How to get your garden spring-ready with design-led buys

Over the last year, the status of the garden has been elevated from a pleasurable convenience to a hugely valuable luxury, writes Anya Cooklin-Lofting

Kingdom Lava, Delta Lava, Volcano Lava, Delta Tropic cushions, £70, Andrew Martin, www.andrewmartin.co.uk (Andrew Martin)

In the absence of a garden of my own this spring, I have taken to following quaint garden accounts on Instagram, scrolling and lingering on the images of sun-baked, walled lavender gardens in Provence, bejewelled terraces of English roses and richly tiled, cactus-clad, Mexican sun traps. I’ve re-read Frances Mayes’ Under The Tuscan Sun and devoured Helena Attlee’s The Land Where Lemons Grow for an escapist hit of citrus-scented, Italianate freedom, roaming the Boboli Gardens in my mind, only to find myself still within the same coalescence of first-floor rented walls. The tenancy agreement promised garden access, but languishing on the thin strip of lawn at the slightest hint of sunshine feels rather exposing as the downstairs neighbour works away at his garden-facing desk. So I retreat, once again, to scroll through the bot-generated Tweets from @GardensBritish, serendipitously poetically posting fleeting glimpses of British gardens such as: You are in a British garden. You can feel the chill on the marigolds. There is scattering and there is blistering. The apple trees are listening to every word.

I know I’m far from the only one feeling the absence of outdoor space. As Jonny Brierley, the CEO of garden furniture company, Moda Furnishings, tells me, “over the last year, the status of the garden has been elevated from a pleasurable convenience to a hugely valuable luxury. People have an enlightened understanding of not only the advantage of having a garden, but of its practicality, too, and this is unlikely to change.” Lockdown has undoubtedly played a part in my longing, particularly when outside activity was limited to a once-a-day scurry around the local park. To have the option to set a couple of chairs and a little table on even the smallest patch of grass or flagstone would be a pleasure unmatched. A little outdoor room of one’s own.

Arc 30 Curved sofa with Stone gas Fire Pit, £2,875, Moda Furnishings, www.modafurnishings.co.uk (Moda Furnishings)

According to design firm, Millier’s Creative Directors, Helen Westlake and Alex Nord, you should approach garden design in the same way you might your interiors. Large gardens especially, according to the pair, can host dedicated dining, reception and entertaining spaces, including outdoor bars and kitchens. I particularly enjoy this sentiment. Warping the rules and applying the principles we use indoors to gardens is an exciting idea. John Tenniel’s original illustrations of the Mad Hatter’s tea party in Lewis Carol’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland feature an ivy-wrapped tree, the external wall of a grand house, and a collection of supposedly “indoor” furniture, including an exquisite scalloped armchair and a substantial dining table, set outdoors. This particular drawing embodies the charm you can achieve by treating the garden as if it’s another room in the home, as Millier suggests. “A garden can be seen as a true extension of the interiors,” they continue. “Private clients are asking more than ever for our advice on outdoor spaces as they want the layouts to blend seamlessly throughout inside and out. The relationship between interior and exterior is considered at the outset in all of our designs.”

Ligne Roset Ottoman armchair and sofa (Ligne Roset)

Thankfully, there’s no need to empty your living room in favour of the garden these days. Some of the coolest interior design brands are developing outdoor-use products that pack as much of a punch as their iconic, core ranges. For example, Ligne Roset’s indoor-outdoor collection will provide your garden with some of the brand’s most sought-after silhouettes, in light polyurethane foam and complete with an inner liner made from waterproof cloth.

String outdoor system, £80, string furniture, www.utilitydesign.co.uk (Utility Design)

String Furniture, the shelving company of choice amongst the design-savvy set, has expanded into an outdoor range too, comprising freestanding shelves in galvanised metal. In an unprecedented move, the company has created units that need no wall support, unlike its long-standing System line, which requires wall brackets fixed with screws. The utilitarian, function-first design brings a sleek, elevated look to any garden, ideal for small potted herbs and gardening tools.

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Another exterior design ‘first’ comes from the global design brand, Andrew Martin, and the launch of its new cushion and fabric collection, The Great Outdoors. The new designs are shower resistant, anti-mould and mildew and are anti-microbial. Martin Waller, the brand’s founder, says, “although cushions may seem like small details when it comes to transforming your garden, they do offer a quick and easy design solution.” After my own heart, he continues, “As well as bringing much-needed comfort to your garden seating, the addition of design-led outdoor cushions allows you to blur the line between interior and exterior, helping the garden on its way to a carefully considered living area.”