The summer of 2019 is well and truly underway, and the internet is rife with blogs about the best barbeques, garden furniture and fun summer garden activities that are available on the market right now. There’s no question as to why. Summer is the time for really enjoying the outdoors, and what better place to do it than in your own personal outdoor space? However, what if you’re looking to do something a little different? Well, a lot of people talk about bringing art into the home, but what if you were to bring some art into your garden? If your taste is on the artistic side of things, and you’re wanting to give your garden a unique edge, then here are some of the most effective ways that you can bring art into your garden space.

Choose Your Focal Point
In order to use art successfully in your outdoor space, you first need to choose what your garden’s focal point will be. Do you want a large statement piece of artwork that will immediately catch the eyes of those visiting, a prime example of which would be an outdoor statue or a reasonably sized water feature (depending on the space you have available). Or, would you rather create several smaller focal points, like groups of flowerbeds or exotic plants placed strategically around the space. Furthermore, are you going to have your garden a beautiful piece of symmetry, or go for a more abstract approach? Whatever it is you choose to be your focal point, the point of it is that it is just that – the focal point. It should be the first thing that people notice when they come into your garden, and it can be more than just one thing. As mentioned, it could be several smaller collections of exotic flowerbeds, or you could even look at strategically placing smaller mirrors around the space in order to reflect what you want your centrepieces to be. Whatever you can do to draw attention to your chosen point of focus, do it.

Give Yourself a Good Base
Although it can be tempting to get stuck straight in and fill your garden with beautiful artwork, make sure that your garden is in a reasonable state. You wouldn’t hang the Mona Lisa on a scratched and battered background, would you? So don’t bring art into a garden space that is looking a little, shall we say, worse for wear.

It’s all about the basics. Make sure your weeds are gone, your fences painted, your lawn cut back and consider having your brickwork replenished by a Repointing Specialist. When your base is ready, only then can you bring art into the space to create a beautiful outdoor haven successfully. In a messy garden, art will look just that, messy – especially if you’re going for the unsymmetrical abstract approach. You want to make sure that everything you choose to do looks intentionally chosen, and by starting with a clean and tidy base, you can do just that.

Consider the Weather Where You Live
Of course, before choosing the pieces of art you want to place strategically around your garden, you’ll want to consider what the weather is like where you live. Different plants and materials both withstand and thrive in different temperatures and conditions, so choose how you’re going to decorate your garden and what with, with this in mind. Some of the most frequently used materials in garden art are glass, mosaic, metal and stone, and you can place these strategically around your garden dependant on where the light and shade is. Wood and mosaic last a lot longer when they’re left in the shade, whereas glass and metal are fairly resistant to the sun and can withstand it for long periods of time. The more you know about the weather in your area and the materials that you’re using, the more sustainable your garden artwork will be.

Frame Your Chosen Pieces
Last but not least, consider how you’re going to frame your chosen artwork. That’s not to say in literal picture frames, but how are you going to get the most visually our of the pieces that you’ve chosen? A prime example of this is a metal sculpture. On a brick background, a metal structure can look fairly functional, but pair it with something completely different to itself like a floral wall, and the two contrast each other perfectly to make something beautiful. Being mindful about where to put your artwork is just as important as choosing the artwork itself. It takes a little time, effort and planning, but it’s worth it in the end, promise!