How to Make the Most of Your Outside Space

Is your garden a tranquil haven from the hustle and bustle, packed with colour and bursting with wildlife and shady spots to relax and entertain? Or is it a depressing wilderness of overgrown shrubs, rickety garden furniture and soggy lawns?

Not everyone has the green fingers, or the inclination, to transform their London plot into a landscaped garden – and keep it looking that way. Autumn is a great time to get heavier work out of the way so that your garden has time to perk up before spring.

Proven benefits

Spending time outdoors among plants and wildlife has definite benefits for our mental and physical health, so if you have a London garden, no matter how small, it’s worth making the most of it.

If you’re thinking of selling this spring, a tidy and appealing garden can really give your property the edge – in fact, it’s thought that a good garden design can boost your chances of selling by around 20%.
The same applies if you’re looking to rent out your property. A lovely, relaxing outdoor space for the summer months can be a big draw – while a garden that looks like it’s high-maintenance will be quite off-putting to potential tenants.

Time for a makeover?

If you’re not keen on getting your hands dirty, investing in a garden makeover could be money well spent, whether you’re putting your home on the market or just want to reap the benefits yourself.
Alternatively, there are plenty of simple things you can do to boost your garden’s appeal, from the clever use of plant pots and window boxes to a good pressure wash of the patio.

Remember to keep your end goal in mind. Are you trying to make your property appealing to a certain type of buyer, create more storage space for your property, or aiming to make a beautiful garden for your own enjoyment. Depending upon your goals, you can decide upon the level of investment you want to put in.

Here are four ideas to get you thinking:

1 Make it social

Think of your outdoor space as an extension of the interior, even if it is relatively modest in size. A priority should be creating some type of patio with a table, chairs and nicely arranged potted plants. If you have an unused spot, add an outdoor sofa or swing seat with cushions to create a living room or bar area for relaxing too.

These additions will make the whole garden more inviting, allowing prospective buyers or tenants to imagine themselves socialising in the space.

2 Reach for the sky

Gardens in London are often small, so design upwards. This is especially useful if your space is directly overlooked by neighbours. You could install a pergola at the far end of the garden and grow flowers or vines up it, adding interest and a feeling of height.

3 Get planting

Plenty of greenery and foliage is essential to any garden, otherwise it might look sterile and uninviting. If space is limited, invest in a handful of plant pots – or mix bought pots with recycled jam jars or food tins for a pretty, eclectic effect. Use them to plant herbs, flowers, shrubs … anything you like. Foliage softens a landscape and adds colour, variety, fragrance and interest.

4 Light up

Well-placed lights can make all the difference to how the garden looks in the evening – especially important if any viewings take place after dark.
Install a wall light or hanging lantern outside the back door, which leads into the garden, or put outdoor fairy lights in your trees.

5 Create space

It has been increasingly popular to include an outdoor office or working space to your garden. If you’re looking to sell your property, this could be an appealing addition to your property, and provide a significant return on investment. Even if you don’t opt for a full blow office, it doesn’t hurt to add functional storage space or a devoted DIY area.

A few more tips

For an instant boost, give your shed a lick of paint – choose an attractive shade that works with your garden, such as bright blue or sage green.

• Too busy to garden? – opt for plants that can survive if you forget to water them or there’s a dry spell during the summer. Cute succulents or fragrant jasmine are good choices.
• Lawns can be hard to manage so consider artificial grass instead.
• Go wild – create a haven for wildlife with bird baths, bee hotels and butterfly-friendly species to give your garden the feelgood factor.

If you’re looking to let or sell property in Tooting, Streatham, Clapham or Balham, get in touch today, we can offer more advice about how to market your property effectively to buyers or tenants.