Six ways to give your garden a modern English country vibe

Forget manicured lawns and hot borders – contemporary outdoor spaces are all about playing with convention

Think of summer in England and you're instantly transported to verdant green spaces with the scent of flowers in the air, but modern garden schemes are taking on a new look, inspired by innovative materials, witty juxtapositions of shape and form and contemporary decorating ideas.

1. Luxe rustic

ingenious straw bale seat with stainless steel lantern moss schnauzer and moss scottie dune weave outdoor rug

(Image credit: TBC)

This ingenious straw bale seat sums up the modern country vibe perfectly.
Straw Bench seat, DesResDesign. Stainless-steel lantern, Indian Ocean at Selfridges. Moss Schnauzer and moss Scottie, both Abigail Ahern. Dune Weave outdoor rug, Armadillo&Co at Northwood Home.

2. Wistful thinking

romantic swinging seat with 1900 hanging armchair faux box cones and apple sculpture lisa pappon for bull stein

(Image credit: TBC)

We all need to escape from time to time - a romantic swinging seat is the perfect place to unwind.
1900 hanging armchair, Fermob for The White Company. Apple sculpture, Lisa Pappon for Bull & Stein at Urban Living Interiors. Faux box cones, Blooming Artificial.

3. A twist of fête

outdoor chairs with joa sekoya stackable chairs philippe starck outdoor dining chairs and zinc top table

(Image credit: TBC)

A mismatched group of outdoor chairs creates an impromptu party vibe.
Joa Sekoya stackable chairs, Philippe Starck for TOG at Heal's. Outdoor dining chairs, from a selection at John Lewis and Habitat. Zinc-top table, Petersham Nurseries.

4. Bag of tricks

witty concrete furniture and accessories with gladstone bag plant pot and concrete side table

(Image credit: TBC)

Witty concrete furniture and accessories instantly set the scene for a contemporary garden.
Gladstone Bag plant pot, Seletti at Rockett St George. Concrete side table, Holly's House.

5. Grower's paradise

potting shed with edge with amaze sofa cupid after praxiteles artwork and cabbage print ceramic watering cans and chaussures concrete planters

(Image credit: TBC)

For a potting shed with edge, add a designer bench, swap your classic statuary for 2-D art and mix up your simple terracotta pots with modern geometric pieces.
Amaze sofa, Cane-line. Cupid, after Praxiteles artwork and Cabbage print by Ernst Benary, Surface View. Ceramic watering cans, Paola Navone for Lando at The Conran Shop. Chaussures concrete planters, Seletti at Do Shop.

6. Summer loving

cool garden loungers orbit love seat with helix table leisure plan bleached driftwood hanging wreath baba outdoor floor lamp and harvest weave outdoor rug

(Image credit: TBC)

Long hot days are for kicking back - meaning more time to cosy up on a cool lounger made for two.
Orbit love seat, Richard Frinier for Dedon; and Helix table, Wolfgang CR Mezger for Fischer Möbel, both at Leisure Plan. Bleached driftwood hanging wreath, Karen Miller for Doris Brixham. Babà outdoor floor lamp, Serralunga at Chaplins. Harvest Weave outdoor rug, Armadillo&Co at Northwood Home.

Contributor

Tamara was Ideal Home's Digital Editor before joining the Woman & Home team in 2022. She has spent the last 15 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, both now at Future PLC. It’s with these award wining interiors teams that she's honed her skills and passion for shopping, styling and writing. Tamara is always ahead of the curve when it comes to interiors trends – and is great at seeking out designer dupes on the high street.