A garden is a woefully wasted concept in the UK. Unfortunately, the climate doesn’t allow for a lot of time in the garden, but no one can deny that when the temperature rises, we embrace it. Take a look at ways you can kit out your garden for those summer nights.

Decking

Decking is a great foundation to build the rest of these options. Avoid mud in the winter, and have a solid space to place furniture. You can have a platform to put a coffee table and some chairs, or simply create a path through the muddy grass in winter. Look into composite decking for a weatherproof option, which, let’s face it, is going to be necessary for the rainy UK. Check out MacBlair for all your decking options.

Furniture

And when it comes to furniture, you’ve got lots of options, and what you go with all depends on the type of atmosphere you’re going for. A dining table and set of chairs would be great to recreate those villa evenings with a cheese board and wine, or you can get the outdoor equivalent of a few sofas for a squishy space where you can share stories over a hot chocolate or sit in a blanket and read a book.

Finish it all off with a canopy or a pergola, and you’ll have somewhere to spend your time no matter the weather. Enjoy the sound of dripping rain right by your ears without getting wet.

Fire pit

Keep yourself warm with a fire pit. If you get one with an open flame, you can even make s’mores. Others are simply pieces of garden art that heat up or contain a flame. Like any fire, they’re a great place to bring people together, and on chilly summer evenings, they are a lifesaver. And the best part is that they don’t have to feel like you’re burning money, either. Some nice fire pits can be less than £100 to start.

Bar

In the spirit of entertaining guests, you can even look into a bar. This is a very scalable project. You can start with a bar cart full of bottles and a cooler nearby for the beers, or you can build a small venue in your garden with a structure similar to a shed. Add a keg and a cocktail mixer, maybe a neon sign, and if you want to be really fancy, a TV showing today’s football game, and you’ve got yourself the hottest hangout spot in town.

Evergreen trees

If you’re on a busy street, you might want to think about planting some evergreen trees. They can offer you some privacy by placing them around the edge of your garden. Even if they don’t block your window, a few bushes and shrubbery in front of it will give passers-by enough to look at that their eye doesn’t quite reach the window. Plus, once they’re planted, they pretty much look after themselves, so you don’t need to beg life to suddenly give you a green thumb.

Wild plants

Do you know what the latest gardening trend is? To not. Seriously, put down the lawnmower. Put away the shears. The latest trend is “ungardening”. Basically, putting the idea of a bare and “neat” garden away with the lawnmower and embracing all the wild plants and pollinating bugs that come with it. It can be prompted with a haphazard sprinkling of wild seeds and leaving your garden alone. Enjoy the colours, the creatures, and the ecosystem you build. Support the bees since they support the planet.

And if you’re not 100% committed to the idea, simply set aside a portion of your garden for it and deck another portion where you can put some furniture and enjoy the sun.