Top Tips For A Cosy Winter Garden This Season
As the festive season approaches, you may find more people in your home than usual. Having an additional space for hosting, entertaining, or taking a breather can be invaluable, and with the right design, your garden can become this haven. Through careful layouts and considered decor, you can create a winter garden that is just as cosy as any other room in the house.
As a leading garden design company, TM Landscapes understands the value of having a year-round outdoor space. We offer landscaping and garden design to local clients throughout the year, helping them to take advantage of their gardens at all times.
In this post, we are sharing some of our best tips for winter garden design and how you can create a cosy, welcoming outdoor space to enjoy throughout the season. Although the temperatures are dropping, you can still make use of your garden and enjoy some peace and tranquillity right on your doorstep.
Why Design A Winter Garden: The Benefits Of Getting Outside This Season
A well-designed winter garden lets you enjoy your outdoor space long after temperatures drop. With the right design and layout, you can transform your garden into a space to enjoy all year round. Even during the colder months, you can see your garden as an opportunity rather than a barrier and continue making use of this space throughout the season.
There are various benefits that come from creating a winter garden, no matter what kind of home or lifestyle you lead. Winter gardens can be greatly advantageous due to:
- Expanded Living Space: With a cosy winter garden, you can enjoy more room and space within your home. Your garden can be an extension of your home with the right design and layout, which can be extremely useful during the festive period.
- Enhance Kerb Appeal & Property Value: A beautiful, functional winter garden is highly attractive. It can increase property value, as buyers are interested in good landscaping, as well as improve kerb appeal and overall lifestyle conditions.
- Stay Connected To Nature: While the cold conditions of winter can make it more difficult to get outdoors, a winter garden is designed to be safe and cosy in this climate. This allows you to get outdoors more, remain connected to nature and continue experiencing the benefits of fresh air from the comfort of your own home.
A winter garden can become the hub of entertainment this festive period, as well as remain a staple in your lifestyle throughout the year. With the right furniture, lighting, and plants, you can safely enjoy the outdoors as the season progresses.
How To Design A Winter Garden
To experience these benefits of a winter garden, you need to reconsider your garden design, layout and planting options. To ensure your landscape is suitable for this season, consider implementing the following:
1) Weather-Resistant Furniture and Soft Furnishings
You can continue to enjoy your outdoor dining and seating areas this winter by choosing suitable materials. Soft furnishings can be a great way to blend indoor and outdoor living, and are suitable for your winter garden if weather-resistant and waterproof materials are used.
To enjoy a cosy winter garden, suitable materials need to be used across furniture, cushions, and throws, such as:
- Rattan (synthetic or resin): This is a lightweight and weather-resistant material, which is very popular for garden furniture. Often used for outdoor sofas, seating, and tables due to the fact that it is easy to clean. Synthetic rattan furniture, in particular, withstands rain, frost, and occasional snow while still providing a cosy, natural look.
- Treated Hardwoods: Garden furniture made from treated woods or naturally durable hardwoods like teak or oak can endure cold, damp conditions without warping or rotting. These materials are ideal for dining tables, seating, and garden structures. To prolong the life of your garden furniture, ensure that you do regular sealing or oiling.
- Metal: Powder-coated steel, aluminium, or wrought iron furniture is highly durable in winter weather. When designing your winter garden or investing in long-lasting furniture, look for rust-resistant finishes and seating that has removable cushions so they can be stored during heavy rain.
For soft furnishings, consider materials such as Sunbrella, polyester with waterproof coatings, and PVC or vinyl covers. These are waterproof and weather-resistant, making them suitable for all kinds of weather conditions.
While soft furnishing should not be left outdoors during heavy rain or snowfall, it can be used throughout the winter without damage or rot.
2) Add Shelter for Comfort
Due to the unpredictable Great British weather, shelters are a good idea all year round but become invaluable during the winter. Shelters, such as pergolas or patio covers, should be used over key seating areas within your winter garden so you never have to cut the party short.
Whether you are covering your cosy seating on the deck, providing shade over the outdoor kitchen, or simply adding height to the garden design, shelters are a wonderful way to make your garden suitable for use in all seasons.
When installing pergolas or a shelter, make sure to work with professional landscaping companies like TM Landscapes. To find the right landscaping company for the job, see our post How to Choose the Right Landscaping Company in Hampshire: Questions To Ask Before Hiring.
3) Heating Options For Winter Warmth And Comfort
No winter garden is complete without heating options. There are various solutions to align with your garden design and purpose for the landscape, such as:
- Fire pits: Whether gas or wood-burning, fire pits will become a focal point within your garden design. They are a great heating option for seating areas and relaxation spaces within your garden, creating a warm, inviting ambience that can last all night.
- Electric patio heaters: These are a safe, effective option for outdoor dining and kitchen spaces. Gardens made for entertainment can greatly benefit from electric patio heaters, as they are extremely versatile and can be moved to accommodate the events or occasions. For more inspiration regarding entertaining garden design, see our post How To Build A Garden For Entertaining.
- Chimeneas: These heating options are the ideal blend of open flame warmth with safety and convenience. Chimenas can be used on patios and around seating areas, offering concentrated warmth as well as enhanced visual appeal to suit a range of outdoor occasions.
4) Winter-Friendly Lighting For Ambience
Garden lighting is another staple that can be enjoyed all year round, but plays a significant role in your winter garden. Lighting is not just a functional addition to your garden, but an aesthetic one too.
In winter, lighting can be used to create an inviting, cosy ambience for seating and dining areas, with options such as:
- Warm LED string lights: String lights and fairy lights are a wonderful addition to outdoor entertainment areas and seating spaces. They are gentle, cosy, and provide a magical ambience to the garden. During winter, rely on warm coloured lights or colourful LEDs for a festive, inviting ambience.
- Lanterns and candles: Create an intimate ambience around dining areas and seating spaces, such as on the deck or patio, with lanterns and candles. If you want to avoid real flame candles, use LED candles or fire effect lighting. These provide the same warm appearance but without the safety concerns.
- Pathway Lighting: Ensure your garden is safe and accessible this winter with pathway lighting. Due to the low-light conditions of the season, rely on mains-powered or battery-operated lights to keep the garden illuminated for longer.
For more inspiration for garden lighting, in your winter garden or otherwise, see our post Garden Lighting Ideas to Illuminate Your Outdoor Space.
5) Natural Appeal With Winter Plants
Designing a winter garden requires soft landscaping. Using plants, shrubs and winter flowers helps your garden stand out and prolong the aesthetic appeal of your garden design as the season progresses.
While many plants enter their dormancy during the winter, meaning they do not grow or produce foliage, there are still plenty of options for your winter garden:
- Winter Evergreens: Shrubs such as Holly, Boxwood, and Laurel provide structure and greenery year-round as they keep their foliage throughout the seasons.
- Potted Shrubs: Ideal for decking, patios or windowsills, container plants such as Dwarf conifers, Camellias, and Pieris can add height and interest to your winter garden.
- Hardy Seasonal Plants: Winter has some seasonal blooms that can add colour and interest to your garden, such as Hellebores, Winter-Flowering Heathers, and Cyclamen. These plants will bloom in the cold weather, offering colour and texture this season.
To create vibrant and successful planting displays within your winter garden, see our post Soft Landscaping Secrets For Lush, Inviting & Vibrant Gardens.
Conclusion
Creating a winter garden can be extremely beneficial for your home and lifestyle this season.
With the dropping temperatures and short days, spending time outdoors may not seem the most appealing, but with design tips such as winter planting, garden lighting, and durable furniture, you can create a winter garden that is cosy and inviting in all weather conditions.
As a leading garden designer, TM Landscapes understands the value of year-round gardens. We offer landscaping services throughout the year to help you achieve your dream outdoor space, including during the winter.
Contact Us Today
To learn more about our services or to request a quote, please contact the team today.
FAQs
What’s the best outdoor heater for my winter garden?
The best outdoor heaters combine warmth, safety, and weather resistance. Popular options include gas patio heaters for large open spaces, electric infrared heaters for terraces or covered areas, and wood-burning fire pits or chimineas for a cosy, natural feel. When searching for outdoor heaters, look for models rated for outdoor use, with weatherproof finishes, and always follow safety guidelines.
How can I keep outdoor furniture dry during winter?
Keeping your garden furniture in good shape over winter is easier than you might think. Use waterproof, breathable covers to protect chairs and tables, and store cushions and soft furnishings in a dry storage box or shed. For wooden pieces, a coat of weatherproof sealant or oil helps prevent rot, and raising furniture slightly off the ground keeps water from pooling underneath.
Do I need planning permission for a covered outdoor structure?
Most small garden structures, like pergolas, gazebos, or lean-tos, don’t need planning permission as long as they’re under 2.5 m in height, or 3 m for sloped roofs, and don’t cover more than half of your garden. If you’re planning something bigger, permanent, or live in a conservation area, it’s best to check with your local council first to avoid any surprises.