How to make your garden look expensive on a budget (2025)

As summer approaches and temperatures finally begin to climb in the UK, homeowners with gardens will be eager to spend more time outside.

But after a long winter, it can take some time and effort to transform a garden neglected for many months into a stunning outdoor space where they can host guests.

Although keen gardeners may feel they have a mountain to climb in preparing their outside space for the summer, they need not spend a fortune.

Experts at Wickes have revealed their top tips for achieving an expensive-looking garden without breaking the bank.

The retailer has released its Great Garden Report and shared several tips for bringing out the best in your garden with minimal effort, including leaning in to natural features, installing frames for climbing plants and considering outside storage options.

Keep it natural

Wickes advises gardeners to start by using natural materials to shine a spotlight on the best parts of their garden while covering up some of the less pleasing elements.

Things like wooden planters, rustic sleepers and willow screensare perfect to dress up the space with minimal effort.

Similarly, compost, bark and taking care of the lawn can help bring tranquility to your outside space.

Japanese-inspired garden

One way to make your garden a serene paradise is by styling the outside space on a Japanese garden.

Using natural stone and trickling water, alongside easy-to-care-for plants like acers and ferns, packs a visual punch without leaving a gaping hole in your budget.

Simple water features like water fountains and white pebbles can also pack a punch.

Choosing natural materials for your garden structure, such as stone and wood and contrasting it with soft features like floor cushions and floating hammocks creates exciting visual elements with minimal effort.

And for those wanting to go one step further, they can even create stone paths leading to secluded nooks.

Bigger isn't always better

When it comes to jazzing up an outside space, the experts at Wickes stress that small spaces are just as valuable as bigger gardens.

In fact, there are ways to maximise the space so it looks bigger than it is, including placing mirrors outdoors, or putting up trellis panels for climbing plants.

Similarly, adding hooked lanterns and bird feeders to the space can draw the eye upwards.

If there isn't enough space for plant-packed borders, use clustered pots instead. Sow tomato plants in containers for a cheery summer crop.

Smart storage solutions

If space is limited, then consider storage solutions, say the experts at Wickes.

If the garden has room for a shed,add a flip-down outdoor shelf that doubles as a table or sit pretty on a Keter storage bench, in which one can place their gardening items.

Let me entertain you

For those who like to entertain, Wickes's range of outdoor heating and lighting is perfect for transforming gardens on a budget.

Inexpensive patio heaters mean hosts can carry on the party all night - as do fire pits.

A range of lighting options can set the mood including a long string of 4litre festoon LED lights or a table lanternwhich can transform a sit-down garden party in to a sophisticated soiree.

And of course, you can harness the power of the sun during the day to fire up solar-powered lights that kick into action at dusk.