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Gardens are fast becoming the heart of the home as we are being told to take our socialising outdoors but when you are a family compromised of adults and children, creating the perfect space for everyone is no mean feat. That’s not to say it’s impossible. Gardens up and down the country have been undergoing makeovers and transformations as we seek to spend more time in our back garden than ever before. Here are a few simple ways you can make your garden more family-friendly.
Bring inside outside
Whilst the summer sun can be glorious, it can also be dangerous, especially for young skin. Having space in a garden where young and old can take some time to cool down and get out of the summer sun without going inside is key for making any garden family-friendly. Investing in a veranda gives your garden an extra space that can be fully protected from the suns rays but still giving you that fresh air. Whether you use it for an outdoor seating area, dining area or even play area, verandas are available with customisable sunshading allowing you to choose as and when you want to keep the sun out.
Play equipment
Factoring in children’s play equipment is unavoidable when creating the ultimate family-friendly garden, but you can enhance the aesthetics. Opting to have the trampoline at ground level, is an excellent way of avoiding the eyesore that above-ground trampolines can be. Oh and you won’t have to keep moving it around the garden to protect the grass.
Another great idea is to introduce zoning for this play equipment. Instead of having swings, slides and football nets all over the garden, where you can, fence off a zone or section of the garden dedicated to the children’s play equipment. Think of it as an outdoor playroom that will not only give them a sense of ownership and personal space but help keep clutter down and the garden tidy.
Maintenance
Maintaining or improving a garden can be laborious but the results are aesthetic and practical. Keeping the grass short will make it softer for small knees to fall on. Long grass can be itchy and uncomfortable, especially for hayfever or allergy sufferers. Well kept grass also makes a garden look fresher and more inviting. Keeping hedges trimmed, especially those with thorns and prickles, will help keep little arms from scratches. Pulling weeds will prevent tiny feet from standing on uncomfortable spikes, and hanging trees need to be cut back. Don’t forget all of these jobs require tools, often dangerous ones at that so be sure to keep them locked away safely to ensure your garden remains family-friendly.
If maintenance isn’t really your thing, consider laying some turf. It is low maintenance and hard wearing. It is also perfect for outdoor use year round as it won’t get muddy in heavy rainfall. Ideal for playing ball sports out in the garden after a night of heavy rain.
Seating for all
Finally don’t forget outdoor seating comes in all shapes and sizes. Adding outdoor seating for the whole family, whether it be beanbags, loungers or mini camping chairs is a great low-cost way to include every member of the family.
