How to Turn Your Garden Into Your Own Little Holiday Retreat This Summer
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This post is all about how to transform your garden into your own little holiday retreat this summer.
So here’s the thing. You don’t need to book a flight or re-mortgage your house to feel like you’re on holiday this summer. Your garden. yes even that slightly neglected patch out the back has got more potential than you think. Whether you’ve got a sprawling lawn or a tiny patio the size of a postage stamp, turning your outdoor space into a little holiday retreat is one of the best summer staycation ideas going. And I’m going to show you exactly how to do it without losing the plot or your budget.
This is all about creating that garden holiday retreat at home feeling. That moment where you step outside with a cold drink and think “blimey, this is actually lovely.” Trust me, it’s more doable than you think.
Why Your Garden Is Your Secret Staycation Weapon
We spend so much time dreaming about going somewhere else don’t we. But honestly some of the best holiday feelings I’ve ever had have been right at home.
When we first moved into this house the garden was an absolute jungle. I mean proper jungle. The before and after photos above show the difference is unreal. Lockdown came along and instead of sitting staring at four walls we got stuck in and completely transformed it. We even extended it and built a gorgeous wooded patio with a small integrated fish pond. It became our little outdoor sanctuary and honestly it was one of the best things we ever did.
The secret is simple. You just need to make the space feel different to how it normally looks. A few clever touches and suddenly your brain stops thinking “back garden” and starts thinking “holiday.”
Start With a Good Clear Out and a Little Elbow Grease
Right, I’m not going to sugar-coat this bit. Before the pretty stuff you need a tidy. Obviously we had a lot to do, but if you’ve got the major stuff out of the way, it might just be a case of pulling the weeds. Sweeping the patio. Giving the furniture a wipe down. It takes an afternoon and it makes everything that comes after look ten times better.
If your garden tools have seen better days it’s worth investing in a decent set. Good tools make the whole job faster and less of a faff. A Quality garden tool set that covers all the basics including shovel, forks, rakes and hoe is the kind of thing you’ll reach for every single year. Look for a well reviewed set in the £30 to £45 range and you’ll be sorted for seasons to come. It’s one of those practical buys that just makes sense and honestly it makes the whole process so much more enjoyable. To be honest we did go though a couple of sets but as you can imagine we had more the normal tidying up to do.
If pink is your thing, then this cute Hand gardening tool set for under £25 comes with its own cute little carry bag, gloves and water bottle spray and is spot on for light weeding.
Think About Your Lawn and What Actually Works For You.
Can I just say something about lawns because this changed everything for us. We chose fake grass and hand on heart it’s one of the best decisions we ever made for the garden. No mowing or patchy dry bits in summer and you won’t be spending every weekend doing what all the neighbours are doing with their mowers out at 8am on a Saturday.
Our garden has bushes running along each side of the lawn and I’ll be honest, I got a little bit enthusiastic with the trimming one afternoon. My husband came out took one look and said “I thought you were trimming, not scalping” he was not wrong. So yes, go steady with those shears. Less is more.
But the point is, whether you go real or fake, a neat lawn or tidy ground covering makes the whole space feel instantly more holiday-like. It’s the base that everything else builds on.
Create a Proper Seating Area (Even If It’s Tiny)
This is the biggie. Your seating area is the heart of your garden retreat. This is where you’ll sit with your morning coffee or your evening glass of something cold and feel like you’re somewhere special.
If you’ve only got a balcony or a tiny patio. good en. A Small bistro table and two chairs can look absolutely gorgeous when it’s styled right. Add a couple of outdoor cushions and you’ve already got something that feels intentional and lovely.
For those with a bit more space a corner sofa set or a daybed style lounger really does give that proper holiday resort feeling. If you want that one big upgrade that transforms the whole vibe, a Rattan garden furniture set is where I’d put my money. You can find brilliant ones in the £200 range and honestly the difference it makes to how your garden feels is proper remarkable. It’s the kind of thing you’ll use every day through summer and wonder how you ever managed without it.
Having spent years working in interiors and furniture I’ll tell you, comfortable outdoor seating is never a waste of money. It’s what keeps you actually using the space rather than just looking at it through the kitchen window.
Add Lighting That Changes Everything
Outdoor lighting is an absolute game changer. I’m not being dramatic. The right lights turn a daytime garden into a proper magical evening space and suddenly you’re not just having a staycation, you’re having a moment.
Solar fairy lights strung along a fence or overhead between two posts give you that Mediterranean taverna feeling without the twelve hour flight. They’re also incredibly easy to put up. No electrician needed.
Solar string lights for the garden are one of those buys that feels like a treat but really isn’t. A good set of warm white solar outdoor lights costs around £12 to £18 and the effect they create on a summer evening is absolutely beautiful. Proper little magic makers they are.
Working in the hotel trade I always noticed how much lighting shaped the mood of an outdoor space. Hotels spend a fortune getting it right. You can get the same effect for the price of a takeaway.
Bring In the Plants and Make It Feel Lush
Nothing says holiday quite like being surrounded by greenery and colour. Plants are one of the cheapest and most effective ways to completely change the feel of an outdoor space.
You don’t need to be a gardener. You just need a few well chosen pots. Go for big bold leafy plants for that tropical holiday feeling. Things like Geraniums, ornamental grasses or even a large olive tree in a pot look stunning and are easy to manage.
Add some trailing plants like lobelia or petunias spilling over the edges of pots and you’ve got colour at every level. If you want the full lush resort look, layer your pots in different heights. Tall at the back, medium in the middle and low at the front.
For anyone who wants their garden to look properly put together without spending hours on it, A self watering plant pot set is a brilliant buy. Around £17 on Amazon and you get neat matching plant pots that keep your plants watered even on the hottest days. Working in home styling for years taught me that matching containers make a space look considered and intentional rather than thrown together.
Set the Mood With Simple Summer Touches
Right here’s where the fun bit comes in. The little details that make it feel genuinely special.
Think about layering in a few of these.
I love these Outdoor rugs and available in different sizes, even a small one under your seating area grounds the space and makes it feel like a proper room rather than just a bit of garden.
Some outdoor Solar Lanterns dotted around adds warmth and a super cosy atmosphere to any garden.
Stick on your favourite playlist using a Small portable outdoor speaker and suddenly the whole experience lifts. Bossa nova for that beachy vibe. You’ll thank me.
For those blazing hot afternoons a parasol is essential especially for the young, the old, pets and anyone who prefers the shade. A Good quality garden parasol with solar lights included makes your seating area feel like a proper outdoor room you can actually use when the sun is at its peak. Spot on for those super hot afternoons and the built in lights create the ambiance at night.
Feed the Holiday Feeling With Food and Drink
A garden holiday retreat isn’t just about how it looks, it’s about how it feels. And nothing says holiday quite like eating outside.
You don’t need a fancy barbecue or a full outdoor kitchen. A grazing board of cheese, fruit, bread and cold meats eaten outside in the sunshine feels like a proper treat. Add a jug of something cold and you’re sorted.
For some brilliant ideas to go alongside your garden retreat, have a look at this summer staycation ideas guide for adults which has some cracking inspiration for making the whole experience feel like a proper break.
And if you want even more to fill your summer days the staycation bucket list is packed with ideas that cost next to nothing.
The Little Extras That Tie It All Together
The bits that really make your garden holiday retreat feel complete are often the smallest things.
A good book. A Lightweight throw for when the evening cools down. A few Citronella candle to keep the midges at bay. A Little tray to carry your drinks out in style.
None of this needs to cost a fortune. It’s about creating a ritual around being outside. When you make a little effort to set the scene your brain genuinely relaxes into it. That’s the whole point of a staycation isn’t it. Getting that switched off holiday feeling without going anywhere.
For more inspiration on creating that feeling all year round, this post on how to make your home feel like a holiday every day is a proper good read.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn a small garden into a holiday retreat at home? Focus on one key seating area, add string lights and use potted plants for colour. Bring in a few accessories like cushions and a lantern. Even the tiniest space can feel like a retreat when it’s styled with intention. You really don’t need much room to create a beautiful garden holiday retreat at home.
What are the best budget ideas for a garden staycation? Solar fairy lights, outdoor cushions, potted plants and a small bistro table are all brilliant low cost ways to transform an outdoor space. You can create a gorgeous garden holiday retreat for well under £100.
How do I make my garden feel like a hotel terrace? Layer your lighting, use matching planters, add an outdoor rug under your seating area and keep the space clutter free. These are the same principles used in hotel outdoor spaces and they work brilliantly at home too.
Is fake grass worth it for a low maintenance garden retreat? For a lot of people yes absolutely. It stays neat, green and tidy all summer without any mowing. For a garden that’s meant to feel like a relaxing retreat, not having to maintain a lawn every weekend is a proper bonus.
What plants give the best holiday garden feel in the UK? Cannas, banana plants, ornamental grasses, agapanthus and large leafed hostas all give that lush tropical resort feeling and most are straightforward to grow in the UK climate.
I think you might also like this article on 20 plants for a jungle style boarder by Gardeners world
Well go on then mi darlin, get yourself outside and start turning that garden into the little holiday retreat you deserve.
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