Budget-friendly Decking Ideas For Your Gardens for Tight Budget

There are many features you can add to your garden to create the perfect outdoor space for you and your family.

Whether you are looking to enhance your back garden to host friends or just want to upgrade your area to look its best for yourself to enjoy, we have compiled a list of decorative ideas to take your garden to the next level.

Lighting

There is nothing better than relaxing outside on warm summer evenings in your garden, especially with friends and family. Improve the atmosphere by adding ambient lighting to bring the space to life.

Choose soft, warm lights to create a cosy, relaxing feel instead of bright, cool tone lights. Dimmed lights set a calming ambience perfect for summer evenings and dinner parties. Alternatively, brighter, cool toned lighting will make the space look more modern and chic.

You could also use string lights with ambient led bulbs or make use of lanterns in different colours to give your garden a more playful, lived-in feel, perfect for when you have young children or prefer a boho style to your home.

This option is also cheaper than fitting lights into furniture or adding expensive light features, which means everyone can add lighting no matter the budget. Don’t forget, lighting is not just for aesthetic purposes. It will add security to your area at night.

Plant Flowers

A simple yet effective addition to your garden is to plant some beautiful flowers that will create a colourful and lively space. Summer is not complete without a garden full of plants and flowers to relax in.

Adding some greenery and some colourful flowers can improve the ambience of your garden and can change the aesthetic depending what look you are going for. Planting is easy, even if you only have minimal experience gardening and you would be surprised at the difference it can make to a space.

Choosing exotic and tropical looking plants will create a mini paradise in your garden perfect for relaxing in summer and hosting.

Alternatively, to add some colour to the space, opt for smaller flowers and plants that will make the space pop and come to life. In addition to the plants, make sure that the pots go with the theme of your outdoor space and complement the flowers inside them.

If you don’t have a lot of space in your garden, you can hang plants instead to achieve the same look without taking up as much space.

Add Composite Decking

A formal decking area is perfect for entertaining or relaxing, and if it is made from composite, it will retain its smart appearance for years to come.

Composite decking is an ecologically-friendly material manufactured from recycled plastics and reclaimed wood fibres that would normally end up in landfills or be burned.

The wood fibres and recycled plastics are bonded together using an environmentally-friendly adhesive.

Composite decking boards require virtually no maintenance making them perfect for busy households. The tough, resilient boards last more than twice as long as traditional timber boards and retain their colour for many years.

Composites are resistant to algae, moss, moisture and water with a safe, non-slip surface that allows rain to drain away quickly. Composite decking is available in a range of complementary colours such as anthracite grey and teak in a textured or woodgrain finish.

Seating Area

Enjoying some free time in your garden is even better if you have plenty of comfy chairs and sun loungers to relax on no matter the time of year.

Garden furniture can be expensive, however you can opt to renovate an existing set of wooden garden furniture by giving it a coat of paint in a colour to complement your decking area. Using an alternative wood stain that sinks into the timber will provide additional protection from the elements while

enhancing the natural grain of the wood. When your furniture is not in use, always use a protective rain-proof cover to help prolong its life.

Heavy-duty plastic garden chairs are versatile whatever the weather and only need cleaning with warm, soapy water. Concentrate on adding colourful accessories such as cushions and throws to update their appearance. Add shade to your seating area to ensure you can use it any time of the year rain or shine.

Water Features

Adding water features is a beautiful addition to any garden and can create a peaceful atmosphere to relax in. There are an extensive range of charming water features available that are suitable for family gardens.

A circular arrangement of pebbles with a small fountain in the middle provides soothing background noise. Designs for family-friendly water features include a variety of spheres or monoliths with cascading walls of water that disappear harmlessly beneath slates or rocks.

Materials include contemporary stainless steel or natural stone. The pump mechanisms that operate water features are powered by electricity or solar energy. Choose the latter if you want an inexpensive system that is much easier to maintain than a mains version.

If you have small toddlers, it is best to delay installing a pond until they are old enough to understand how dangerous a few inches of water can be. If there is already a pond in your garden, ensure it is safely fenced or covered over with a tough metal grid that will prevent them from falling in.

Ornaments

For a finishing touch to a stylish outdoor garden space, add an interesting selection of ornaments in stone or plastic. There is an extensive variety of cute animals, scarecrows and fairies available that are perfect for families and young children.

Alternatively, there are also more modern ornaments available that will upgrade your space to the next level.

Traditional statuettes or bird baths manufactured from stone will help to add an air of stately grandeur.

For added interest and a touch of humour, choose novelty ornaments such as sheep, cows or frogs with added solar lighting.

Inexpensive solar lights use batteries to store power from the sun during the day and then cast a soft glow as dusk descends. A set of lights in a simple torch design offers subdued illumination around your garden or decking area. Strings of solar fairy lights add a discreet twinkling in bushes or trees at any time of the year.