(collaborative post) It’s not uncommon for people to spend thousands of pounds giving their home a modern makeover, but gardens are often forgotten. Here in the UK, our weather is so temperamental that homeowners often add ‘garden improvements’ to the bottom of the home renovation pile.
What people don’t realise is that modernising your outdoor space is a great way to expand your living area and, with the addition of the right features, can even help you make the most of your garden all year round.
In today’s blog post, I’m going to show you a few of the ways you can modernise your garden and turn it into a real asset.
Add a Garden Room or Veranda
One way to make your garden feel more modern is to add a stylish garden room or veranda. These striking structures feature bold, straight lines and glass panels that can make even the oldest gardens look contemporary.
Nowadays you can customise your garden room or veranda so that it fulfils your modern design aesthetic perfectly. Whether you want to choose brightly coloured support beams, remote controlled shutters or streamlined glass doors, you have complete control over the way your finished garden structure will look.
Having this flexibility means you can move away from outdated, standard conservatory designs and create something unique and upbeat. Covered garden spaces are ideal for hosting guests, having parties or relaxing with a good book. You’ll be protected from the elements at all times. All you need to finish the look is some modern furniture and some stylish lights.
Upgrade Your Decking
There are homeowners across Britain who have an old wooden deck in their garden. I should know, I’m one of them. Over time, wooden decks absorb water, start to rot and become a real eyesore. With uneven colour, a degraded old deck can really make your garden look old and unkept.
Replacing your decking will give your garden an instant facelift! Once you rip the shabby old decking out and install something bright and new, your garden will look like a completely different space.
If you don’t fancy standard brown decking, there are a lot of contemporary decking options out there. By replacing your deck with composite decking, for example, you open up a world of design possibilities. Composite decking is made of a combination of wood fibres and polymer resin, meaning it comes in all kinds of shades and textures including ultra-modern black, white and grey.
By stepping away from traditional shades and textures, you can create a new deck that complements your modern home beautifully.
Consider Artificial Grass
Although many would prefer real grass in the garden the reality is that unless you have the time to manage it the grass will soon become an unruly mess. Sometimes opting for artificial grass is the better option and far easier to manage. A quick tidy up once in a while to remove dead leaves and any other debris is all that is needed other than a going over with a stiff bristled brush once in a while.
Keep it Minimal
We have all heard the saying “less is more”? Well, when it comes to looking to Make Your Garden More Modern, this motto usually applies. Crowded spaces with lots of furniture and ornaments can quickly look dated. Stripping everything back to the bare essentials and keeping things very simple in terms of design is a great way to give your outdoor space that minimal appeal.
Try and stick to a single colour palette for a chic look. For example, if you opt for a cool-toned grey deck, choose chrome, silver and white accents. If you choose a warm brown deck, stick to neutral tones and golds for a coherent look. Integrated deck lights are a great way to add a bit of ‘sparkle’ without straying away from your modern design.
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Nice! I do want a new deck. But I don’t garden. I have a black thumb.
Sounds like you might need to get someone in to do the work for you.
Same! We only get a small window for gardening every year so the garden is low in the list of priorities. I like the artificial grass idea.
I love that garden room. I’ve wanted to add one of those to our house for years.
That veranda room is amazing and I wish I had the space to have a room like that. That deck looks fabulous and the views so nice.
We don’t have a garden, but when we make one, I absolutely want it to be modern!
Wow! That is just stunning! Future home goals right there!
Ha yes. It’s great to see what others have done for inspiration!
These are some great tips to help achieve a modern look for the garden! I love those folding glass doors.
This post is really informative. Looking forward to to spending more time outdoors again.
Same here. I can’t wait until it warms up.
Some superb ideas here on how to make the garden more stylish and current. Upgrading the decking to give it a more fresh look sounds like something I would definitely do
I am into gardening right now and I love these ideas. Following this will definitely make my garden more beautiful! Thank you!
I bet your garden looks great!!!
Brilliant tips. I would totally have artificial grass and some decking if I could but unfortunately we rent!
The good thing is you know what you want when you have your own place.
Thank you so much for this post. I really enjoyed your post. I want to start a project over the holidays and I’m inspired by this.
Glad to hear this has inspired you. Have fun!!
LOVELY, IN FACT AMAZING LOOK
It’s great how easy it is to transform a garden into something amazing!!!
I love the style and colors of that deck. I need to upgrade mine in the spring. I love these ideas.
SOO beautiful! I love the pictures.
I don’t have a big garden but thanks for this awesome tips.
The great thing is you don’t need to. It’s all about the way you set it out.
That’s very incredible design ideas. I always wanted to have a garden like this. I’m inspired I’ll be keeping this in mind.
It’s amazing what you can create!!!
I’ve never thought of modernising my garden but I would love to have that. That would be a cozy place to relax.
This is so lovely. I would love to be able to do this. These all look so amazing! I’d love to have a more beautiful garden each year.
A great garden can be very appealing.
Oh I wish I could add a veranda! How beautiful! What a way to upgrade the backyard and home. Thanks for sharing.
They can make a lovely addition.
I really needed this guide. We’re due to get our garden landscaped in 2021 to make it more modern and to reduce the upkeep of the grass. I can’t wait to see it all finished.
Oh wow, that must be exciting. Hopefully, it’ll be ready in time to enjoy over the summer!!!
I love having a garden. I think that it needs a new modern touch!
Loads of time to prepare it for next summer.
We are investing in getting our garden landscaped in the spring and I can’t wait
That sounds exciting!!! Good luck x
We’d love to have a garden like that at our home. It looks really modern. I have plans to do mine soon.
I’m hoping this has given you some ideas. Good luck x
I would love to have the time to do this. this is such a cool look.
Modernising a garden can be great and reduce the amount of maintenance required.
Oh my gosh!!! I just bought my first house and im looking for all the inspo!!! so modern and so pretty!!!
It must be an exciting time for you. Have fun refurbishing.
Wow these are some great tips! I think my garden needs a refresh
It’s a great way to breathe new life into your garden.
There are some good ideas here for sure, I think decking can make a big difference x
I do love decking. Perfect to spend warm summers on.
I have a small space here and I want to add a deck like this looks so beautiful and neat
It really is and can really improve the look of the space.
Lovely deck beautiful desigins. Wish I can have that in my house. Need money for that , may later .
Certainly something to save up for.
I like the design / style of this garden room and deck!
Looks great doesn’t it!
These are really great tips for people with gardens. Upgrading the decking is a good one!
It really is. Good decking properly cared for will last ages.
Wow. The garden photographed is stunning. I can only dream about mine looking like that.
Some of those gardens looked so nice I do try but I have a small garden and I don’t think it always looks as good
You would be amazed at what people have done with small gardens.
Wow, those gardens are absolutely beautiful, it makes me jealous!
A lovely garden can really help you enjoy the outdoor space you have.
We have artificial grass…..Best money we’ve spent on our house, our garden is teeny tiny and its really smartened it up!
It is very popular and can save you time not having to mow and weed regularly.
Love these ideas very useful especially the decking
We definitely need to do something with the end of our garden
We can’t do a lot to our garden as it’s more like a field.
Oh wow, sounds like it’s a big one!!! There is so much you could do!!
I would love a garden <3 one downside of living in an apartment
I can sympathize. Hopefully, you’ll have your own place with a garden sometime.
these pictures are giving me major garden envy
I love the suggestions, we really need to update our patio area. We don’t have decking we have concrete but I want to paint it or stencil it. Love the idea of artificial grass too, always looking need and next to no maintenance
I love the decking, sadly we only have a concrete patio but I want to upgrade it, thinking of putting some stencils on. The idea of artificial grass is great, always looking neat and relatively low maintenance.
We love Our garden Spent hours in it even before lockdown,Really like the decking.If we had it i would only have a small one
Thank you so much our garden looks so old and traditional. I would love to give it that modern flare. I am planning on painting the decking grey to freshen it up as it’s not too old just yet and add some artificial grass. I’ve heard of people using a vacuum to give it a clean. which sounds so much easier than mowing it and it looking patchy!
My goodness that decking is absolutely beautiful!
Where I grew up, lots of people had a verandah at the front of their house, usually made of wood. They were so lovely to sit on for a drink, a meal or just to watch the world go by. These days, I love the idea of a garden room, even when space is tight.
Love that decking, it looks so much better than the wood finish
Great article. I would love to have a nicer garden mine is very small , bare and grassless!!
Great ideas if only we could use the garden all year round!
I know. I wish the weather was better here.
We used to have a family room leading out to a deck and seating area. Unfortunately we had too many children and had to find another bedroom so the family room is no more. Your article makes me want it back!