting or treating your furniture every year. Thus, you’ll have much more free time for relaxing. If you have enough space for one, then a sunlounger can offer you the perfect comfy spot for a lazy afternoon. Add a few cushions and a refreshing drink, and you won’t want or need to go anywhere else to relax.

2. Make space

Even if tidying up isn’t exactly your favourite activity, it does give you more space in your head. So, drag your sweeping brush across your terrace a few times, sort out the garden items you wish to keep, put them away tidily in your shed or storage space and throw out anything that’s broken. If you find your shed is too small to hold everything, then use a garden storage closet or a cushion box, which can also double up as extra seating when needed.  That satisfying feeling you’ll get once everything has been cleaned up, will have been hard-earned, so by then, it’ll be time to just sit back and relax!

3. More green in your garden

Dead plants are a good reason to pay a visit to your local garden centre. Colourful flowers and a fresh range of plants will give both you and your garden a natural boost. Escape the chaos at home and allow yourself to be inspired by the latest trends. To create a calm atmosphere in your garden, use green and white plants, planted in groups together. If you’d prefer a more colorful view for your energy boost, then choose different plants that are already in bloom. Afterwards, place them all in your garden and you’ll really be able to relax.

4. A makeover

Does your child still tear around your garden on his or her bicycle, or is your lawn full of weeds and your hedges need a trim? Sometimes, the only way to create your very own garden paradise, is to give it a total makeover. Of course, you could have a landscaper design you the perfect Japanese garden, but even by installing new fencing or paving can make a massive difference to your garden. Afterall, it doesn’t always have to be so rigorous. If you’re any way handy with a saw and screwdriver, you could for instance, make raised garden beds from old scaffolding planks, as they create a much more calming effect than having a bunch of mis-matched plant pots scattered all around your outside space. Even your wheelie-bins can be disguised with handy wooden bin stores, which can be purchased at any good garden centre or diy-store.

5. Water in your garden

So much has already been written about the calming effects of water. Whether it has any effect on you or not, you should explore first before you instantly start digging for your garden pond. Yet, many people attest to water having a calming effect on them when they can watch fish or other pondlife swimming around. Of course, a hot tub is always an attractive option, but if you don’t have space for one or simply can’t afford it, then perhaps a water feature could be the perfect solution for your outside space. Big or small, whilst you lounge around outside on your sunlounger with your eyes closed, you can dream of floating away in a swimming pool just for you alone.

6. Adding some atmosphere

Using plant pots, candles, pictures, posters and cushions, you can dress up your garden and create a colorful, or indeed, calming atmosphere.  Check your wardrobes and closets for old clothing or accessories you could use outside, or visit a local charity shop or jumble sale, where you can pick up a bargain or two and give your garden an entirely new image. Don’t like the colours of your old plant pots anymore? Get some blackboard or chalk paint and give them a second life. You could also buy or make new cushions, the latter being more beneficial to your wallet, plus, a little bit of effort always pays off afterwards in the enjoyment of seeing what you have created with your own hands. At the end of the day, you can store your cushions and other garden accessories in an easy and dry cushion storage box. Peace in the garden at last!

7. The right time

On the Internet, you can find an endless amount of relaxation techniques and exercises, but you might prefer just listening to your favourite music to unwind. Most importanly though, is that you don’t have to do anything for a while. Do something you enjoy or simply do nothing at all to find peace in your garden. Remember, you don’t always have to wait for the right time. Make having a cosy garden get-togethers part of your daily routine, like eating and sleeping. Leave all your phones and other electronic devices indoors and enjoy the sunshine outdoors together. That way, you’ll automatically find peace and everything else can be done afterwards.

How do you relax in your garden? Share your tips with us on our Facebook page.

– Lorna –