The Best Outdoor Living Ideas for Your Garden

The popularity of multi-functional gardens are on the rise as more and more homeowners are embracing the idea of transforming their gardens into versatile and inviting living spaces for relaxation, dining and socialising.

Due to the events that have occurred over the past few years and the increase in people working from home, our gardens are becoming a popular safe space where we can relax and enjoy nature. And in addition to this, studies have shown that there are numerous physical and mental health benefits of spending more time outdoors, too. For example, it can decrease the levels of stress hormones in your body and ease your muscle tension, while also increasing energy levels and improving mental clarity.

So, with that in mind, we have compiled a list of our top ideas to transform your garden into the perfect outdoor living space.

Here are 5 of the best outdoor living ideas for your garden:

Outdoor kitchen
Al fresco dining
Comfy lounge areas
Fire place
Outdoor lighting

1. Outdoor Kitchen

Having an outdoor kitchen in your garden is a fantastic way for all you foodies & cooking enthusiasts to bring the fun of cooking and entertaining outdoors. Outdoor kitchens are typically designed to replicate many of the key features and functions of an indoor kitchen while taking advantage of the natural surroundings and enjoying the outdoors.

Some key features of an outdoor kitchen might include a grill, countertop, skink, storage, refrigeration and ventilation. You might even decide to add in a pizza oven – a family favourite!

Benefits of Building an Outdoor Kitchen

Here are some more key benefits of an outdoor kitchen in your garden:

It’s a fantastic way to entertain the family/ guests – Outdoor kitchens are a convenient space to entertain people as you can cook, socialise, and enjoy the company of everyone around you without having the burden of going back and forth between the indoor kitchen and garden. This makes hosting much more enjoyable and stress free!

Reduced indoor heat – Cooking inside the house during the summer months can quickly heat up your home, however cooking outdoors eliminates this issue and keeps your space indoors cooler.

Reduced indoor smoke & food smells – Cooking and preparing food outside also prevents food odours and smoke lingerings inside the house.

Increased home value – Building an outdoor kitchen will typically enhance your property’s value and boost appeal when it comes to selling, making it a valuable investment as well as all the other benefits that come with it.

This brings us nicely onto our second outdoor living idea…

2. Al Fresco Dining

Al fresco dining goes hand in hand with an outdoor kitchen and refers to the practice of eating meals outdoors, typically in your garden. Whether it’s a relaxing morning breakfast, a leisurely lunch or a romantic meal for two, al fresco garden dining offers a whole range of benefits that combine the pleasures of outdoor living with the enjoyment of a delicious home-cooked meal.

Raine Garden Design outdoor dining — Al fresco dining is typically a much more casual and relaxed atmosphere than that of indoor dining as the tranquillity of your garden creates a relaxing ambiance, as well as enjoying benefits of fresh air while savouring your meal.

On the topic of eating in your garden, many people believe that food actually tastes better outside. Some say that eating outside provides an elevated sensory experience i.e. it improves your sense of taste. Others say it’s related to the fact that while at one with nature, you’re less distracted by work and other things that might cause you stress.

3. Comfy Lounge Areas

Another key component of an outdoor living garden space is a comfy lounge area. This area is designed to provide a comfortable space for you and guests to unwind, relax, socialise, nap, read and do whatever you want to do while enjoying the beauty of your own garden.

For a little inspiration, here are some of our top garden longing ideas:

Garden Lounging Ideas

Comfy chairs
Sofas
Beanbags
Hammocks
Cushions & pillows
Outdoor rugs
Coffee tables

The Best Outdoor Living Ideas for Your Garden — Remember to choose weather-resistant furniture that can withstand the elements, and if you can, get protective sheeting that can be popped over the furniture when not in use for long periods of time.

4. Fire Place

For those of us that live in the UK, we’re used to cold winters and warm(ish) summers, which is why installing a toasty fire pit or fireplace into your outdoor garden will allow you to relax outside all year round, regardless of the temperature.

There are several types of fireplaces you can incorporate into your garden, including:

Wood burning Fire Pit: Wood burning fire pits are a popular choice and add a cosy rustic camp-like atmosphere to your garden.

Chiminea: This type of fireplace is a freestanding, clay or metal structure with a chimney. It directs smoke upward, reducing the amount of smoke that reaches those surrounding it.

Gas Fire Pit: Gas fire pits use propane or natural gas as fuel and can be ignited with a switch or remote control – a super convenient option that also produces clean and smokeless flames.

Fire Bowl: Fire bowls are decorative bowls designed to hold firewood or other fuel and can be made up of various materials, such as metal or concrete.

Wall-Mounted Fireplace: These are mounted on a wall or tall structure, such as a garden wall or pergola, great for saving floor space if you have a small garden.

5. Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting plays a crucial role in enhancing the functionality, aesthetics and of course safety of outdoor living spaces.

Without well-placed outdoor lighting, there would be a much higher chance of accidents, especially where there is uneven terrain. Properly lit pathways and walkways however make it easier to navigate your garden at night, reducing the risk of trips and falls.

The best part about it is that there’s a huge range of outdoor lighting options to choose from, from string lights and solar-powered lights to wall-mounted fixtures and spotlights, all catering to different needs and budgets. You can also choose certain types of lighting to create a specific ambiance and mood of your garden. For example, warm lighting can create a cosy and inviting atmosphere, while brighter whiter lighting will create a more upbeat, energetic atmosphere. It all comes down to personal preference.

Discover how lighting can extend the serenity of your outdoor space here.

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How Raine Garden Design Can Help

If you want to transform your garden into a multi functional outdoor living area but are not too sure where to start, we can help. At Raine Garden Design, our experts will work closely with you to understand your preferences, lifestyle, and functional needs, and help to create the perfect outdoor living environment for you.

Learn more about the benefits of hiring a professional garden designer here, or get in touch on 07702 042559 or by emailing studio@rainegardendesign.co.uk to discover more about our garden design services.

Written by Kate Jones for Raine Garden Design.

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Will Bain

2024-01-15

Raine helped us with our garden project after completing the design work in 2023. The project involved the extensive redesign of our garden, with the incorporation of a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen / dining etc and full replanting. Her input was invaluable and timely throughout the project, we are thrilled with the result. Her expertise and experience were clear to see. The relationship was very collaborative which resulted in the development of the perfect garden for us

Elfmanscoop88

2023-08-19

We moved into our dream house five years ago but whilst the house was perfect, the garden was a real disappointment for me - an awkward L shape with various slopes. On Raine’s first visit, she was keen to understand our vision for the garden before suggesting any ideas of her own. She was also cognisant of my desire to do as much of the work as possible. Raine identified the need to open up the rear of our kitchen in order to integrate the new garden with our home and was keen that we do this first, even if it meant delaying the start of the garden project. Raine is direct in her communications and will challenge you but that is exactly what we needed in order to achieve our perfect garden. Raine delivered on her brief in spades - we now have a modern garden which looks and feels twice the size that it did before, and with great entertaining space. The connection of the garden with the kitchen has made all the difference, and we now have the dream garden to go with our dream home! I would not hesitate to recommend Raine, who is a joy to work with and is at the very top of her game. Thank you Raine!

John Woodcock

2023-06-06

We sought a garden designer who would be able to meet quite specific needs in our brief, and who could create a unique garden for us. From the first meeting, Raine proved to be that individual, listening carefully to our requirements and producing a design that met every specification. She was both amiable and approachable, and brought subtle ideas and suggestions into the design, which met the brief exactly. The different zones in the garden work very well and offer places to sit, dine, enjoy company, or simply be indolent in the Summer sunshine. Strong vertical and horizontal lines produce interesting shadows, while the planting is subtle, softening the harder structures. Raine has given us everything we asked for, and we’re extremely pleased with the result. It’s a garden that’s very different from any in the locality, and draws constant admiration from visitors. We are delighted clients.

Ann Maskell

2022-11-30

We have just finished our garden and wanted to say how happy we were to have employed RGD to do the project from start to finish. We really enjoyed working with Raine. Although in truth we didn't actually work. She really put her heart and soul into our project and her attention to detail was incredible. She manages with great diplomacy to win you round to her ideas even though at times we thought we knew better (We didn't) To say we are thrilled with our garden would be an understatement and we could not have achieved the look or the planting without her input. I would recommend her to anybody who wants to have a beautiful garden and who appreciates true professionalism and a gritty determination to do the work properly.

Stephanie Wagnert

2022-10-04

We have had the pleasure of working with Raine during the last 18 months or so, during the design and construction phases of our fabulous garden project, which has just been completed. We connected with Raine instantly; she took the time to understand our vision, how we would use the garden, and the kind of family we are, not missing out the children’s and the dog’s needs with our outdoor space. With her brief she then prepared excellent plans (she has fantastic drawing skills) to put our vision on paper. There were some changes along the way, but Raine proved to be extremely flexible, responsive, open and throughout the entire process she went out of her way to ensure that we were always happy. Raine has excellent communication skills too, and there were regular updates and prompt replies to all of our queries. Raine’s attention and eye for detail is faultless and we also appreciate that she was so honest and not scared of challenging our opinions. Today we are so grateful that we listened to her expert views. We are demanding clients and I’d say sometimes probably ‘qwirky’ people, but she wasn’t fazed by it. We had so many laughs throughout the process too, and I think it’s fair to say Raine got a real insight into our family life through our many chats, not all garden related! Raine has an outstanding working relationship with the landscaping professionals that she recommended, and they too delivered everything as agreed, and more. Our fabulous new garden was worth the wait, and we are truly delighted and look forward to see our garden mature and to enjoy it for years to come.

Chris Wilson

2022-07-13

As soon as we met Raine it was clear that we could work with her to create our dream garden. Raine is warm and friendly, and her great eye for detail, colour and space all came through in the wonderful plan she delivered. She was able to challenge our thinking and provide fantastic suggestions to improve and utilise the existing space, to create a garden that is colourful, structured and meets all our needs for entertaining and relaxing. Raine oversaw the whole project, and the landscaping team from Bushy Business were professional, friendly and a joy to work with. Our garden has been transformed into a beautiful space that we enjoy every day, and it's even dog friendly. The design included a beautiful replacement pergola which has great impact and draws the eye to the magnificent water feature. Our garden is mainly walled and the addition of pleached Hornbeams makes it feel structured and yet secluded. The amazing porcelain tiled patio area for dining and relaxing extends through the pergola to the water feature, and an adjacent "G&T pad" which catches the last rays of evening sun. The lawns and planting burst with colour to complete the picture. Well done Raine, it has been a pleasure working with you!

Marion Parnell

2022-03-23

Highly recommend Raine Garden Design. We have been working with Raine for over two years - Always very professional and friendly.

Nicholas Marsh

2021-09-19

Raine was absolutely fantastic in getting to know us and understand our design requirements. She spent lots of time us to develop the design and was not afraid to challenge our suggestions to maintain the integrity of the garden design. A funny, warm and friendly person, Raine was just perfect in working with us, to design our dream garden. We've just got to build it now.

Stan Mayne

2021-05-11

So happy we chose Raine to guide us through the perils of designing a new garden from scratch. Raine took the time to get to know us and our style before discussing the practicalities, pitfalls and pleasures of designing a beautiful garden which would be well balanced for our space. Every step was meticulously planned, making sure we were in total agreement along the way. Raine has been open to discussion, has offered relevant exciting suggestions, and has overseen the construction and planting with genuine passion. She visited regularly and checked every view and angle during planting to ensure maximum visual impact. It was immediately evident that Raine and her brilliant, well mannered and respectful professional team knew exactly what they were doing and we were happy to put our confidence in all of them. Many people feel the need to gush when they have received anything above an OK job, I am not one of them, but on this occasionI feel the need to say that our newly blossoming garden is far more than just OK, it is a carefully crafted thing of beauty which has exceeded our expectations. Raine has identified and consolidated our many rambling ideas and thoughts, given them texture, colour and interest, and has given us the beautiful garden we had no idea of how to achieve for ourselves. If you are considering using the skills of a garden designer, do start by having a chat with Raine. I suggest, rather like ourselves, you will feel the need to go no further. Also like ourselves, you will not be disappointed. “No Raine, no garden”.

Sally Toulmin

2020-08-09

Raine exercised her full planning expertise to convert our garden into a glorious and wonderful space to entertain and relax in. The challenge was to design a planting plan within the constraints of the hard landscaping that had been carried out relatively recently and we were not prepared to change. Raine’s additional suggestions (almost bordering on insistence - but well meant and certainly justified) to replace the pergola with three magnificent cedar arches and the fencing with Venetian style panels we followed. These changes, together with the fabulous planting design, has completely transformed our garden. Bushy Business’s execution of Raine’s recommended changes and the planting plan was exemplary. We are very satisfied customers and recommend Raine without reservation.