Easy Ways to Make Your Outdoor Space Feel More Relaxing

Most people probably imagine a relaxing garden like something you’d find in a magazine… it’ll have perfect furniture, perfect plants, and your budget will cover it all with no problems. But the truth is that perfection doesn’t really play a big part in relaxation, and it’s more about how the space makes you feel when you’re in it. With that in mind, keep reading to learn about some easy ways to make your outdoor space feel more relaxing.
  

Photo by Glen Michaelsen on Unsplash

Start With Clearing The Visual Chaos

Outdoor spaces collect clutter like you wouldn’t believe, and you’ll often find broken pots, kids’ toys, stacks of chairs, and lots more besides. And the thing is that you’ll usually just become immune to it all because it’s always been there, plus you don’t spend every waking hour outside (usually), and once you go back into the house, you forget any of it’s a potential problem at all. 

The issue is, of course, that clutter, whether it’s inside or outside, is stressful - subconsciously, you’ll be worrying about the mess, and that’s not going to help you relax at all. So the first thing to do is a sweep around the garden to determine what needs to stay, what should be thrown out, and what should be there but stored somewhere you can’t see it. You’ll be shocked at how much more relaxing the space feels once the stuff is all cleared away and tidied up. 

And don’t worry about making everything neat - lived-in is a lovely state to be in, as long as it’s not causing you stress.
 

Think About The Seating

People massively underestimate how much good seating actually matters, but if your outdoor chairs are uncomfortable, you’ll never be able to relax out there, no matter how pretty the garden is. That’s why you need to choose seating that literally supports you, and add some nice cushions that don’t go all flat as soon as you sit on them. Plus, you’ll want to put the seating in a spot that naturally has a bit of shade or sunshine, depending on what you like.

The point is, if you want to relax outside a bit more, you’ll need to make sitting there one of the best parts of your day. Adding a small side table is sure to help as well, because nothing is as annoying as feeling comfy in your chair and then struggling to find a good place to put your drink or book or phone.
 

Lighting Can Improve Everything

If you like to unwind in the evenings, lighting is going to be a real priority, and you’ll want to get it right. Soft, warm lights instantly turn the garden into a calming space, so you can install things like string lights, lanterns, solar lights along the paths, or perhaps a single lamp near the seating area, and so on.

Outdoor lighting should never be harsh (unless we’re talking about security lights, but that’s a different thing altogether) and should be as gentle as you can make it while still being able to see what you’re doing. And since there are so many different types and styles, you’re sure to be able to find something that works, no matter how you want to design the garden overall.
 

Pay Attention To Plants

Plants bring life, colour, and, of course, privacy to a garden space, and the best part is you don’t need to be a gardening expert to make the most of them. You can start with some low-maintenance choices like lavender, grasses, potted evergreens, herbs you can use for dinner, or anything else that isn’t going to die if you forget to water it one time. 

Plants also add movement, and the way leaves sway in the breeze or cast shadows over things at different times of the day can be hugely relaxing. And if your trees are looking overgrown and a bit wild, you don’t need to get expensive tools to fix it all - you can hire experts and trust Stephenson for tree trimming to ensure that everything looks good and is safe.
 

Create Small Zones

It’s much easier to relax if your garden is split into smaller sections rather than one big one that you know something needs to be worked on. You could have a reading corner, a coffee spot, a play area, a herb garden, a water feature and pond, and so on. And then you can enjoy each piece by itself or as a whole, and when work needs to be done, you can do it bit by bit, which is much less overwhelming and that means there’s more chance it’ll all get done.

You don’t need to put up extra fences to make this all happen because you can create zones much more easily and naturally, with pots, rugs, lighting, paths, or even just how you angle the furniture, but once it’s done, it should be a much nicer place to enjoy.
 

Add Natural Sounds

Sound has a big effect on your mood, and things like a water fountain, wind chimes, and rustling leaves and plants can make a space feel utterly peaceful. And what’s even better is that if you live somewhere that’s a bit noisy, perhaps because of traffic, kids playing, dogs barking, and so on, you can use a water feature or thick shrubs to help reduce the noise while it gives you a nicer sound to listen to at the same time.
 

Make Shade And Sun Work For You

A relaxing garden means you’ll need usable shade, and if there aren’t any trees to help you with that, it’s okay - you can use a parasol, pergola, sail shade, and so on. The point is, if you're squinting and sweating because of the sun, how are you going to relax? The answer is, you’re not, which means shade is non-negotiable.

Then there’s the sun - you’re sure to have some cooler days as well as hot ones, and that’s when you’ll need to know where the best sunny corners are, so you can make the most of your time outside. So ask yourself some questions, like where is it warmest in the afternoon? Where does it get a bit too breezy? Where does the light fall? Once you know the answers, you can set yourself up in the best places and enjoy your relaxation to the fullest.

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