Spring Garden Ideas: Creating The Ultimate Outdoor Social Space

As the daffodils begin to bloom and the sun begins to sneak out, now could be just the right time to start thinking about sprucing up your outdoor space – and we have some modern garden ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

From the fundamentals of garden layouts to ideas for small gardens, popular colour trends and more, we’ll help you create the ultimate outdoor social space that offers the perfect at-home haven for spring and summer.

This all means, whatever happens in 2021 with social distancing and travel restrictions, you’ll have the ideal outdoor oasis to get your fix of sunshine and relaxation without having to venture too far. So, let’s get stuck in.

Tidy your space

During the colder months, many gardens lay unused and neglected. But with the early signs of spring upon us, it’s time to get a handle on the weeds and general clutter!

For one, a tidy space to work with will make it easier for you to envisage and implement new back garden design ideas. Long term, it can also translate to a tidy and peaceful state of mind – an important factor after the year we’ve all had.

A good place to start is by trimming back any overhanging branches from trees or nearby bushes to neaten them up and promote fresh growth. Depending on the plant species, you can generally give them quite a hard pruning, but if in doubt do your research first so you don’t end up wiping out the plant entirely!

For flower beds of all shapes and sizes, it’s time to get on your hands and knees and start tugging up those pesky weeds. Catching them early will help to reduce the chance of them reseeding and make it easier to keep on top of them throughout the year.

Other satisfying jobs include getting the hose or power washer out on patios, pathways and garden furniture, blasting away old debris to restore them to their former glory (or near enough). If these areas or furniture pieces are looking tired, don’t fret – we’ll get to ideas on revamping them soon.

Cement your vision

Ok, so you’ve tackled the essential tidy up and should now have a blank canvas to work with.

But where do you go from here?

Well, like the interiors in your home, it’s best to start at the bottom and work your way up, laying the groundwork for your back garden designs one idea at a time.

First, think about the type of space you’re looking to have outside and how you intend to use it. For family households, this could be having multipurpose spaces that can be for kids in the day and grown ups in the evening.

Alternatively, you may want your back garden to epitomise the ideas of escapism, creating a tropical and tranquil paradise in your own home. Or perhaps you need it to double up as an exercise space in the day and a social hub for having friends over.

Figuring out these all-important questions now will help you build a solid foundation for a cohesive and functional outdoor social space that really works for you. With modern garden ideas, there are so many different options for creating social spaces that go way beyond a paved patio and patch of grass.

If you’re struggling to decide, here are a few garden layout and styling ideas to help you feel inspired.

Add split level zones

A good garden design typically includes garden layout ideas that utilise zones – split levels are perfect for doing this.

You may think you need a large back garden for this, but the truth is you can define zones in any size space, including compact urban gardens. It can also offer the perfect solution for tackling awkward sloping gardens, making all the land usable whether that’s for planting or seating.

When it comes to creating social spaces in your garden, a raised seated area can be just the ticket, allowing you to feel like you’re transported away from the house with a whole new perspective on your garden.

Plus, steps leading up to a stylish terrace area can really help to enhance the feeling of going on a journey, even in small gardens. The idea is that this defines the space into its own designated area. It can also serve to elevate specific areas to get more sunlight, which can be perfect for social zones and sun-loving plants.

As if that wasn’t enough, using split levels also allows you to play around with different textures and themes with your garden design ideas. For instance, you can create wonderful contrasts by using textured outdoor floor tiles with wooden cladded backdrops and brightly coloured fauna finished with some comfy outdoor furniture that provides a welcome social hub for lounging, dining and more outdoors.

Embrace the country cottage vibe

In light of the global pandemic lockdowns, many people have felt the need to have a closer connection to nature. A romantic country cottage garden can be the way to go, even if you live in the city.

The key here is to integrate a wide variety of plants, bushes and trees that birds, insects and other wildlife won’t be able to resist. This concept can work throughout your garden, but for wistful social spaces be sure to pick out just the right balance of climbing plants, potted herbs and fruit trees that will bring nature up close.

In terms of flooring for your social area, keep it rustic with bark chippings, gravel or some earthy-coloured quarry floor tiles that are suitable for outdoor use. For vertical surfaces, climbing wisteria, clematis and morning glory can offer oodles of colour that will attract bees and butterflies, while potted herbs like lavender, mint and rosemary will add irresistible aromas. Complete with some rustic-style outdoor benches with cushions and a low-standing coffee table and you’ll have a country cottage haven that’s blessed with beauty and the buzz of nature’s orchestra all summer long.

Go au naturel

In a similar vein to the above concept, modern garden ideas for 2021 are definitely seeing a shift away from bold and bright colours in favour of subtle, neutral hues. This pared-back neutral aesthetic for outdoor spaces is perfect for those in search of low maintenance garden ideas as they require minimal upkeep, allowing the raw beauty of nature to do all the talking.

This garden design idea is based on the notion that neutral hues have a soothing effect, while still giving us that all-important connection to nature. All this means it’s perfect for those of you who want to carve out a tranquil, zen-style space to retreat to during the summer.

In addition, this garden style puts the emphasis on allowing your plant life to be the main focus of attention with a subtle foundation that feels tactile and comforting whatever the weather.

To master this concept, we recommend choosing some grey outdoor tiles that mimic the look of natural stone to anchor the space together. From here, introduce additional soft tones such as cream, beige and taupe and be sure to vary the materials including wood, stone and ceramic.

For the ultimate social space, favour natural wooden furniture or authentic rattan over plastic or manmade materials to bolster the au naturel essence. And finally, add a bevvy of striking plants that will bring organic colour and serenity for those warm summer evening barbecues with family and friends.

Carve out comfort

Comfort is also becoming a must have in our homes throughout the pandemic and this doesn’t just apply to indoor spaces. For many of us, our gardens are becoming like a fifth room, providing much needed living space we can utilise at any given moment.

With this in mind, why not carve out your own comfy corner outside? It could be a snug reading nook for some alone time, a casual hangout for family time or a safe play space for little ones when they’re home from school.

This concept focuses on using plush materials and textures that you may ordinarily find inside or even using a similar design theme from inside and transporting it outside, creating an outdoor living room.

We’re talking outdoor rugs that feel soft underfoot and beg you to take off your shoes, sumptuous seating areas with sofas and possibly even indoor armchairs that invite you to take a load off and give you a welcome cushion cuddle. Similarly, move away from your traditional garden dining table and opt for a more informal set up like a low-lying table complete with mini stools or cushions instead of formal chairs.

Hanging chairs, hammocks and soft bean bags also wouldn’t look out of place in a comfort-centric outdoor space, providing varied and ample seating for everyone to enjoy whatever their mood.

Of course, the British weather can wreak havoc with outdoor areas, so to optimise the comfort and usability of this space, it could be worth considering a lean to roof or canopy to help keep furniture dry and protected from the elements.

While none of us can truly predict how things will go for the rest of 2021, having a beautiful outdoor social space primed and ready for use will mean you can embrace all the joys of summer whatever’s happening in the outside world.

Whether you go for an au naturel theme, a comfy corner or a stylish split level terrace, we hope we’ve given you plenty of inspiration to get ahead and start your spring garden design ideas early. And if you need to find some suitable flooring options for your terrace or patio, our range of durable and stylish outdoor tile options has you covered.