As spring finally has sprung (we’ll not comment on the rain too much), it feels like the perfect time to look at garden home ideas for the season.
Building a garden home is an exciting investment, so it’s important you can enjoy the space around you and feel happy in your new home.
In this blog, we will look at some ideas to fully utilise the garden space you have around your annexe, particularly if you’re a keen gardener and want to show off your green fingers.
We won’t stop there though, even if gardening isn’t your favourite pastime, there are still plenty of things you can do to showcase the annexe you have built.
How Can I Best Use My New Garden Space
With the weather on your side, there are many things that you can do around your garden home. From health and wellbeing to a space for family and relaxing, we’ve seen customers use their gardens around an annexe with fantastic results.
Create an Outdoor Lounge Area
Transform your garden into a relaxing outdoor lounge area where you can unwind and entertain guests. Comfortable outdoor furniture like sofas and lounge chairs coupled with accessories such as outdoor rugs, throw pillows, and blankets will really bring added outdoor comfort to your home.
Get Al Fresco With an Additional Dining Space
Create a charming outdoor dining area to enjoy meals with family and friends in the sun. Set up a table and chairs or a picnic bench, and add a patio umbrella or pergola for shade. You can also install outdoor lighting to extend your dining experience into the evening. What better way is there to spend those longer evenings?
Relax in a Reading Nook
Design a cosy reading nook in your garden where you can escape with a good book and immerse yourself in nature. Place a comfortable chair under a pergola or patio umbrella and add a side table to hold your books, drinks, and snacks.
Be at One With an Outdoor Yoga or Meditation Space
Dedicate a tranquil corner of your garden to yoga or meditation practice. Lay down yoga mats or outdoor rugs, and add cushions, bolsters, and meditation cushions for comfort. You could also enhance the serene atmosphere further with wind chimes, and calming decor.
Treat Your Grandchildren to a Play Area
If one of the reasons for your annexe is to be closer to your grandchildren you can easily transform part of the garden into a fun and safe play area. Add a sandbox, swings or a playhouse to keep them entertained.
Welcome Wildlife With a Habitat
If traditional gardening isn’t your thing, focus on creating a wildlife-friendly habitat in your garden by providing food, water, and shelter for birds, butterflies, bees, and other beneficial wildlife. Add bird feeders, a bird bath, nesting boxes, and plants to attract and support wildlife. You’ll be doing a great thing for the environment and you can also spend time observing your visitors.
Gardening Tips to Enhance Your Garden Home Ideas
As it’s the perfect time to be back out in the garden, we’ve put some tips together for our green-fingered readers to help you make the most of using the space around your garden home. There are many things you can do depending on the space available, whether it is a large or smaller garden available, including:
- Garden Patio: Create a welcoming outdoor patio space adjacent to the granny annexe where your loved ones can relax and enjoy the spring weather. Add potted plants, and decorative elements to make the patio a stylish space to enjoy.
- Kitchen Garden: Dedicate a portion of your garden to a kitchen garden where you can grow a variety of herbs and vegetables. Plant seasonal favourites like tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, strawberries, and herbs, providing fresh produce for cooking.
- Container Gardening: If space is limited, utilise containers and raised beds for gardening. You can plant flowers, herbs, and vegetables strategically around your granny annexe, adding colour and greenery without taking up much ground space.
- Vertical Gardening: Install vertical planters or trellises along the granny annexe’s walls to maximise vertical gardening space. Growing climbing plants like beans, peas, cucumbers, and flowering vines will add beauty and functionality to your space.
- Pollinator Garden: Design a pollinator-friendly garden with a variety of flowering plants that attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Not only will this look great, but you will also be enhancing biodiversity in your garden.
- Choose a Water Feature: Incorporate a small water feature like a fountain or birdbath into your garden landscape. The sound of flowing water and the presence of birds and wildlife will create a serene atmosphere for you and your loved ones to enjoy.
- Seasonal Decor: Add seasonal decor elements like colourful planters, garden flags, wind chimes, and seasonal wreaths to enhance the visual appeal of your granny annexe and garden even further throughout the spring season and beyond.
See Garden Home Ideas in Person
If you’re yet to start your garden home journey, you can see what other people have done with their outdoor space and the annexes within by visiting one of our OpenHus families.
With over 500 granny annexes built across the UK, we have over 90 families in the Open Hus community that kindly show their builds to prospective customers. It’s an even better experience than a showhome, allowing you to visit and experience what it is really like to have a granny annexe built in the garden.
Take a look at some of the annexes near you and book a viewing before taking the opportunity to ask your questions about what garden living is really like.
Ask Hus Anything
As well as seeing granny annexes up close in the garden of existing customers, we also have a free weekly annexe webinar with iHus annexe experts and planning specialists from NAPC. These sessions are designed to help you understand the benefits of building a granny annexe and an opportunity to ask different members of the team the questions you have about annexe living, planning or designs.
