Please give me some garden inspiration

[ThatchersCold]

I’ve just transformed my back yard into what was a horrible embarrassment into a nice patio area.

However now I’m a bit stuck for ideas. I’m going to paint the rest of the fence to match what you can see (light beige kinda colour). I was going to paint the shed blue, and have bought the paint, however now I’m doubting myself as to whether it will be the right colour, and whether that will limit me in terms of what other colours I can use. Or whether I should paint the shed at all or just leave it how it is.

I won’t have tonnes of space to play with, so it’s more ideas for colour schemes for cushions, wall art, lights etc that I need. In front of the shed on the left I’ll have a small two person bistro style table. Front of the patio on the right I will have an inflatable sex pond (lay-z-spa), which is fake wood panelling print, and behind that I’ll have some second hand rattan furniture which was a marketplace bargain, it’s dark brown but doesn’t currently have any cushions. I’d like to add some bright colours but I am terrible at knowing what goes with what.

Also going to put some solar lights out there but haven’t decided which ones yet. I’ve bought 2 large planters and I was thinking about some palms maybe in them? Also terrible with plants and gardening in general, I’m where plants come to die usually. The rear half of the patio gets a fair bit of sun, but the front half gets very little.

Pics of where I am with it at the moment, and the blue colour of the paint I’m considering for the shed.

All suggestions appreciated

Dammit *FROM what was a horrible embarrassment....really should proof read

I would put some plants in pots to soften the hard landscaping. Think of plants that will move in the wind, japonica fatsia, bamboo (non invasive kind), grasses. Colour for shed looks great, cerise pink cushions would look good, you've got a blank canvas to start with.

Thanks, no idea what any of those plants look like but I’ll have a Google. Hadn’t thought of pink cushions but that probably would look nice with the blue of the shed.

Inflatable sex pond??

= a mumsnet term for a hot tub

If it were my garden I wouldn't bother with cushions/wall art/lights or anything else. You've already got a hard space there and you'll be adding more artificial stuff with the table, hot tub and chairs. The benefit of the garden being outside is that you can use it to connect with nature and create a nice sensory environment. You could grow some roses or clematis up the back fence and add in a couple of raised beds for planting. Bigger plants look good in small spaces. I think a couple of olive trees would go nicely in your space if your planters are suitable. A window box with night scented stock will release a beautiful scent at dusk when you'll be out on your patio. The shed might be nice blue but I think a nice sage or olive green might work better with the patio you have down.

Remember, the more stuff (artificial stuff) you have in your garden, the more stuff you have that will go green and manky and need powerwashed eventually.

Get some different sized pots and group them together. Go large to really large with them for impact and because you can them plant larger plants in them for impact.
I'd look for some height in the tallest pots - bamboo was a good idea, or roses, jasmine or clematis to climb over the fence or small trees.
Then I'd plant scented shrubs in the smaller pots - rosemary, lavender, daphne etc

You can under plant the larger pots with bulbs or bright annuals if iou want for variety & summer colour.

Consider painting the fence & shed the same colour if its a small space to make the shed less obvious. Plants growing over the fence will soften it too.

Thanks for the replies. Yes I think a green shed would look better, or painting it the same colour as the fences. I have to get some cushions as the seating would be really uncomfortable without any. I like the idea of climbing plants on the fences, I did consider that a while back. If I put climbing plants there do I need to fix wires along the fences so that they have something to hold on to?

How about painting the patio to soften the appearance a bit. Something like this?

If you wanted to go for climbers you would just need to attach a trellis to the fence panel which is easily done. You can buy trellis with fake planting on them but you can't beat the real thing (you'll attract some lovely birds in insects into your garden with the right plants)

@GreenSlide

If it were my garden I wouldn't bother with cushions/wall art/lights or anything else. You've already got a hard space there and you'll be adding more artificial stuff with the table, hot tub and chairs. The benefit of the garden being outside is that you can use it to connect with nature and create a nice sensory environment. You could grow some roses or clematis up the back fence and add in a couple of raised beds for planting. Bigger plants look good in small spaces. I think a couple of olive trees would go nicely in your space if your planters are suitable. A window box with night scented stock will release a beautiful scent at dusk when you'll be out on your patio. The shed might be nice blue but I think a nice sage or olive green might work better with the patio you have down.

Remember, the more stuff (artificial stuff) you have in your garden, the more stuff you have that will go green and manky and need powerwashed eventually.

I agree with this. Stop adding manmade stuff.

Don't paint the shed blue. A soft sage-grey green will be more gardenlike.

I would say having things in pots tends to be more work than having things planted in the ground - they need careful watering and regular feeding, and you will need to repot as they grow as well. But it looks as though you've covered over any planting space?

For the shed, I think painting cream to blend into the fence panels is a good idea unless you're looking to make a feature of the shed, in which case blue would make it stand out. Climbers against the panels is a great idea, or some kind of living wall would be amazing. Try to have a mix of evergreen plants so at least there is some green all year round, as well as seasonal perennials/annuals. And you could plant pots up that will have different things coming out at different points - spring bulbs, some ivy, a taller shrub. Maybe string some lights along the fence panels as well?