It’s warming up outside and spending time in the garden may well soon be on your mind. If you want to realise those aspirations of creating the ultimate outdoor room, then now is the time to get to work!
Due to the rather unreliable weather we experience in the UK, most homeowners only ever wake up to the potential of the garden as an additional outside living space during the warmer months of spring and summer. If you have grand designs for your garden, you need to start the planning process well in advance. Given the current trend for “don’t move, improve” it is quite likely that 2009 will see more and more homeowner’s spending money on their existing properties in an effort to create the ideal home and garden.
With everyone’s idea of the ideal garden being somewhat different, improvements are an extremely personal thing. In the current financial climate with belts being tightened, achieving you dream garden design is still absolutely possible.
A Safe Place to Play!
Does the garden provide a stimulating and fun play environment that is safe for the kids? Child proofing the outdoor space spans a whole host of issues such as the review of existing perimeter fencing (how secure is it?); removal of dangerous plants / trees; replacement of chipped / broken pavers; installation of an approved children’s play surface to ensure added safety around fixed play equipment e.g. slides / swings; installation of a year round outdoor play area in the guise of a decked or paved patio.
Remember to think long term when installing safety measures in the garden, what may prove safe for a toddler today could become a potential hazard for a curious six year old.
Dream Driveway
Is parking a nightmare in you street? If it is, off street parking can give you peace of mind! There is no fun at all in endlessly searching for a space at the end of a long days work. Consider enhancing your property with a well designed driveway, creating a stress free, clean and smart way to park.
Remember that following the introduction of legislation which came into effect in October 2008, unless you are working with a permeable driveway paving product you may require planning permission to pave over a front garden.
The Good Life
Another area of you new garden design that can easily be overlooked is that of a “grow your own” zone. This can be a wonderful way of cutting your grocery bills and raised beds can make the whole process easier.
Entertaining The Outdoor Way!
If you are like me then you’ll enjoy the more informal dinner party that is possible in a garden dinning area. Good lighting, practical access to the kitchen, a nice patio or decked surface and of course a lovely barbecue make this all possible. Consider every aspect of this when going through the planning stage, as it’s way more practical and economical to include this early on in the process than to add it as an after thought.
Once you’ve had a chance to think through the changes you want to make to your outdoor space, it pays to bring in the professionals and seek guidance on a realistic price which should detail all the installation and labour costs, along with an anticipated time frame.