garden décor ideas

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Gardens allow us to escape the stresses and strains of everyday life. Our gardens can become small sanctuaries that enable us to emerge ourselves in nature and tranquillity. Hence it is no surprise that we are ever looking for ways to personalise our external spaces.

Garden decor ideas allow us to enjoy the garden by filling it with the quirky things that we love.  You can express your love for animals by celebrating your favourites with life like resin ornaments or classical garden statues. 

Most of the time garden decoration ideas are a way of filling the focal points of the garden. These are commonly places we spend the most of our time. The patio or deck is always the perfect location for a little bit of extra excitement.

​If you are having a large party or just some family over for an evening meal the patio is a great place for extra garden decoration. With a few ideas and inspirations your patio can be filled with cool and functional decorations such as Moroccan lights, Garden Bean bags and fire pits. All of these will not just look great but make your garden a cool place to be!

The great thing about gardens is they regularly do not need to conform to such strict rules and regulations. This allows your creative juices to literally go wild enabling garden decor to actually impact the design and feel of an outside space.

​If you love wildlife some of our wildlife decor suggestions will not just look great but provide perfect habitat.  Bird feeders, bird boxes and insect hotels as an example can look amazing but also bring so much life to an outside space.

The dramatic potential of garden decoration to transform and enhance an outside space is immense! This is why we have broken down some of the best garden decor ideas and accessories here.

​From decor to screen and hide bad views to religious and even zombie statues! We have put together the best garden decor ideas for you below. Enjoy!

Garden decor ideas for the Patio

​Patios and courtyards don’t just provide us with cool places to sit they give us a focal point in the garden. Patios and decks just like any room of the home provide the opportunity for decorations and fun. During the summer months these garden spaces come alive with crazy family parties and lazy summer afternoons.

 This means there are plenty of garden decorations which can make these places just that little bit more special. For parties there is the chance to add heating and cooking facilities as well as extra shelter and lights.

You may want to add speakers to make the space more musical or water features to add the relaxing sound of running water. Not only can these cool garden gadgets transform a space garden decorations can change a normal space into a well designed show garden.
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Thant is why we have put together some amazing garden decor ideas together for your patio, deck or courtyard.

Traditional ovens

Traditional or earth ovens have been used by human kind for centuries. These wood fired ovens heated slowly over time can retain an amazing amount of heat and for long periods of time.

Very traditional or Southern Europe and Asia these domed ovens are perfect for cooking bread, stews and yes you may have guessed it pizza! Today there are many variants of these sorts of ovens on the market. Some are more permanent and some are more mobile and compact cooking units.

​These wood fired ovens make very functional garden decor both looking great and cooking tasty meals. These ovens can also effectively heat an outside space especially if your patio is in a corner.

Moroccan lights
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Morocco has always been a hub for interesting design and the magical use of colour. This can always be admired in the beauty of traditional Moroccan lanterns.

These amazing hanging lights can work well in an Arabic themed garden or just a normal outside space. Their array of deep vibrant colours means they have the potential to become a focal point themselves.

​Either used singly or hung up in succession these extremely cool hanging lights make a fantastic addition to any patio.

Garden bean bags

Garden seating can come at a premium especially if you find yourself with excessive amounts of guests at short notice. Typically garden seating comes as a part of a table set.

This can lead to tired legs at outside gatherings and uncomfortable guests. Most of the time party guests want to lose all formalities and just sprawl about while sipping a tasty cocktail. For this reason it is great to have some comfortable, well cushioned seating to hand at all times.

​These outdoor garden bean bags are fully water proof and provide perfectly comfortable seating at a moment’s notice. They also are very cool to look at! Great for the party season!

Patio heaters

As outside parties draw into the evening even in the middle summer there can be a chill in the air. There is always the option to go inside of course but why do that when you have waited all year to get out.

A garden especially with great lighting decor can be a really cool place at night so why not ad some heating? This patio heater is perfect for making a cool patio at night warm and snug.

​If used intelligently using walls and for microclimates or even gazebos the garden can just be as warm as indoors. This makes these heaters the perfect idea for a party or extra patio decor.

Asian gong

Commonly recognised in Hollywood movies and old Asian stereotypes these Asian gongs not only create an amazing sound they also look extremely impressive.

​These ancient gongs are internationally recognisable and perfect for use in Asian style gardens or even just normal patios. Originating in China these percussion instruments traditionally would be sounded during special events or to mark a specific moment in time. They can also make great garden decor for your garden.

Rock speakers

One of the things people love most about the garden is there is rarely straight lines and neat edges in nature. Even in the most formal of garden spaces the general wildness of outside spaces has a calming effect on the soul.

Many people have said that spending time in the garden is like a form of meditation. For many the tranquil atmosphere of the garden is bliss but during more social times music can be a fantastic backdrop to a summer’s day.

​These Rock speakers will brilliantly disguise themselves amongst your plants and flowerbeds leaving your guests wondering where the music is coming from every time. 

Water features

Patios provide the perfect defined area and hard wearing surface for fun and get togethers. They are also perfect places to taking time to enhance your mood and calm your nerves.

​There is always one corner of the patio that is just calling out for something exciting and different. This free standing water feature will allow you to enjoy lazy afternoons being soothed by the trickling sound of water. Water features can wire into the mains power supply or rely on solar lighting.

Fire pits

Some of the best garden decor ideas add excitement and aesthetics to the garden but also have a function. Sometimes a single function is enough but a multiple functioning garden accessory is always a hit.

This fire pit is the perfect place to sit around with friends to enjoy drinks and giggles. What makes this fire pit so special is it also has a grill which fits over the top so as the fire dims down you can grill kebabs or even burgers!

​What makes this cool gadget even more amazing is it can also be covered over to create a table.  The multi function nature of this decor idea means it will always be at the very heart of the patio!

Hammocks

Too many times in life we forget to take time out to simply daze into the stars and do absolutely nothing! When the great weather does come along in summer time we sometimes forget it’s not here to stay!

It’s crucial that after a long cold winter we squeeze every last drop of sunshine out of the season. What better way to do just that than lazing around in one of the most comfortable ways known to mankind!

​This garden hammock will allow you to gently swing in the breeze while enjoying a good book. Who knows you may even be able to enjoy a few cocktails too!

Pergolas

Most gardens do not have the exquisite design flair of an award winning architectural masterpiece. However some garden decor ideas can make a garden space so much more appealing.

A very common problem with gardens is they lack vertical features. Such features can allow the eye to be drawn higher helping to appreciate the surrounding environment.

​One of the best ways to achieve this vertical line is to install a pergola! These are great for providing shade and hanging extra features from. Some like the one below can be bought on Amazon and erected on site.

Solar flame wall lights

There is nothing that sets off a garden than well placed lighting. With strategic planning and a bit of design knowledge and foresight lighting can completely transform an outside space.

One of the previous drawbacks to lighting was it required extensive cables and professional installation. This was particularly problematic if you already had an established garden that could not be easily dug up to bury cables.

​Today the emergence and advances in solar technology have been astounding! These solar flame wall lights are just some of the solar garden decor ideas you have at your disposal.

Coffee table set

The great thing about patios is they give you the opportunity to bring the inside outside. Most decks and patios are planned directly outside the back doors leading to a seamless spatial transition.

The fact that most patios can be used as a room outside means it is only logical to adhere to such a space. Placing a large comfortable table and seating set is a great way to set the patios function as another room of the house. 

​This coffee table set is resilient to outdoor conditions and is a great piece of garden decoration at the same time.

Garden decor ideas for walls & fences

Walls and fences are essential to reinforce boundary lines, create privacy and security to our gardens and property. Being such a necessary part of the garden means we usually make a great effort to install ones we find visually attractive.

This however is not always the case and even new and decorative garden boundaries in time can become weathered and unattractive. Even so the vertical nature of wall and fences do create some opportunities in the garden.

​With some great garden decor ideas we can not only hide these essential garden structures but actually celebrate them.

Artificial green walls

It has been said the colour green provokes more feelings of calmness and tranquillity within the human being than any other colour. In many ways this is completely logical when considering up until 300 years ago many of us would have been farmers.

During millions of years of human evolution this colour would have taken up most of the daily colour we saw. It is true today that seeing this colour is becoming a rarer and rarer occurrence.  Gardens generally being places of greenery and relaxation mean it makes sense to clad unsightly walls and fences with the colour green.

​Not all gardens have the advantage of good soil, growing conditions or good gardeners. Hence one of the garden decor ideas to solve this problem can be these artificial green walls. No watering or pruning necessary but will make any boundary lush and green instantly!

Living green walls

If the idea of fake foliage in the garden seems a little, well, plastic then understandably you may choose another option. Interestingly it is not just the colour green that plants provide which is supposed to benefit us.

Plants produce the air we breathe, filter out air borne particles and act as climatic temperature regulators. This means there is a good case for covering walls and fences with living plants. Many are put off from this idea as large climbers can damage fences and masonry.

​A great garden decor idea to resolve this is these modular green wall cells. These living green walls can be planter with smaller plants and even garden herbs! Combined with drip feed irrigation these can provide fantastic colour and foliage all year long.

​Hanging garden décor

The great thing about walls and fences is they give you the ability to fix things on to them. This is particularly useful for screening and hanging things. Some of the best screening garden decor ideas are those which drape or hang.

​These can come in many forms including hanging baskets or even hanging solar lighting.  Hanging baskets by far are the most popular with some displays fit for a professional florist’s exhibition. Linear planters can be fixed to vertical walls or brackets which allow for suspending circular baskets.

Outside mirrors

Typical of many famous garden designers’ projects mirrors and shiny metal sheeting can give the illusion of extra light and space within a given area.

​This can be extremely effective in small urban gardens where there is a lot of shadow. Outside mirrors come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and make for impressive garden decor ideas. We have put some of our favourite found on Amazon below. 

Garden decor for a party

When the weekend comes and it’s been a long cold winter a party is just the thing to raise the spirits! If the weather is fine gardens are the perfect venue to enjoy time with friends.

Perhaps the family has a special occasion or event coming up. What better way to spruce up your garden venue with some garden decor ideas that will make the garden magical. From garden gadgets to temporary structures we have listed some decor ideas below perfect for your party season. For images of garden décor ideas check out Pinterest here.

Gazebos

Gazebos are a truly efficient way to make areas of the garden sheltered from the extremes of weather. They can also provide a location for an outside bar or chill out room.

​These temporary structures can be heated to make outside rooms perfect for less predictable times of the year. Gazebos come in a wide variety of shapes, colours and sizes to suit your requirements and needs. We have put some of our favourites down below.

Curtin string lights

These curtain string lights make for a very vibrant and exciting lighting effect. These can be utilised inside as well as outside but are very effective in the garden.

These can be used to section areas of the garden off or surround a special social gathering space. The best thing about these curtain lights is they are solar power generated.

​This means no underground cables or expensive installation. These impressive garden lights can make magical like spaces perfect for wedding receptions and christenings.

Log burners

When friends and family are together having a great time outside there is nothing like a fire to arouse the senses. This primitive form of light and warmth has had mankind gazing into its flicking flames for millennia.

There is an indescribable pull that people have towards it especially if it creates a cosy environment in the garden late at night. These log burners heat up quickly and have so much character in the garden space.

​Log burning chiminea’s come in both modern and traditional themes and look great!

Garden planters

Garden planters give the gardener the chance grow plants in places they may not have been able to before. They allow you to add colour and foliage to patios and soften areas of concrete and masonry work.

Garden planters have a thematic variety on their own with some being modern, gothic, classical the styles are simply endless. These great garden decor ideas can allow you to grow plants in deep rich soil which you cannot always replicate in the ground.

​With a careful watering regime you can grow almost anything in garden pots and planters. With these the variety, colours, materials, shapes and sizes are endless. We have put some of our favourite below.

Garden decor ideas for wildlife

In recent years many people have noticed a steep decline in the amount of local wildlife species in our gardens.

With some truly shocking statistics on the decline of insects, birds, reptilians, amphibians and small mammals it is no wonder want to help garden wildlife. In a time of huge ecological global destruction we are all starting to realise that if smaller wildlife species completely disappear, we are also at risk.

​There has now been an explosion in the interest of wildlife gardening across the world. Garden decor ideas for wildlife include fashionable nesting boxes, funky bird feeders and wildlife filming gadgets. Why not check out our garden decor ideas for wildlife below.

Insect hotels

Many of the most endangered insect species in our gardens are the most beneficial to us. Solitary wasps, bees and spiders not only help pollinate plants but eat garden pests.

Unfortunately many insecticides on the market do more damage to beneficial insects allowing pests to increase. With a new emphasis on ecological balance in the garden we are now encouraging beneficial species by providing them with food and shelter.

​One of the most effective ways to help solitary wasps, lady birds and predatory insects is to install an insect hotel. These provide dry nesting and hibernating opportunities for these species. Not only do they help boost wildlife but they also look amazing. A perfect garden décor idea which is good for the environment!

Bird boxes

Most agree there have been dramatic reductions in numbers of garden birds within our lifetimes. The bird song of the dawn chorus is now a thing of the past for most urban gardens.

As modern developments spring up there are less untidy places for birds and their prey to find food and shelter. It has been recognised that gardens are now the last refuge for many of these iconic species.

Gardens with adequate cover and nesting opportunities can be very important for local birds. Most garden trees however are rarely old enough to create the best nesting opportunities.

​By installing bird boxes in our gardens we can dramatically improve the chances of wild birds thriving once again. These inexpensive nesting opportunities are a must have garden decor Idea!

Bird feeders

Bird boxes can prove vital for birds looking to nest, bird feeders also offer an important lifeline. With a huge reduction in insects and wild plants, birds can need extra food to get through the winter.

This is where bird feeders have become vital for our overwintering bird species. During the winter months birds need even more energy to get through cold weather. Bird feeders are not just great for birds they are also great for people too.

​Feeders give us the opportunity to watch these delights of nature up close within view of our homes. Bird feeders can be a great addition to the garden for everyone involved! They come in a wide range of types and styles!

Bird baths

Most people assume bird boxes and feeders are the only way to help garden birds. For all bird species water is also extremely important.

Birds require fresh water to both drink and bath in away from predators. This can be a challenge as most water sources are at ground level. The best way to ensure local garden birds are getting the water they need maybe consider a raised bird bath.

What is great about these is they can be extremely artistic and visually pleasing to the eye. Even better they are great for watching the birds come and splash water over themselves in an industrious fashion.

​These bird baths can make great garden decor ideas especially the wall mounted ones. We have put some of our favourites here. 

Bat boxes

Bats are another example of a species in sharp decline due to loss of habitat and prey species. These amazing flying mammals typically would nest in dying trees, caves or holes inside buildings.

With modern buildings having less nooks and crannies with less mature trees bats have fewer places to nest. By installing bat boxes you could be giving them a chance to thrive in your area.

​Bats are a beneficial species eating pests throughout the local area. There is nothing better than watching them fly around as the sun goes down. These displays add some real magic to the garden.

Hedghog homes

One small mammal that sometimes gets overlooked when it comes to garden wildlife is hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are amazing small mammals which eat some of the gardener’s worst enemies.

These hungry fellows can gobble through an impressive amount of slugs, snails and beetles in a single night. In the UK alone there has been a dramatic 90% decline in the amount of hedgehogs within the last 30 years.

This has mainly been due to less wild places where they can find shelter. Hedgehogs need to roam reasonable areas to forage enough food. Garden fences can act as a considerable barrier to their movements.

​Try to allow gaps in your fences for them to pass through effortlessly. The best thing you can do for hedgehogs however is to install a hedgehog box. There are some great examples of these below.

Garden Ponds

Garden ponds can not only make impressive garden decor they are also great for wildlife. All garden creatures including birds need water to both drink and bath.

Garden ponds can attract larger garden species which will naturally garden pests. Examples of these are frogs, newts and reptiles. Not only do the ponds themselves act as garden decoration but they provide opportunities for extra focal points.

​Fountains, statues, and lighting are all great garden decor ideas to be investigated. If you do not have room for a large garden pond why not consider buying a raised one for the patio?

For more wildlife garden products check out our article on thesubject here.

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