How to elevate your outside space

Sprucing up your yard, garden, or patio can be a lot of fun, and doing the work yourself can even save you money, too. But where to start?

Whether you're most looking forward to family barbecues and garden parties, or if you simply want somewhere to spend some quality time outside on your own, here Zoro share their DIY tips for elevating your outdoor space for less.

Add aesthetic appeal

There are plenty of ways you can use DIY to make your outdoor space look more luxurious.

• If you're starting with the basics, choose classic, simple materials for your fencing, patio and flagstones: these elements being flawlessly executed can give the overall look of your garden a more luxurious edge. 

• If you can't change the infrastructure of your garden, you could consider adding panelling. Rattan or wood panelling is not only on trend, but it can be used to hang plant pots and décor on to liven up the space too. Sheets of Rattan start at around £20.

• Stylish furniture and decorations give an instant facelift to any space. There are practically endless options here to suit any taste! Many types of garden furniture are waterproof and designed to stay outside all year round, but you might want to bring them in during winter or wet weather. 

• Don't forget to look at outdoor lighting solutions, as these can help you enjoy your garden long into the evening and on darker nights. There are a huge range of different styles to choose from, starting from as little as £10.

Make the most of a small yard or garden

If you have a small outdoor area to work with, then many of the methods for creating a luxurious outdoor space may seem challenging. Many interior design tricks used to make a room look bigger can be applied outside, too. The key is to make the most of the space you have, as often it's small decisions that can make a big impact in garden areas that have limited space.

• Pick light wood for the illusion of an airier space: we're loving fences painted pale green right now for achieving this look. Avoid white, though, as this can look unnatural and have the opposite effect. Pots of wood paint start from around £12.

• Focus on brightening the area by increasing colour and light — potted plants are ideal for adding much-needed greenery to small yards, and ensuring there are lots of mirrors and reflective surfaces can help bounce sunlight into every corner.  Garden centres and home boutiques tend to stock some lovely options, but you may even find some perfect pieces in charity shops if you're willing to search!

• Look for opportunities to use vertical space by fitting hanging baskets, climbing plants, or a living wall to keep the ground level clear. For a few pounds each, hanging baskets are an especially cost-effective way to brighten up your space!

Maintenance

Keeping the area clean and tidy may have the biggest impact of all on the presentation of your outdoor space. 

• An unkempt yard can appear dingy, so make sure you wash your walls, flooring, furniture, and other décor to keep grime, moss, and lichen at bay. A washing up liquid solution will do for a weekly clean: about a teaspoon of washing up liquid diluted in 2 litres of warm water works perfectly. You may find you need to do monthly or seasonal treatments with specialist products depending on environmental factors, like how much sun your garden gets. For as little as 20p, your garden will be sparkling!

• Once a year (or more often if necessary), be sure to pressure wash your patio to keep it in the best condition. You can also use a pressure washer to remove weeds from driveways, paths, and paving. You can rent pressure washers if you don't feel the need to buy one of your own: most people will only need to use one a few times a year.

• Bushes, shrubs, and trees will need to be kept on top of to ensure they look their best — and that they don't encroach on your space! You'll be able to tell how often you need to trim these, but it's usually around twice a year. If you have a lawn, that will need to be mowed every week or so in the summer months. 

• Clutter can get in the way of creating your dream garden space, so ensure you have plenty of storage to keep utensils and equipment out of the way while you're not using them — an outhouse, shed, or garage is ideal for this, but if you're short on space, a trunk or closet will do. A good tidy up costs nothing but a few hours of your time!

Kelly Friel, Digital Product Manager at Zoro comments:

"You might find it useful to put together a DIY toolkit for your garden. Your DIY garden kit should include all the tools you'd expect to find in a tool box including hammers, screwdrivers, spanners, handsaws, a tape measure, a spirit level, and spare nuts, bolts, nails, and screws. You'll also want to include paintbrushes for applying paints and treatments to wooden structures. To keep your garden looking lovely, you'll need at least a lawn mower, hedge trimmer, shears, secateurs, and a trowel."