Currently, lots of us are at home and if we’re lucky enough, we have a garden that we can spend time out in. It gives us the time to think about our outside space and how we want to use it. Currently, stay in, or order online for items to create your space, but stay in if you can. Use the things you have in the garden already, or if you read this once this awful thing is over, then thank goodness life is back to normal. So here are some family-friendly garden ideas you could use to create a fun and exciting area for the kids to play in.
What To Include In A Family-Friendly Garden
Depending on the space you have depends on how much you can fit in the space and what you would like to prioritise., you want to make your outdoor space more usable. Get rough drawing our your garden on a piece of paper and start scribbling down the outlines and areas you already have. Fencing areas, sheds, outbuildings or patios, this gives you a starting point.
Then spend a day watching where the sun comes up, what parts of the garden are sunny at different points and keep track of it. This will help you decide where things could go later when planning your layout.
Once you have this start researching things you could have in the space, what colour schemes you like and what you need from your garden. It has to be practical for your family as well as a family-friendly garden and fun for the kids.
Patio Areas
I think having a patio or hardstanding area in the garden is a good starting point, think about what type of materials you would like to use. You can pick up concrete patio slabs quite cheaply, or lots of people sell them or free on places like Marketplace after they’ve lifted them up from their garden. If you’re around the area, you also can hire a San Diego paver installation company to help you with your project
We’ve got porcelain ones in our garden as I wanted a modern look to the space, they’re easy to clean and stay nice and cool in the summer.
Patios are perfect for having your outside dining table on, the kids love having dinner outside in the garden. Think about where the table is positioned. It’s nice to have it nearer to the house so you can easily lay the table without walking back and forth up the garden. But if this is a sunny spot then think about creating shade in this space whilst you eating. If you have space you could always have two seating areas, once for a large table and maybe one for having a coffee or lunch on.
Chill Out Zones
My little space of relaxation last year was on our outdoor sofa on the patio, it was such a relaxing space. I could pop my feet up and face the garden and watch all the birds and bees. I cannot wait to have this space up and running again this year.
It’s great for kids to have spaces where they can be outside and just relax too, grab a book and switch off from everything. You could create a little area in the garden with a swinging chair and surround by flowers, this would be pure bliss in my eyes!
Play Areas
One of the things we promised the kids when we moved to this house was a play area! We picked one up on eBay 2nd hand for around £150 and it’s lasted 6 years now! They’ve had so much fun out of it, and their friends love it when they come over to play. It gives them a space in the garden that is just theirs.
You could fill it with blackboards to do chalk on, a mud kitchen, a wet play area, and little lookout areas! They can make it into a den, hideaway, and make up all sorts of games together.
For family garden spaces with children and pets that are particularly playful, artificial grass is becoming an increasingly popular solution. Not only are there are a variety of styles, including play area-specific safe grass that can give you additional peace of mind when your children are jumping around outdoors, but it also requires less maintenance and clean-up, with no more muddy footprints coming in and out of the house.
Drying The Washing Outside
It can’t all be fun and games can it, you need to think of some practical pieces and areas in the garden too. Making it functional for all, adults and kids. You need to dry the washing! Drying clothes outside is amazing to be able to do, the clothes dry so much quicker, it keeps the moisture out of the house and frees up room inside. Look at the sun planner you made at the start and pick a sunny space in the garden to place a rotary clothesline and you can load it up with all your family’s washing. It will be dry by the end of the day! With lots of different sizes to choose from, there will be a perfect one to suit your garden.
You don’t always need a large open space in the garden to place a rotary clothesline either, you can even get the Wallfix model which is lightweight and attaches to the house wall. The sun will bounce off the wall, making it a lovely warm area to dry your clothes.
Pets
Think about where the pets are going to the toilet in the garden. We’ve been able to create a dog toileting patch in our garden so the dog isn’t toiling on the lawn or where the children play. Take a look at the patch we created for him. It’s now changed since the extension was built, now to keep it a family-friendly garden we’ve created an area behind the shed for him to go which is filled with gravel this time. You be surprised how quickly they will learn to toilet in an area you designated, use treats, direction, and praise.
Storage
When we purchased the garden sofa we knew we needed a large storage box to store all the cushions as they weren’t going to fit in the house every night! This has been brilliant, holding all the sofa cushions, table cushions and also has space for a couple of boxes of kids’ toys.
Wildlife
Teaching kids that wildlife is part of nature and life, and the role they play is really important. They need to respect them and learn to love them! Having a family-friendly garden needs to encourage wildlife, get the kids involved in looking after them, and create spaces for them.
We have a large bird feeder that we place seeds and fat balls in, last summer it was so lovely seeing all the birds flying down to feed. My daughter loved looking after them. Also consider having bug houses placed around the garden, or creating your own.
Flowers
I’ve learned so much over the past few years about flowers, and I have realised there is something for everyone. No matter how much of a novice you are, you can still have some beautiful flowers in your garden. Pick ones that come up year after year (perennial plants) and ones that don’t need too much love. Pick a few you love and learn how to look after those, and then you know what to do with those ones and not feel overwhelmed. Over time your love seeing them coming up each year and growing throughout the year. It’s very rewarding and quite addictive!
Hope you have a wonderful summer in your family friendly garden
16 Comments
We’ve been busy in our garden.
It’s nice to have a bit of lovely weather.
Yes the weather makes such a big difference doesn’t it, enjoy
You have such a lovely garden. I love the seating area it looks so cosy. We’ve been planning out our garden this week, its nice to have it all planned out
Oh exciting times, it’s fun to have a space to create another room to the house
Wow I wish my garden looked like that. We have such a small space but I’d love a play area for the kids
I bet they love that space to be outside though don’t they, it was our promise to them to have installed when we told them we were moving here!
Your garden looks wonderful – thanks for all of the tips. I especially like the play area. We only have a small garden but I hope to make it lovely and homely this summer. At the moment it is just a blank canvas and is awaiting some TLC!
oh a blank canvas is perfect, you can do so much with it and not much prep work in the first place! Good luck with it
Fab ideas. We live in a flat so we don’t have a garden but I often think about what I would have in mine. I would love a area for growing veggies and herbs and a she-shed would be amazing!
Oh your have to have a little window herb area for you!
Looks like such a fun garden for the children! Love the. climbing frame area the most.
Yes they love it too, perfect for them to play out on the moment
I love the play area. I want to do something similar with our garden, especially as our little one can’t go to the park at the moment,
Yes it’s a perfect time to do more with the garden isn’t it, such a shame they can’t get out and about
Your garden is gorgeous and I love the separate areas for the seating and the kids’ play area. Some lovely ideas and what better time to post about spending time in the garden when (a) the coronavirus is lurking ‘out there’ and (b) the weather is lovely right now. Well done Steph and I hope you enjoy your gorgeous space this weekend x
Isn’t it lovely being able to get out in the garden at the moment, thank you so much and I hope you can enjoy yours too