How to Get Your Garden Guest-Ready

With lockdown restrictions easing in England and the weather getting better, we’re feeling hopeful for a season of fun in the sun. So what better time to invest in a new garden design? Here are our top tips for sprucing up your outdoor space and getting it guest-ready.

How many people can I have as a garden guest?

First things first, you need to know how many people you can add to your garden guest list. In England, as of 29th March 2021, you are legally allowed garden parties of 6 people from any number of households. Alternatively, your household can meet with another household in a private garden or outdoor space. If you choose to meet with a single household, there is no limit on the number of people. However, you are still required to maintain a safe distance (2m) from anyone who is not part of your normal household.

More information can be found on the Gov.uk website.

Creating a cosy garden design for guests

Now we’ve got that out of the way, it’s time to focus on the fun bit – doing up your garden! If you’ve got the budget, why not treat yourself to new garden furniture? Pick something cosy, stylish and timeless like rattan furniture. If you haven’t got enough chairs to seat everyone, consider a garden bench. Bean bags are great for kids too. Everyone will just be happy to be a garden guest!

Remember, it’s only April, so it can get a little on the chilly side! Advise guests to layer up and have a pile of blankets at the ready. Add an extra layer of comfort to your garden furniture with scatter cushions and throws. Choose easy-to-wash fabrics that you can bung in the washing machine before your next round of guests.

If there was ever a time to invest in a fire pit it’s now. Not only will it keep you warm and toasty, but it’ll also add to the overall atmosphere. Think of it as catching up around a campfire…but a little more glamorous. Fairy lights also make atmospheric garden lighting with cosy vibes. And if you fancy going all out, nothing is stopping you from installing a projector screen for an outdoor cinema experience! We’re all about making the most of your garden.

Alfresco dining ideas

A good host never lets their guests go hungry! Give the barbecue a good old clean and wash down the outdoor dining furniture. Spruce up your table with new placemats and decorate with cut flowers from the garden.

As the British weather isn’t always kind to us, we’d suggest some sort of overhead cover. Whether it’s a gazebo, awning or umbrella, it will offer shelter from any sudden downpours.

Worried about the wind? Garden screening will provide extra shelter to your decking, patio or pergola. What’s more, it’ll make your garden more private, so you can enjoy catching up with your loved ones, without feeling overlooked. We have over 200 decorative garden screens to choose from.

Bring your space to life with garden plants

Make your garden more welcoming for guests with colourful flower displays. Now’s a great time to head to your local garden centre to pick up summer bulbs and garden plants. Garden centres are also full of popular garden flowers like roses, which make a wonderful choice for the summer. Pick yellow roses to bring a little sunshine to your outdoor space.

If you’re feeling green-fingered it’s the optimal time to sow flower seeds for the summer. Cut flowers like cosmos are easy to grow and will make wonderful table decorations. Sunflowers always promise a striking display and sweet peas are perfect for decorating garden trellis.

Add a little greenery to your alfresco dining space with a wall of herbs. They’ll add a lovely aroma and will be in easy reach for adding to your gin and cocktails! Which reminds us…anyone up for making a garden bar? Now, that would be a fantastic addition to your guest-friendly garden!

Best garden lights

Good gardening lighting is essential if you want to enjoy your outdoor space when the sun goes down. Solar panel garden lights are a sensible choice – they look great and they’re eco-friendly. Or as we mentioned before, outdoor fairy lights will add a little magic to the atmosphere and can be entwined with our garden screens to illuminate your seating area.

How to make your garden look bigger

If lockdown taught us anything, it’s that even the smallest outdoor space can make for the perfect escape. But if you are looking for a way to make your garden look bigger, we suggest planting vertically. Using garden screens to trellis your plants and create green walls will allow you and your guests to enjoy their beauty, without losing floor space.

White or light bistro-style garden furniture is the best choice for small gardens. Its minimalist design won’t take up a lot of space and it’ll give your garden oh-so-stylish Parisian vibes.

And our final garden design tip? Add a mirror. Mirrors not only make eye-catching garden ornaments they can also be used to trick the eye too. A strategically placed mirror will reflect your garden and make it appear much larger than it is.

Make the most of your garden with Metal Garden Screen

Once again our gardens have come to the rescue, providing a safe place we can catch up with loved ones. We hope you have a wonderful time doing up your outdoor space and socialising with the people you’ve been missing all these months. Here’s to a bright and sunny season full of joy!

A month full of discount to impress any garden guest!

To celebrate being able to have guests in your garden, we’re offering a 5% discount across all our metal garden screens every Friday in April. Be on the look out for our special discount code that we’ll be sharing across our Facebook & Instagram profiles. Once you have the code, simply find the screen or screens that you want, enter the code and you’ll be garden ready in no time!