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A generation ago, a decent barbecue and somewhere to sit were the hallmarks of a fancy garden. But now, the middle-class garden has become an entity entirely of its own. Thanks to Instagram and TikTok influencers, many people now put as much effort into ‘collating’ their patio as they do their kitchen.
This becomes a particularly important issue when the weather picks up. You want somewhere to enjoy a summer lunch or a glass of vino in the sunshine – and, if you’re anything like me, you don’t want to have to splash hundreds of pounds to do so.
The good news is that you don’t need acres of gardens or a huge budget to get the Insta-friendly look. A few clever buys can make even a small outdoor space feel both more useful and nicer to spend time in. These are the nine essentials worth knowing about.
1. A bistro set
A decade ago, the middle-class garden dream was a giant corner sofa that took up three-quarters of your patio or lawn. Now? It’s a modest bistro set tucked into a sunny corner.
The appeal is partly practical, given most British gardens aren’t exactly sprawling meadows, but it’s also aesthetic. There’s something quaint and charming about the set up, that suggests you lounge outside with your morning coffee and weekend newspapers.
Surround it with potted plants and dainty fairy lights (ideally woven around some annoyingly thriving shrubbery) and you’ve got a perfect, patio-friendly area, no matter how pushed for space you are.
2. A fire pit
This is a middle class staple that makes little sense, since the UK enjoys approximately three warm evenings a year. But that’s not the point: much like a log burner indoors, a fire pit is less about necessity and more about creating an atmosphere.
There’s something almost romantic about gathering around a fire as the temperature drops, while you and your pals finish a bottle of wine. Unlike patio heaters, which feel a bit pub garden, fire pits are classy and cosy, and make even the smallest space look like somewhere you’d happily snuggly up for an evening.
Come sunset, surround it with a few folding chairs and suddenly your garden is a place everyone wants to linger for a little longer.
3. A pizza oven
Ten years ago, owning a barbecue was enough. Now, the truly middle-class garden must involve a pizza oven and spending every summer evening attempting to recreate Naples in a Surry semi.
It helps that they look super sleek too. Tucked into a corner of the patio, a pizza oven is both an instant conversation starter and a way to make dinner a bit more fun. Whether you’re hosting friends or just making margaritas for two, it’s a bit gimmicky, but honestly, an easy upgrade to your al fresco dinners.
4. An outdoor drinks trolley
Nothing says ‘I’ve got summer hosting sorted’ quite like a drinks trolley. It’s not a necessary – yes, you could just carry everything out on a tray like a normal person – but that’s not really the point.
A drinks trolley turns a few bottles and glasses into a real al fresco dinner party moment. It makes the garden feels more like an outdoor room, and less like you’ve juggled a thousand kitchen utensils outside.
Stock it with ice, lemons, a jug of Pimm’s and ideally a nice bottle of rosé, and you’ve basically created your own outdoor bar. If your friends have Instagram, expect them to post a snap.
5. An olive tree
Nothing makes a garden feel more expensive than a ‘statement’ potted olive tree. They look stylish, work well in smaller gardens and give even a tiny patio a slightly Mediterranean feel.
They’re also surprisingly (and ideally, for plant-phobes like me) easy to look after. Olive trees are hardy, don’t need constant watering and can last for years in the same pot, provided they get plenty of sun and decent drainage.
Put one on either side of your back door, add some outdoor lanterns and you’ve got a perfect botanical paradise.
6. A striped parasol
Swapping your plain parasol for a striped one is an easy way to make your garden look less ‘random selection from the Argos catalogue’ and more ‘considered by someone with an actual interest in design’.
The current middle class faves tend to be scalloped, striped and in shades like cream, green or rust. They’re a small detail, but one that can add a focal area to your garden, especially if the rest of your furniture is relatively neutral.
Place one over a wooden table set and it feels more like a smart hotel terrace on the Italian Riviera. Another Aperol, please!
7. Festoon lights
You’ll likely know festoon lights as the strings of large, exposed bulbs hanging across restaurant terraces and wedding venues. They’re a bit more substantial than fairy lights and give off a warmer glow, which makes them ideal for patios or seating areas.
Switch them on as it starts to get dark and even a fairly ordinary garden gets an alluring glow. And they’re more flattering if anyone’s taking pictures, FYI.
8. A pergola
Ignore the Love Island connotations: a pergola is actually a chic and versatile, option if you have the space. It gives you some shade on hotter days, a bit of shelter when the weather turns, and somewhere to hang lights or grow climbing plants.
The newer black metal versions are especially popular and can make a garden feel more spacey. Add a table underneath and it becomes an easy spot for lunches and al fresco drinks, whatever the British weather throws at us.
9. A garden storage bench
The downside of all this lovely garden furniture? The mountain of cushions, throws and outdoor bits you somehow have to find a home for every time it rains.
A storage bench is the boring-but-brilliant answer. It hides everything away, doubles up as extra seating and saves you doing endless trips to the shed. Not exactly the most exciting thing you’ll buy for the garden, but possibly the one you’ll be the most grateful for.
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