Your garden is an extension of your home and can feel like a complete waste if you only get to enjoy it in the summer months. 

Summer usually marks the time for parties, al fresco dining, and barbecues, but what if there was a way that you could enjoy these activities all year round? 

Fortunately, there are a plethora of ways that you can design your garden to extend the good times throughout the year. 

Here are some top tips to help you get started in creating the ideal outdoor space. 

If you enjoy gardening and have the time to spare, you may wish to plant seasonal plants in your garden. This will mean replacing them each time a new season arrives. Alternatively, there is a range of plants that will look good in your garden all year round.

You may want to consider creating a theme for your garden, which will help dictate the type of plants and colors you add to your space, and any features that you wish to install, such as stone features, water features or a pond feature. 

You can also add a patio or decking, as well as additional features such as gaming platforms and a hot tub. 

Professionals such as https://www.wildwoodlandscape.com/ will be able to help you design and build a beautiful outdoor space that can be used all year round. 

If you want to be able to enjoy dining and share good times with friends outside all year round, you will need to weatherproof your furniture in time for the winter months. You can do this by adding a layer of protection to your furniture with specialist paint and buying a cover to use in the rain. 

You can also install a shelter that goes well with the design of your garden. Some of the most popular coverings are:

Green canopy

Fences and hedges 

Covered gazebo

Conservatory or garden room

Some of these are customizable so that you can open them up in the summer months to enjoy the sun, and close the space off during the winter months, so you can enjoy the outdoor space without getting wet.

Once you are covered by the rain, the next deterrent to spending time outside in the winter months is the drop in temperature. You can combat this by storing some blankets for your guests to use and keeping them close by, as well as adding a heat source to the space. This can be an outdoor heater, a fireplace, or a fire-pit. 

These are great for keeping people warm outside while being a great way to create ambience. 

It gets darker a lot quicker in the winter, so you will want to ensure you have adequate lighting so you are not spending time dining in the dark. Add lighting around your shelter by hanging some fairy lights. 

It is also a good idea to install light fixtures on the fences and to illuminate the walkways in your garden to keep everyone safe. You can obtain LED lights that are solar-powered, so they work well, and save you money. 

Don't waste your space by neglecting it in winter. Create a space you can use all year round.