Lifestyle Garden Design

It makes sense to consider lifestyles when choosing a garden design. The type of garden design depends a lot on the lifestyles of its users. Many different lifestyle factors affect the type of garden design such as whether the garden is for a single person or several users, the ages of the users, the varying needs and desires users have in terms of their garden and how much time they have to implement and care for a garden design.

Singles Single users of a garden may not necessarily want a garden for a single use. It is quite popular now to use a garden as a place of entertainment. If the garden is to be used for entertaining guests it is important to consider seating, al fresco dining, garden furniture and the view for the guests. Some hard landscaping such as decking or a patio might be a consideration as either can be re-arranged for different types of entertainment. Tables and chairs might be set out for eating whereas cushions might be brought out for an afternoon of relaxing in the sun. It is possible to have built in seating with removable cushions or additional seating built around the garden in the form of wide rims round a water feature or fixed seating along boundaries.

This is ideal for throwing a small party or having pre-dinner drinks. It is useful to bear in mind that often this type of entertainment happens in the evening. While outside dining, sunbathing and BBQs all take place in the day drinks, parties and firework displays are part of night time entertainment. It follows that the garden should not only have a functional use for entertainment but also look attractive for guests in the day and evening. This can be managed with appropriate choices of plants, effective lighting, a good colour scheme for plants and fixtures and careful choices of theme and features. A good garden designer will be able to advise on all of this and the hard landscaping required to produce a garden that functions as a place for entertainment and ensure the garden looks great night and day.

Doubles

A couple may have slightly varying needs for a garden. Again having a garden for the purpose of entertainment is popular but it is also important to invest in the future. The garden may be designed with the idea of children to use it in time or if the house is small it might be worth investing in the garden to increase the value of the property. Research shows that a well designed garden with both attractive and functional features can considerably increase the overall value of the property. A working couple might also need to consider whether work is done from home and include the garden as a place of work. Home offices can easily be added or extended through a conservatory to include the garden as a place of relaxation and work.

Triples, Quadruples and More

A family with small children may have different considerations. Safety is a paramount consideration and the garden may need to be enclosed to prevent children from wandering off. Certain features such as a pond may be impractical because of the dangers posed to very young children. However it is worth considering a play area that can be changed and easily adapted to suit the differing needs of children as they grow up. A play area with a sandpit and free standing slide can later be adapted to a water feature and replacement climbing frame. The effect of toys in the garden must also be considered. Flower beds and vegetable or herb gardens may need to be protected from children trampling on them and can be sectioned off in a variety of ways that does not detract from the overall attraction of the garden. Indeed the garden itself can be sectioned off into different areas to provide a work station or entertainment area for adults and play areas for children and functional areas for the whole family to enjoy. The garden should suit the needs of all the users, making it a safe place for children and an attractive place in which adults can relax.

Sit in it or Work on it?

One should also consider the amount of available time lifestyle allows to spend on the garden. It is difficult, for example, to look after a high maintenance garden, if the owner is frequently away on business. It is also a consideration for a busy working couple or a family whose time is taken up with younger children who need greater attention than a family who has older children. A low maintenance garden which needs little attention is a must for those with busy lifestyles. This type of garden should include hard landscaping, synthetic materials, easy-care plants and low level care features. A high maintenance garden is better suited to those who have the time such as a retired couple or a family with older children. Both types of garden can serve a myriad or purposes, however, and suit a variety of lifestyles for which garden design experts can advise.

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