For many owners of corner summer houses, the best gardens for them are those that are comfortable and make people feel good. Apart from looking good, the garden also needs to feel good. A garden should be relaxing, easy to navigate, and simple to maintain.
Structures such as the Norfolk Sheds as well as the paths included in the garden ought to be easy to move through. Additionally, the plants you choose to plant need to serve a function and provide some interest without appearing to be prima donnas or bullies.
The following are practical tips you can use to create liveable and enjoyable gardens for your corner summer houses:
- Give a Wide Berth
The pathways in your garden should be wide enough to allow for comfortable passage. Visitors to the garden will not enjoy having to squeeze through narrow spaces regardless of whether the garden is indoors or outside.
You have to design the garden in such a way that it is wide enough to allow for at least two individuals to walk through it side by side. In short, it should not be less than five feet wide. If you intend to include secondary pathways where people will walk side by side, ensure that they are at least three feet wide.
Here, remember that the taller the structures or painting that flank the walkway, the wider you need to make the pathway. Any space will easily feel restricted when there are tall boundaries.
- Watch the Steps
The second tip to designing your gardening layout is to watch the stairways and outdoor steps. Your chosen garden plan has to make sure that the steps and stairways are located in a gently ascending manner. If this is not the case, the two will likely become daunting.
To make the steps comfortable, ensure that they have a rise of six inches or less. The depth (run) of every single step including twice its height (rise) will need to be equal to twenty-six inches.
This means that steps that have a six-inch rise will need a depth of at least fourteen inches. What this means is that if the stairways in your garden have more than ten steps, try and ensure that there are landings after every 4th or 5th step.
This will help ease progress. It is recommended to make sure that the landings are at least as deep as the width of your stairs. If the stairway is changing directions, then make sure that there is a generous landing.
- Provide Plenty of Elbow Room
Decks and patios are great places for entertaining friends and family. You must, therefore, make sure that you plan for enough room to allow for mingling and accommodate dining. Take into account the total number of guests that you are likely to host on a regular basis.
Having done this, set aside four square feet of space for each individual. Remember that outdoor dining also calls for the use of outdoor furniture. Therefore, be sure to leave a perimeter that is at least three feet wide.
- Steady on Your Feet
Make certain that any paving used will be able to provide secure footing. This means staying away from loosely set pavers or slick surfaces that are likely to wobble. Paving materials such as smooth outdoor tiles and polished granite will likely not provide the traction you need in wintery or rainy climates.
Gravel walkways are a good alternative. Just make certain that the gravel is un-sifted. Un-sifted gravel will normally contain loose aggregates that will compact with time to provide you with solid and comfortable footing.
