Garden Glow Up

In Partnership with Lights4Fun

With restrictions in the UK easing this week, and socialising in gardens and outdoor spaces back on the menu, I wanted to show how a few little touches can get your garden ready for hosting.

For those that don’t know, we recently moved house and although we upsized in house, we downsized in garden. For the location and the style of house we wanted, there was always going to be a compromise and we have inherited a lovely little courtyard garden. Instead of fighting it, I’ve decided to embrace it and channel the cute little European courtyards I love. Manchester weather permitting of course.

We have a lovely big Sycamore tree which I wanted to make the most of as a feature and the previous owners had some landscaping done so we already had a few outdoor lights, a water feature and some fairly established plants (very, very good for us as we are no green fingered geniuses).

Having been a huge advocate of fairy lights, festoon lights, lantern lights throughout my old house - I wanted to apply that treatment to the garden so I teamed up with Lights 4 Fun to showcase some of their fab outdoor products.

First up were the Pro Connect Festoon Lights to wrap around the Sycamore. We needed 15m to wrap enough times around the tree and then to carry across like a canopy to reach the mains plug. You can buy different lengths of these which are fab if you have a teeny tiny balcony or a huge sprawling lawn. Then we hung the White Miami Solar Lanterns off the easy to reach branches to channel that holiday vibe. These come in packs of threes so I got two packs to fill up the space.

Last but not least are the lovely Porto Solar Garden Lanterns which replicate that candle flickering without having to light them every night. These look so nice when the sun goes down and I’d fill the whole space with them if I could.

The Other Details…

We already had the Willow Summer Chair from the old house (previous collaboration in 2019). It used to be in the bedroom but there was no way we were ever going to get it up the old Victorian hallways so we decided to treat it with a clear weatherproof paint and use it outside.

Honora Willow Summer Chair

Next is the most random but probably best purchase I’ve made in a while. I went into B&M for cleaning products and came out with this hanging chair. It was an absolute bargain at £30 and a couple of lasso’s later we got it hanging from the tree. My inner child loves it!

Vancouver Hanging Chair from B&M

The other bargain buy for this garden makeover were the Elysia champagne glasses from Dunelm. At £5 for 2, I took the online purchase risk and was very pleasantly surprised. They’ve upped my fizz game massively, but note they are not good for dancing and drinking. The spillage is real.

Because space is a premium in my garden, I didn’t want to fill every inch with furniture. There is quite a reasonable amount of decking which has two steps and it’s perfect for a couple of seat pads for people to sit on. I got these from H&M (affiliate link) and love that they are so semi permanent. I just bring them out for guests.

H&M Striped Seat Cushions

We christened our garden over the Easter weekend when restrictions were eased and I hope you get to do the same. Don’t forget the blankets, the cushions and the little touches from inside when entertaining and of course the old BBQ no matter what the weather!

Good Friday Good Times Garden Party

GARDEN GLOW UP by Joanne Thelwell

10 Of The Best Garden Sets

It’s official - garden season is well and truly upon us. Now more than ever we are appreciating our gardens, patios, courtyards and balconies as extensions of our homes - so I have rounded up my top 10 picks out there at the moment.

1. Swara 4 seater Round Dining Set by Made

I love this whole collection from Made as it’s a contemporary take on traditional rattan furniture. It combines the trend of cane-weave with a rich warm tone which is something you don’t tend to see in rattan furniture. These pieces can be bought as a set or as individual pieces starting from £149. Click here to see more.

Made.com Swara Outdoor Living Furniture.

2. Dunelm’s Ibiza Corner Sofa Set

Dunelm’s Ibiza set has got me dreaming of cocktails by the pool with a Cafe Del Mar playlist in the background. It’s £579 and looks really comfy and classy for any garden party. It doesn’t look like it’s been released yet on their website but I imagine it can’t be long before it’s able to be purchased so keep checking back.

Dunelm’s Ibiza Sofa set.

3. Habitat - Maui lounger with arms

Habitat’s whole SS20 collection is all about colour and playfulness. These deckchairs are in such gorgeous colours and patterns I want them all. Deckchairs have a hint of retro Victorian beach holidays but they are also really good space savers for smaller gardens or balconies. Just fold them up and store away when not needed. The good news is you can buy the fabric for £10 each to change them up whenever you feel like!

Habitat SS20 collection.

4. Argos 6 Seater Wooden Corner Sofa Set

So this one is close to my heart as it’s the set I bought 2 years ago for our garden decking area. I love this set so much - it was the best upgrade from bistro chairs! I have left mine out to the elements so as you can see the colour has faded but I quite like the weathered look. I bring the cushions in when there’s heavy rain and throughout winter, and I would also suggest buying a cover for the set if you want it to stay in pristine condition. This is one of the cheapest sets I’ve found online at only £360 and it comes with my stamp of approval!

5.  Indoor/Outdoor Albany Dining by Cox & Cox

Cox & Cox - Albany Indoor/outdoor dining set.

I love this one because it reminds me of our dining table. The industrial style legs and bench seating make it perfect for al fresco dinners with friends and family. It would also be perfect in a dining room setting so you could purchase it and then drag it outside as soon as the sun shines. It’s higher in price than some of the other sets at £995 but something which could last you forever.

6. Next Bali Range

The Next Bali range is another really trendy collection that is a combination of rope and weathered teak wood which come in individual pieces as well as sets. I particularly love the snuggler piece which would be perfect for sundown drinks on the decking. Also check out the side table - it’s a piece which can double up as indoor and outdoor.

7. John Lewis - Alora Garden Modular 4-Seater

For the rattan devotees out there, this set has a contemporary feel because of the darker grey cushions. It still has all the benefits of rattan modular sets - it can be stacked away into smaller components and is weatherproof but it also looks sleeker than the standard sets. Styled with some contemporary outdoor cushions, this can still be a stylish option for bigger gardens.

8. Desert Lounge Chair by Ferm Living

Ferm Living always creates the most lustful collections and this year is no different. The Desert Lounge chair feels like a statement piece that will never go out of fashion. Ferm Living describe it as “a Modernist chair with a graceful profile” and I couldn’t have put it better myself! At 255 euros, it’s not cheap but it will be seen more as a design piece which therefore deserves the higher price tag.

Ferm Living Desert lounge chair.

9. Tikamoon Keywood Bistro Items

Keywood Bistro Furniture - Tikamoon

For a bistro set with a difference, I was drawn to this set of items by Tikamoon. The Keywood armchair and coffee table are sold separately which means you can choose the items best suited to your space. The unusual design is attention grabbing even for the smallest of balconies and brings a sense of style other bistro sets are lacking.

10. Resin Wicker and Solid Acacia Garden Armchair - Maison Du Monde

Last but not least is the Nairobi Wicker Armchair. It screams Scandi Boho vibes and I would use it everywhere in the house, not just the garden. It fits with almost every piece of furniture so can be added as a stylish addition to an outdoor setting. Style with wicker baskets, dried grasses and fringed blankets just like this image and be the envy of all the neighbours.

Garden Armchair - Maison Du Monde

So that concludes my top 10 garden sets at the minute. I hope you love them as much as I do. Let me know your favourites in the comments below!

*All images from relevant retailers website and PR imagery*