Getting in the mood
Having considered the elements you want to include in your outside room, you may a' mood board' will help focus your ideas. Take a look at the example below and follow our tips to make your own.
Creating a mood board
Stage one: Gathering inspiration
- Cut out and collect images from magazines of plants that you would like to include and styles of gardens you like.
- Visit local suppliers for sample offcuts of your preferred paving or decking material and any other hard landscaping materials that you like.
- Other people's front gardens can also be a source of inspiration, so take a stroll around your local area and take a look.
Stage two:Putting it all together
- When you have collected enough cut-outs, take a large piece of paper or cardboard and arrange the images on the board. Place your rough garden layout, which identifies the areas to be paved, grassed and planted, in the centre.
- Reflect the layout of your garden plan on the board. If, for example, you intend to have a colourful planter in the middle at the back of the garden, place the image at the top in the middle of your board.
- Continue to place all cut-out elements onto the board roughly where they will be in the garden until you are happy with the look you have achieved, then stick them down onto the board, including your paving off-cuts and other material samples.
Next article: Employing a garden designer