Garden décor ideas on a budget

Start with a good tidy-up

Before you get started on adding colour and personality to your garden, let’s get down to the basics. A winter’s worth of harsh weather is likely to have left your garden in need of a spruce up. Start by mowing the lawn, neatening up borders and getting rid of any pesky weeds.

Don’t forget to freshen up fencing too. You’ll be amazed at the difference a lick of paint can make to your garden’s overall appearance. Not to mention you’ll be preserving the wood and keeping it protected for years to come.

Top tip – got a smaller garden? Choose green or grey outdoor wood paint. They’re the perfect colour choices to help create the illusion of space.

Oh, and while you’ve got the paintbrush out, why not give wooden furniture a makeover too? Transform tired wood by giving it a good sand down before freshening up with a coat of paint.

If you’ve found your paths and patios have turned a funny shade of green over winter, now’s the time to get them back to their best. Let a good quality patio cleaner do all the hard work for you. Simply spray and leave to work its magic!

Get creative with colour

A great way to brighten up the garden is by adding colour – and this doesn’t just have to be done in the traditional way with plants and flowers. If you’ve got any leftover outdoor paint lying around why not revive that old wooden bench? And who says it has to be completely the same colour?

If you’ve only got a little bit left in each tin, get creative! We’ve transformed a shed here using three paint colours for a fun twist on a boring building.

If your garden’s on the small side, planting in pots is a great way to make the most of your space, and will instantly brighten up a dull patio. Have a rummage through your shed for any old pots you have lying around and give them a good clean. Before you pop some plants in them, why not have a go at pot painting - all you need is some outdoor paint. It’s a great activity to get the kids involved in too!

No planters? No problem! Did you know you can also turn old tin cans into pots? Simply drill some drainage holes, decorate them with lots of colourful paint and add some string for hanging off fencing or walls.

Top tip – throwing a summer party? Smaller planters filled with flowers also make great table centrepieces!

Add some personality

Garden ornaments are a great way to put a stamp on your outdoor space, and you don’t have to spend loads. Add some personality with a cheeky garden gnome or a cute rabbit ornament.

A bird bath is sure to brighten up your space too and encourage lots of new visitors into your garden. Keep it topped up with a fresh water supply and make sure it doesn’t freeze over in the colder months, and watch them come flocking for their daily wash!

Don’t forget the finishing touches

If you’re planning a summer get-together this year, there’s lots of ways you can bring some fun and colour on a budget.

Add some outdoor cushions to emergency seating. They’ll make hard furniture much comfier. We’ve got a range of colourful and on-trend designs – all with a water-repellent finish! What’s more, oversized cushions can double up as extra seating on the floor if you’re short on space too.

Go DIY with your décor. Get the kids to make some bunting or paper chains to brighten up the patio. All you need is some coloured card, pens and glue and you’re good to go!

If the patio’s seen better days and there’s no time to get it sorted, an outdoor rug is a great way to hide the worst bits. No one will ever know!