Everyone wants their garden to draw the eye of their visitors — as long as it’s for the right reasons, that is. Much like a beautifully designed interior, the most compelling outdoor spaces are thoughtfully curated, with considered materials and a rich mix of color and texture. But in order for your garden to really make a lasting impression (rather than dissolving into a blur of beautiful yet indistinct details), a few eye-catching elements are key.
Luckily, landscape designers know exactly which details promise to stand out for all the right reasons. If you want to ensure your guests are drawn to your thoughtful shrubbery, beautiful blooms, and contemporary hardscape instead of the weeds poking their way through the patio, there are a few ideas that ensure the focus falls firmly in your favor.
For planting ideas and landscaping tricks that truly deliver, it pays to take a step back and get an outsider’s perspective on your own outdoor space. Ready to create a modern garden that invites guests at first glance? Here are five elements experts say are sure to make a positive impression.
Article continues below
1. Focal Points
A water feature? A painted fence? Even a fireplace…? The options for outdoor focal points are endless.
(Image credit: Casper Farrell Photography. Design: Woodhouse & Law Garden & Interior Design)
Just as an interior needs a focal point, so, too, does a garden. Drawing the eye to something that commands your attention will make your outdoor space feel curated, intentional, and perfectly planned. This tends to be easier inside a home, where you have furniture, paint, and decor at your disposal. In the garden, we’ll admit it’s a little trickier, but anything is possible with a bit of imagination.
“First impressions are often made when glimpsing the garden from the inside of the house, before we’ve even had a chance to get outside,” explains Nick Woodhouse, creative director of gardens at Woodhouse & Law. Think about what you can see from the window, and invite guests outside with something they’ll be instantly drawn to.
Nick says these can differ hugely, from a bold sculpture, a water feature, or even a specimen tree, proving it doesn’t always need to be a big installation. There can be multiple focal points in one garden, too. Maybe it’s an outdoor fireplace in your seating area, as pictured above, or an espalier tree against your fence. The possibilities are truly endless.
Charles Bentley
Charles Bentley 4 Tier Cascading Water Feature
2. Fragrance
Of all the senses, scent makes the most lasting impression. With thoughtful planting, you’ll have a backyard that visitors won’t forget.
(Image credit: Casper Farrell Photography. Design: Woodhouse & Law Garden & Interior Design)
If you really want to make a lasting impression on visitors to your garden, scent can work wonders. Be it fragrant flowers or the earthy aroma of a herb planter, guests won’t help but remark.
“Fragrance will often set a scene before sight, with specific scents instantly invoking a sense of warmth, and occasionally nostalgia too,” says Nick. “We often recommend planting scented plants such as sweet peas, fragrant roses, and jasmine close to entrance points, seating areas, and paths.”
Kat Aul Cervoni, landscape designer and founder of Staghorn Living, notes that the spring and summer months offer a myriad of options. “Plants like lavender, lilacs, peonies, or herbs create an immediate sense of arrival,” she says.
Burpee has a great selection of scented plants, and there are also certain things that make your garden smell expensive, for a truly luxurious outdoor space that your guests won’t forget.
Nick Woodhouse
Nick trained as a garden designer at the renowned English Gardening School in Chelsea. He has run a successful gardening company in London and Bath and is an RHS qualified plantsman. He has designed and managed the delivery of multiple residential and commercial projects across Bath, London and recently Mallorca.
3. Lighting
It’s human nature to notice something once it’s lit up, so use lighting outdoors, too, to highlight the very best bits of your garden.
(Image credit: Eric Holt. Design: Cost Design:)
Lighting serves a dual purpose in a garden. Not only does it play a functional role in illuminating your space after dark, but it can also highlight key features and draw the eye. If there’s a specific element of your garden that you want your guests to notice — a path, a seating area, a sculpture — consider lighting it up.
Kat notes that soft, warm lighting makes a space feel inviting and considered, especially as the evening sets in. “I find that overhead cafe string lights, lanterns, and even rechargeable outdoor table lights are big hits,” she says. The beauty of garden lighting is that you don’t need to overthink it. Any installation, however big or small, promises to stand out.
John Lewis
John Lewis Heftig Rechargeable Outdoor Table Lamp
4. Comfortable Seating
Guests will instantly be drawn to an outdoor furniture set, especially when it’s adjacent to a bit of wilderness.
(Image credit: Staghorn NYC)
Once guests are immersed in your garden, they’ll appreciate somewhere to sit and take it all in. In an otherwise wild oasis, contrasting garden furniture will always be noticeable, so make sure you choose design-worthy options. “This could be cushions or throws on a garden day bed, a parasol to afford some much-needed shade, or a drinks trolley to offer instant refreshment without the need to pop back in the house,” says Nick.
A cozy outdoor seating area is a safe choice, and it will always be inviting, especially if it’s framed by beautiful surroundings. Take the space above, for example. Against a backdrop of ornamental grasses, the furniture stands out, but the choice of teak keeps it natural and harmonious. It doesn’t need to be a huge outdoor living room setup, either. “Even a simple bench or pair of chairs signals that the space is meant to be used, not just looked at,” says Kat.
John Lewis
John Lewis Coast Eucalyptus Wood Garden Lounge Chair, Brushed Wood
Landscape designer, Katherine ‘Kat’ Aul Cervoni, is the founder and principal of Staghorn Living. Kat creates outdoor spaces that become natural extensions of a home’s interior. A member of the Ecological Landscape Alliance and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, she also mentors young plant enthusiasts and upcoming designers.
5. The Unexpected
This space makes a strong case for rich, bold hues in a garden.
(Image credit: Casper Farrell Photography. Design: Woodhouse & Law Garden & Interior Design)
If you really want to stop guests in their tracks, introduce something unexpected to your garden. “It’s the more unusual, surprising items that will often leave a lasting memory of a space,” Nick explains. “Of course, it needs to be a nice surprise — not, for instance, the glaring beam of a security light that repeatedly turns on with your every move.”
Stuck for inspiration? Nick suggests an unexpected seating nook tucked away in a hidden corner, or a bold combination of planting colors. You could even make a daring color choice through your garden furniture, as seen in the space pictured above. Saturated reds, yellows, or blues will pop out playfully and make a great conversation point.
Pooky Lighting
Bullrush Spike Lights
Spike lights are so easy to install, and they offer a great way to draw the eye to flower beds and borders when daylight fades. These bullrush-inspired ones from Pooky cast a warm golden glow, accentuated by the brass detailing.
DK
How to Design a Garden
Landscape design is an art form, so brush up your knowledge with this accessible book from Pollyanna Wilkinson. Guests will be complementing your garden left, right, and center.
John Lewis
Salsa 2-Seater Garden Sofa
Colorful patio furniture is all the rage right now, and this two-seater sofa from John Lewis ticks all our boxes. The burnt umber tone stands out in a green oasis without going too far, but for those who prefer something more subtle, it’s also available in green or beige.
If this list proves anything, it’s that you don’t have to rely on elaborate features to draw the eye. It could be as simple as turning a tree into a focal point, planting some sweet-scented florals, or upgrading your outdoor furniture.
The bottom line? Details matter just as much in your outdoor spaces as they do inside the home, as this year’s garden trends go to prove, so be intentional with your landscaping. Give your garden some much-needed attention this spring and create a garden your guests won’t forget.
For more design ideas for your garden and beyond, subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter, and all the latest will be delivered directly to your inbox.
