Every now and then the garden needs a little bit of attention, especially as we’re taking the first steps into summer. It’s always nice to have a relaxing place to host BBQs or even to just spend some peaceful alone time with a cup of tea appreciating the great outdoors. Happily, having a beautiful garden doesn’t have to cost vast sums, or require a full scale renovation project to look at its very best!

Here at Bridge Street Stone, we know that with a few slabs of stunning Indian Sandstone paving, porcelain paving, limestone paving or Yorkstone paving, some inspiration and a little effort, anything is possible. So, we’ve put together four easy DIY garden projects you can try in your own space to help transform it in time for summer!

Lay some beautiful paving

You probably guessed we’d start with paving – but it’s true, nothing gives your garden a fresh new feel quite like it. And here at Bridge Street Stone, we’ve got plenty of beautiful options to choose from. Whether you’re after something budget-friendly or looking to go for more of a luxury feel, there’s something for everyone. We’ve got Indian Sandstone paving, limestone paving, porcelain paving and Yorkstone paving – each with its own unique look, so you can find the perfect match for your space. 

Laying a new paved area is a simple way to totally transform your garden. It gives you a clean, stylish base for furniture, helps level things out, and just makes the whole space feel more put together. If you’re looking for a quick garden upgrade this summer, it’s a great place to start.

Fashion a DIY garden bar

There’s nothing more current and convenient than having your own bar set up, and fortunately, it’s super easy to do! If you’re someone who likes to host your friends and family for BBQs and summer parties, this is the ideal DIY project for you. If you consider yourself handy with tools, you can start from scratch and build yourself a bar that will really impress your friends. If you prefer things done the easy way, why not repurpose an old cabinet or set of shelves? You’d be surprised what a lick of paint can do to spruce up any old furniture you may have. If you don’t have anything lying around. you can easily pick up shelves or cabinets super cheap from buy-and-sell groups online, sometimes they’re even free!

Simply paint, let dry and embellish with your drinks bottles! Bookshelves in particular will provide enough storage space for you to store an assortment of drinks, glasses and cocktail ingredients for easy and convenient storage.

Bring the comfort of indoors outdoors

There’s no better way to enjoy the garden than from the comfort of your own living room. Or in other words, bring your living room outside! One of the newer trends sweeping the garden design world is to create an extension of your house by building an outdoor living room. Outdoor living rooms consist of all the creature comforts of inside, but in an outdoor setting. 

Instead of buying cold and hard garden furniture like metal chairs, instead choose something softer and more stylish, like a garden sofa. Soften the look further with cushions, throws, a rug and definitely a coffee table. Arrange them like you would a living room, and now you have a comfortable outdoor seating area fit for the whole family. For a more continual flow, you can match your colour palettes to the interior of your home and make thoughtful choices when it comes to accessories. If you have a grassless garden, our Indian Sandstone paving or porcelain paving makes for an excellent background for a chic and stylish outdoor living space.

Shed some light on the situation with solar lights

Whether they’re being used to mark a pathway, illuminate focal points like DIY planters or add some ambience to your seating area, solar lights make brilliant additions to any summer garden. They’re the perfect low maintenance addition as they require no power source but the sun and can be arranged however you like - which is perfect for DIY lovers! They’ll also turn themselves on and off so you don’t have to.

There’s numerous ways solar lights can be utilised, but personally, we’d recommend opting for lanterns, fairy lights and ground lights that cast a soft, warm glow and really bring your space to life. If you own a veranda or a pergola, fairy lights are the perfect cosy addition to really finish off the space. Similarly, a tabletop lantern will add a rustic charm to any seating area and boost the summer atmosphere to new levels.

Get cosy around a DIY fire pit

Next, we’re tackling DIY fire pits. Fire pits can be an expensive purchase when getting them from a garden shop or online, but if you trade that off for a couple hours of your time, you can have a hand-built fire pit in no time! There are plenty of easy-to-follow online tutorials using inexpensive or repurposed materials like bricks, or boulders found around the garden. Use these materials and a few hours of your time to create the ultimate chic fire pit that you can enjoy throughout every season.

These DIY garden ideas are a great starting point for giving your space a refresh, but the beauty of it is you can make it completely your own. However you choose to style your garden this summer, you can count on us at Bridge Street Stone to help you get the look just right. We’ve got a wonderful selection of stone paving to choose from, including Indian Sandstone paving, Limestone paving, Porcelain paving and Yorkstone paving – all available in a variety of colours, textures and finishes. Whether you’re planning a full revamp or just want to upgrade a small corner, we’re here to help you bring your ideas to life. Give us a call on 01282 860571 if you’ve got any questions – we’re always happy to chat!