Accessorise all areas

Anyone who has been to one of the RHS flower shows will know just how many accessories there are out there for your garden. Essentially though accessories are the finishing touches to a garden, the little things that personalise it and make it look, feel and function the way you want it to........

Some will be purchased after lots of consideration, others on the spur of the moment, some will be essential, others purely frivolous and some will cost hundreds of pound while others will cost nothing.

Take a seat
The single most important accessory in a garden is furniture. Not only can it represent a substantial outlay but the style you choose will have a significant impact on the feel of the garden. Where space allows furniture can be used to give a different feel to different areas. A classic solid teak or contemporary rattan furniture set may have a permanent place on the main terrace, while an everyday bench near the back door will let you snatch a quick cup of tea in the morning sun before work.

Where space is at a premium folding tables and chairs earn their place and while well-built, classic timber or metal furniture will always have a place in the garden, plenty of fun can to be had with bright fabrics for director’s chairs, parasols or hammocks.

Food for thought
For more and more people eating outdoors is becoming a big part of the garden. Not so long ago that meant a barbecue, but nowadays there is far greater choice and something to suit every budget, style and culinary ambition. Clay ovens, firepits, chimineas and coal pots can all add bags of charm in the right place.   

Lighten up

Lighting has a dramatic effect on the garden at night. But choosing the right light fittings can also add to the feel of the garden during the day. Stainless steel wall lights, a classic coach lamp or oriental lanterns all create very different feels.

Art in the garden
I have always been amazed by the effect a piece of sculpture can have on a garden. A simple stone ball resting on the corner of a terrace will have a presence far beyond its size. It will draw the eye and anchor the space. But one person’s art is another’s folly, and choices are inevitably very personal and nothing more so than objects collected from your travels.

Ultimately accessories are about having fun and making your garden your own. Avoid packing in so many that they are all competing for your attention. But choose items that will add to the ambience or character of the garden, and reflect your own sense of style.