The experts at Serenata Flowers share advice on how to spruce up your outdoor living space REFRESHING your garden and nurturing the plants and flowers within it can take time, especially for those wanting to capture social-media-worthy garden snaps.

As the nation continues to self-isolate at home and the weather sun continues to smile down on us, people are spending and more time in their gardens. With many of us experiencing a bit time than we expected, now could be the perfect opportunity for green-fingered individuals to give their outdoor space an Insta-worthy makeover.

It doesn’t matter if you are a landscaping pro or brand new to the gardening experience, the experts at the UK’s leading independent online florist, Serenata Flowers, have got you covered. Below, they’ve given us their top tips for making your garden a picture-perfect landscape and to help you rake in those likes on Instagram:

Clean Up
The first step to a garden refresh is cleaning the area and discarding any damaged or unwanted items, such as tattered furniture or plants and flowers which have surpassed the pinnacle of life. This will instantly revitalise the look of your outdoor space and make room for new purchases. Use a stiff brush to give patio areas and paths a good clean and also remove any unwanted weeds to make the area look fresh and tidy.

For the very best effect, you can even take the cleaning one-step further by using a power-washer to blast dirt, stains, and moss from your paths and patios to give them a new lease of life.

For those with a lawn, help it prepare for a healthy year of growth by mowing, fertilising, and watering the grass so it can thrive over the coming months. By cleaning your outdoor space in these ways, you are giving yourself a blank canvas to work from and can then utilise the area more successfully.

Choose A Colour Scheme
To ensure your garden is picture-perfect, pick a colour scheme to work to. This could mean using a few shades of complementary colours, opting for a range of pastels or even going for bright and beautiful with vibrant yet contrasting colours. Bring a touch of you to your garden by opting for colours that reflect your personality.

You are going to be the one spending the majority of time enjoying the space, so it is important to ensure you feel calm and relaxed with your surroundings. Staging photos in your garden are like sharing a window into your personality and lifestyle, so make sure your surroundings represent who you are.

Pick Suitable Plants and Flowers
It is important to consider the season when you come to buy plants and flowers for your garden and to learn how best to care for them so they can grow and flourish. Springtime is a fantastic time to refresh your garden as this time of year offers a beautiful range of flowers and plants to choose from, all of which are guaranteed to transform your garden from its lifeless Winter state to a bright and blooming canvas that’s ready for Instagram.

Pansies are a great option as they can be planted in pots or hanging baskets, which is perfect with those who have a smaller outdoor living space. Tulips are also perfect for spring planting and come in an array of beautiful colours to give that wow-factor. Lily of the Valley will make another stunning addition to your garden with their delicate white buds – these can be planted all year round as long as the soil is well primed.

There are also a wide variety of plant choices available, including Instagram favourites such as contemporary potted plants, hanging baskets and wall plants, which can provide a colourful yet simplistic accompaniment to the area. Remember that not all plants are the same; be sure to do your research to find out what each one needs in order to give them the best chance of flourishing.

Buy suitable furnishings for the space
Outdoor furniture is subject to a lot of wear and tear over the years, so make sure to invest in quality furnishings which are strong, durable and will survive the varying weather conditions. Do not forgo comfort though, as there is a range of different furniture options which are comfortable and stylish as well as practical. Rattan furniture is a brilliant buy as it is strong and durable and will also freshen up the look of your outdoor space. Opt for outdoor furniture in light colours such as white or cream for a feeling of luxury, or why not go for a classic industrial look with elegant metal pieces?

Add the finishing touches
For the perfect Instagram-worthy finishing touches, liven up your outdoor space with some beautiful accessories, such as hanging festoon lights, lanterns or stylish throws placed over your patio chairs – these additions are an effective and simple way to bring a splash of imagination to the space and add a stamp of your style. You can even follow in the footsteps of popular influencers by installing a fire pit in your garden to make a real statement that oozes luxury.

If you want your garden to be bang on trend, then try bringing a splash of this year’s Colour of the Year – Classic Blue – into your outdoor living space. Whether repainting your garden fence in Classic Blue or dressing up your outdoor furniture with Classic Blue accessories, don’t forget to add the #ClassicBlue to your snaps and watch those likes roll in.

Lucia Polla, Marketing Manager at Serenata Flowers, adds: “It is more important than ever to make your outdoor living space an area you can relax and enjoy, creating the perfect escapism from self-isolation at home.

“Refreshing your garden doesn’t need to break the bank, as there are simple yet effective changes to be made with little cost associated. Painting your fence panels or adding some accessories are a great way to freshen up the feel of your garden and make it a space you want to spend more time in.

“These simple steps will help make your garden a space you can enjoy throughout the year and will make it the envy of all on Instagram as you showcase what a true outdoor paradise looks like.”

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