Decorating & Design
June 19, 2020
20 Things That Make Regular Gardens Look Luxe
Just as interiors can be upgraded by smart design moves, gardens can benefit from the same thinking. Your outdoor space doesn’t have to be huge to convey a sense of luxury. As these pristine yards and patios prove, some TLC and smart planning go a long way to elevating even the most compact urban sanctuaries. Read on to discover our best luxurious garden tips!
Plant Ivy
A lush wall of ivy conveys instant heritage and softens the look of hard structures. Quick growing vines like Virginia Creeper can envelope a wall in the summer.
Parterre Paths
Crushed gravel pathways are a surprisingly affordable way to get the high-end European look of a parterre garden. At about $5 per square foot, pea gravel is budget-friendly yet looks elegant and adds a sensory element. The pebbles feel good underfoot and offer a satisfying crunch when strolling.
Upgrade Patio Furniture
Flimsy plastic lawn furniture can ruin the prettiest patio. This trio of luxe loungers around the pool invite total relaxation, and there are plenty of low woven tables nearby to hold drinks, sunscreen or the latest bestseller. For smaller patios, sets of outdoor furniture can create a cohesive effect.
Fancy Planters
Mass produced pots and ho hum terracotta can’t match the impact of wood planters with architectural details in a chic shade. This boxy version allows plenty of room for large standards and trailing annuals.
Play With Fire
Firebowls and tables have become a popular, well-loved focal point in a garden. When night falls, it gives gatherings a cozy, campfire vibe. This large-scale, faux-limestone fireplace anchors the space and is a gathering spot in designer Sharon Mimran’s formal garden, but any fire feature can add a touch of glam — even in smaller yards.
Ample Outdoor Lighting
Whatever size or scale of garden you have, lighting it up will make it look more luxurious. Illuminating a garden is an art, highlighting both plant material and architectural features. In this Vancouver backyard, inset lighting makes an infinity edge waterfall look even more striking, while path lighting safely leads the way to the pool cabana at night.
Quality Stone
Natural materials elevate any garden. A range of sizes and types of stone will last for decades, and add texture and interest to hardscaping. In this chic backyard, architectural stone is used to form planter boxes and integrated benches.
Water Features
Whether it’s a small zen fountain or a shallow pond studded with aquatic plants, water features are soothing as well as beautiful.
Smart Sightlines
Whether it’s a garden folly or petite sculpture, consider sightlines in a garden. The vine-covered walkway in designer Colette van den Thillart’s Toronto home perfectly frames the seating area, backed by trellis. “It’s laid out like a series of rooms, which is a very English way of gardening,” says Colette.
Built-In Seating
As well as making great use of space, built-in seating also looks luxe because it’s a custom solution that’s streamlined, as well as welcoming. A custom limestone sofa with a romantic patinated base frames this intimate dining area. Topped with plush cushions and throw pillows, it’s both comfortable and supremely practical.
Focus On The Entry
To get the most bang for your buck, spend your dollars where they’ll make the most impact, such as the front entrance. Chanticleer pear standards are used to frame the front door of this traditional home, while containers of purple hydrangeas underplanted with ivy tendrils give a boost of color all summer.
Designate Zones
How do you use your outdoor space? Is it a spot to play with the kids, host a birthday or unwind — or all three? Approach the garden as you would a room, and clearly define outdoor entertaining zones. Pick complimentary furnishings and a palette for a cohesive look. Divide up outdoor spaces so it doesn’t feel like one large square, sectioning off a place to dine and a comfy and intimate seating area for conversation. Create flow and continuity among these sections with similar colors, textures, patterns and lighting.
Paint It Black
Fashion editors know the power of a little black dress, but you can borrow some of that instant panache in the garden as well. A black house is a striking backdrop for greenery and flowers, and painting a fence black can help make it visually quieter, putting the focus on colorful plant materials.
Shape Up
A manicured shrub or hedge increases air flow and sunlight for healthier, lusher plants. Careful pruning also conveys a sharp, professional effect that looks high-end.
Add An Arbor
Whether it’s trained with vine or kept bare, an arbor frames a garden view without sacrificing precious space.
Pristine Pools
It’s an investment for sure, but owners of pools know it can pay off in spades. A pool can keep kids happy for hours and become a social center for families, some who would gladly trade the commute to the cottage for a backyard oasis in the city. For a high-end look, consider pairing up lounge chairs with containers. Here, an allée of crabapple trees and rows of cedar enhance the effect of calming repetition.
Plant Variety
Go beyond store-bought baskets of petunias or geraniums, and expand your horticultural horizons. Take a look at what perennials are thriving in your neighbors’ gardens for inspiration. Drifts of plants, like catmint (seen here with boxwood, Japanese irises, hellebores and red masterwort), can provide a backdrop for specimen trees and manicured shrubs, and groundcover plants, like Creeping Thyme, are prettier than mulch and attract pollinators.
Consider A Pergola
Outdoor spaces where you can lounge and grab some shade (and feel the breeze through trellises) are sought-after spots on a hot day. Cushions stay clean and fade-free beneath the cedar-shingle roof of this chic pergola, where the same paint on all built-in elements looks extra sharp.
Layer Your Containers
This urban Toronto garden is petite but it still looks lush. If you don’t have room for beds, create layers of container plants — it will give you the option to vary height of containers and allow you to move plants back inside in fall.
Outdoor Rugs
Give exterior spaces a finished look with outdoor carpeting to define an area. Natural materials, like coco matting, or synthetic versions made from recycled materials, offer lots of options and can withstand the elements. Keep them swept clean of plant materials and leaves.