Two gardens with exactly the same lounge set can look completely different. The difference is in the details: a rug under your feet, cushions in the right colours, pots at different heights and light once it gets dark. This article covers twelve practical garden decoration ideas, from an afternoon's work to a weekend project. For each idea you'll find what to look out for, which mistakes to avoid and examples from our range.
In short: start with what you see most: the floor (an outdoor rug), your seating area (scatter cushions) and the evening (lighting). Choose two or three colours in advance and let them come back everywhere. Work with groups and varying heights rather than lots of loose bits, and only choose decoration that can handle the outdoors. Not sure where to start? Take the quick test.
The 12 ideas at a glance
Not every idea takes the same amount of time. This table shows you quickly what you can do this afternoon and what needs more preparation.
| Idea | Effect | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor rug | Completes a seating area | Roll out and done |
| Scatter cushions | Colour and comfort | Small |
| Colour palette | Calm and cohesion | Some thinking |
| Pots in groups | Depth and greenery | An afternoon |
| Greenery against the fence | Fewer bare walls | An afternoon |
| Lighting in hedge or above terrace | Atmosphere after sunset | Connect to 12V |
| Lanterns on the table | Instant evening mood | Small |
| Side table | A place for decoration | Small |
| Mirror | Space looks larger | Hanging |
| Water bowl | Sound and birds | Refresh weekly |
| Seasonal swap | Garden stays fresh | A few times a year |
| Focal point | A resting point for the eye | Choose once |
Test: where do you start?
You don't have to do everything at once. Answer three questions and see which decoration will make the biggest difference in your garden.
Which decoration will give your terrace the biggest makeover?
What catches your eye first when you look out at your terrace from the back door?
- A large, bare expanse of paving
- Furniture that looks a bit colourless
- Nothing special, but it's dark out there in the evening
- Lots of stone and hardly any greenery
At what time of day do you prefer to sit outside?
- During the day, barefoot with a book
- At midday, stretched out on the lounge sofa
- After dinner until it gets dark
- Early in the morning with coffee among the plants
How much time do you want to spend on it afterwards?
- Lay it down once and that's that
- Change something now and then for a fresh mood
- Put in the effort once, then just switch it on
- I actually enjoy watering and looking after things
Start with an outdoor rug. A rug turns a bare expanse into a seating area in one go, and after that it needs very little work.
Start with scatter cushions. A few cushions in two or three colours give your furniture character straight away, and they're easy to swap out by season.
Start with lighting. A string light or small lights in the hedge make your terrace truly usable after sunset.
Start with pots and plants. A group of pots at different heights brings greenery to your terrace and softens the hard floor.
1. Lay an outdoor rug
An outdoor rug is the quickest way to make a patch of terrace feel like a seating area. It softens the paving, dampens noise and adds colour to a surface you see all day long. How large the rug should be under a lounge set is explained in setting up an outdoor living room; for material and maintenance, see outdoor rugs for the terrace. Here are two ideas you see less often:
- A round rug under a bistro set or beside a lounge chair. A round rug of 160 cm turns a small corner into a place of its own, even on a balcony.
- The rug as a colour accent. A rug with a leaf print brings a green or summery feel, even when there are still few plants about.
Naturalis rug Ø160 cm palm leaf green
Prefer something calmer? The same size is also available in a plain sand colour, and for a larger seating area there are rectangular rugs.
Condor round Ø160 cm, sand
View rug →
Naturalis 160 x 230 cm, taupe
View rug →
All outdoor rugs
View range →2. Scatter cushions in layers
Scatter cushions are what finish off a sofa. You get the best effect with layers: a few larger square cushions at the back, one or two smaller ones in front, in two or three colours from your palette. Combine a plain cushion with one that has texture or a pattern, and the look feels rich without becoming busy.
When buying, check the specifications. Not every scatter cushion is water-repellent: the Madison Panama cushions are not according to the specifications, while the Outdoor+ Cala, the Napels and the canvas eco+ from the Eco-line are. Water-repellent is still not waterproof, so when it rains they all need to go indoors or into a cushion box.
Outdoor+ Cala natural scatter cushion
Moss green eco+, water-repellent
View cushion →
Napels salmone, water-repellent
View cushion →
Panama sage 45 x 45 cm
View cushion →You'll find more colours and sizes in our scatter cushions range. If you're also looking for new seat or back cushions, read buying garden cushions: what to look for.
3. Choose a fixed colour palette
Too many colours mixed together is the quickest route to a cluttered garden. So choose a palette of three colours in advance and stick to it for everything you buy:
- A base colour for the large areas, such as sand, taupe, grey or anthracite. Often this is the colour of your furniture or your terrace.
- Green from your plants. That's always there, so factor it in.
- One accent colour that you use in small amounts: in a few cushions, a pot or a rug.
Lay everything you're considering out together on the terrace first: cushion, rug, pot. What doesn't work side by side won't work in the garden either. If you're unsure, make a moodboard first.
4. Pots in groups of three
A single pot disappears on a terrace. Three pots together form a group that stands out. The rule of thumb: different heights, same colour or same material.
- Tall at the back, low at the front. A tall pot with an ornamental grass or a small tree at the back, a lower one with a flowering plant or herbs in front.
- Repeat one thing. The same pot colour or the same plant in two places in the garden creates cohesion.
- Place them where you sit. Lavender, rosemary or thyme next to the seating area, and you'll smell them with every movement.
- Think about winter. Choose frost-resistant pots if they stay outside, and set them on feet or tiles so the water can drain away.
5. Greenery against the fence
A bare fence or wall stands out most in a small garden. Use it as a backdrop: a climbing plant along wires, a few hanging pots or a plant rack with herbs. This gives you greenery without taking up floor space. Hang pots at eye level from the sofa, and you'll see them when you're sitting down too.
Working with a small outdoor space? Setting up a small back garden and setting up a balcony offer more ideas for making use of height.
6. Lighting in the hedge or above the terrace
Lighting is decoration that only begins after sunset. If you want a complete lighting plan with spotlights, path lights and wall lamps, read 10 garden lighting ideas and creating atmosphere with garden lighting. As decoration, string lights work best: above the table, along the pergola or through a hedge or shrub.
The Linea all seasons is a good example: a string with a hundred warm white LEDs at 2500 K that you can run through a hedge, shrub or around a tree trunk. It's designed to stay up all year, so it adds atmosphere in winter too. The string works on Garden Lights' 12V system; you can read how to install it in installing garden lighting with 12V.
Linea all seasons string light
You'll find more string lights and mood lamps in our mood lighting range.
7. Lanterns and tealights on the table
You don't need any installation for atmosphere on the table. A few lanterns or tealights at different heights, grouped together on a tray, create an evening feel straight away. A few tips:
- For the table and close to cushions and rugs, choose LED candles: they don't blow out and pose no fire risk.
- Put them on a tray, and you can carry everything inside or move it somewhere else in one go.
- Light colours, such as white cushions or a pale vase, reflect candlelight better than dark ones.
8. A side table as a decorative island
A small side table next to the sofa or lounge chair is handy for a drink, but it's also a fixed place for decoration: a lantern, a pot of herbs or a stack of books. That way the decoration doesn't get in the way on the lounge table, and your terrace stays tidy.
Mioala side table Ø50 cm taupe
On the tray, group your lanterns, glasses or a pot of herbs. You'll find more in our outdoor serving trays range.
9. A mirror for more depth
A mirror against the fence makes a small garden look larger and reflects the greenery and the light. A few points to consider:
- Choose a mirror that is suitable for outdoor use, with a frame that can cope with moisture.
- Hang it so that it reflects greenery, not the shed or the bins.
- Birds can mistake a mirror for open space. So place it behind plants or against a fence with growth on it, not freely in the garden or opposite a bird feeding spot.
- Hang it securely: a gust of wind against a loose mirror can end badly.
10. Water in a bowl or basin
Water adds movement, reflects the sky and attracts birds. You don't need to dig a pond: a wide bowl or a waterproof basin with a few water plants works on a terrace too. Refresh the water regularly, especially in summer, so mosquito larvae don't develop. Empty the bowl before it freezes. Want to light up a pond in the evening? That's covered in the garden lighting ideas.
11. Switch things up by season
Your garden doesn't have to look the same all year round. A few small swaps keep it fresh:
- Spring: light cushions, the first flowering plants in pots, the rug back outside.
- Summer: more colour in the cushions, herbs by the seating area, light above the table.
- Autumn: warmer shades such as moss green or terracotta, throws and lanterns. You'll find inspiration in tips for a cosy autumn garden.
- Winter: cushions and rug stored dry, lighting in the hedge and winter-hardy greenery in the pots.
One box per season
Pack the decoration from the previous season into a box: cushion covers, lanterns, small objects. That way you can swap in a quarter of an hour without searching. An outdoor storage box can also stand on the terrace.
12. One focal point at the end of your sightline
Look out from the back door or your favourite chair into the garden. Where does your eye settle? Place one striking piece at that spot: a large pot with a multi-stemmed tree, a sculpture or an object against the fence. One focal point gives calm; ten small things scattered around the garden don't. Light it in the evening, and it will work after sunset too.
Less is more
Not sure whether something fits? Take it away for a week. If you don't miss it, it doesn't need to go back.
Garden decoration by garden style
Which decoration works depends on your style. A short direction for each style; in the style articles you can read how to arrange the whole garden.
| Style | Decoration that suits | Inspiration |
|---|---|---|
| Modern | One large object, sleek pots, little colour | Modern garden |
| Japandi | Natural tones, stone, water, lots of open space | Japandi garden |
| Ibiza | White, sand, jute, large terracotta pots | Ibiza garden |
| Bohemian | Patterned rugs, lots of cushions, string lights | Bohemian garden |
| Rustic | Wood, zinc, lanterns, muted colours | Atmospheric rustic |
| Industrial | Black metal, warm light, sturdy pots | Industrial garden |
Not sure which style suits you? Browse all our garden styles or take the style test in garden design: 11 tips.
What can stay outside?
Decoration that's ruined after one winter is a waste of money. A general guideline:
| Decoration | Leave outside? | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Scatter cushions | No | Bring in when it rains and overnight |
| Outdoor rug | Yes, during the season | Roll up dry for winter |
| Pots | Frost-resistant only | On feet, water needs to drain |
| Outdoor lighting | Yes, if it's made for outdoor use | Check the IP rating |
| Water bowl | Not in frost | Empty before the first night frost |
| Indoor decoration | No | Take inside after use |
Cushions that stay in the sun will fade faster. Read what you can do about it in garden cushions faded by the sun.
How to go about it in 4 steps
Sit where you sit most often and look around. Note what looks bare, empty or cluttered. Start there, not in the corner you never see.
Remove anything broken, faded or unnecessary. Decoration only works when there's space around it.
Decide on your three colours and start with the large areas: the rug and the cushions. They determine the mood the most.
Arrange pots, lanterns and objects in groups of three, at different heights. Finish with lighting for the evening.
How to keep it looking good
- Two or three colours, which return in cushions, rug and pots
- Groups with varying heights instead of loose bits
- Only decoration that is made for outdoor use
- Store cushions and rug dry outside the season
Need to choose furniture as well as decoration? The selection tool will help you find a lounge set or garden set that suits your garden in a few questions.
Common mistakes
Buying everything at once
Anyone who fills a shopping basket with decoration in one go often ends up with items that don't go together. Start with the basics and add to them afterwards.
Everything at the same height
A row of low pots and a rug on the ground: the garden looks flat. Use tall pots, hanging pots and the fence to create height.
Leaving cushions outside
Even water-repellent scatter cushions are not waterproof. One night of rain and a damp filling is enough for mould spots.
Decoration on the walkway
A pot or lantern you have to walk past in the evening is a trip hazard. Keep paths and the route to the back door clear.
Mixing styles
A colourful boho rug next to a sleek, modern lounge set can clash. Choose one style and let the decoration follow.
Checklist
Tick off what you've already done:
- Colour palette of three colours chosen
- Outdoor rug laid under the seating area
- Scatter cushions in layers on the sofa or chairs
- At least one group of pots with varying heights
- Lighting for the evening: string lights, lanterns or mood lighting
- One focal point at the end of the sightline
- A place to store cushions dry
Frequently asked questions
How do I make my garden cosier without buying new garden furniture?
Start with textiles and lighting. An outdoor rug under the seating area, a few scatter cushions in two or three colours and a string of lights or some lanterns will change the mood more than you might expect. Then place a group of plant pots at different heights beside the seating area. Your furniture stays the same, but the terrace feels like a new place.
How many colours should I use for garden decor?
Stick to two or three colours: a calm base such as sand, taupe or grey, the green of your plants and, if you like, an accent colour. Repeat those colours in cushions, rugs and pots. That way the garden looks cohesive, even when there is plenty of decoration.
Can I use indoor decor outdoors too?
Usually not for long. Indoor items aren't made for rain, moisture and sun, and they can fade or go mouldy. Choose decor designed for outdoor use, and check the specifications for cushions, as not all outdoor cushions are water-repellent. Anything that can't cope with rain should be taken back indoors after use.
Which garden decor can stay outside all winter?
Frost-proof pots, metal objects with a protective coating and lighting made for outdoor use can usually stay out. Store outdoor cushions and rugs somewhere dry: roll up the rug once it is completely dry. Empty any water bowl before it starts to freeze.
How do I decorate a small garden or balcony?
Choose fewer but larger accents and make use of height. Hanging planters, a plant stand or greenery against the fence take up no floor space. A round outdoor rug of 160 cm and a compact side table can turn a small corner into a seating area. A mirror against the fence will make the space look larger.
