Transform Your Garden: Why Creating a Cozy Seating Area is the Key to Building a Space You’ll Love
Discover how a simple seating nook can deepen your connection with your garden, inspire your creativity, and lay the foundation for a space that truly reflects you.
Welcome back to Monday Top Tips, where we focus on creating a garden that’s not just beautiful but deeply meaningful—one actionable idea at a time.
I’m Elisabeth, your Edinburgh-based Garden Coach and Designer, and today we’re exploring one of the simplest ways to transform your outdoor space: creating a cozy spot to sit.
If you’re not sure where to start with your garden, this is it. Having a comfortable place to sit not only gives you a reason to be in the garden but also helps you build a deeper connection with it.
Give Yourself a Reason to Step Outside
The idea behind this series: Monday Top Tips is me posting a top tip every Monday on my Instagram account. My aim with these tips is to give you THE BEST POSSIBLE advice to get you to a place where you have a garden that you adore. One that isn’t overwhelming or draining your wallet. Some of my tips might feel a little bit odd or unusual.
That’s because they are. This isn’t your standard advice. This is tried and tested.
So My Monday Top Tip No.02:
Creating a seating area might feel like a small thing, but it’s a huge step toward falling in love with your garden. Think about it: if you don’t have a spot to linger, why would you spend time outside?
“When you create a spot to pause, relax, and take it all in, your garden becomes more than just a space—it becomes a retreat.”
Start by choosing a location with a view. Maybe it’s a sunny nook for chilly winter days or a shady corner for summer afternoons. Wherever you naturally gravitate, make it inviting.
Start Small and Learn What You Love
The best part about starting with seating? It’s manageable. You’re not overhauling the whole garden—you’re focusing on one small area. And as you spend more time there, you’ll start to notice what works and what doesn’t.
This is also a chance to start small. Focusing on a single seating area is a manageable way to learn what you like and what works for your space.
Add a chair or bench and make it cozy. A cushion, a throw, or even a small table for your tea can go a long way. Surround your space with potted plants or naturalistic flowers to create a sense of enclosure.
Connection Leads to Growth
Here’s where the magic happens: by being in the garden, you naturally start to notice the little things—like which plants are thriving and which ones aren’t, or what brings you the most joy. This connection makes every other decision easier because it’s based on what you love.
“When you create a lovely place to sit, it’s not just about the furniture or plants—it’s about creating moments of connection with your garden.”
How doing this changed my life (i’m not exaggerating)
We moved into our home in July 2022.
Picture the scene: we move from a tenement flat to a new home with its own garden! I am SO EXCITED! Beyond excited!
The garden has buckets of potential: South facing, large-ish for a city garden…
BUT it is mostly concrete and lawn.
“So”, I think to myself, “I have NO IDEA what I am doing” but I have a rough idea. I am VERY enthusiastic but the only knowledge I have is that I have watched a few episodes of Garden Rescue and that I am obsessed with the Rich Brothers.
So in my naiveté I make an appointment for a Garden Designer to come to my garden and give me an estimate of how much it would cost to make it AMAZING. He has a look around, tells me that my garden is awful (thank you, I know) and proceeds to say that it will be AT LEAST £80 000 to make it acceptable.
I nearly spat the tea I was drinking in his face. Eighty THOUSAND pounds?!?
Let me ruin the surprise, we did NOT have £80000 lying around.
So what could I do?
Like I said already, I didn’t know ANYTHING about gardening. I had never gardened before IN MY LIFE.
But I am a VERY enthusiastic learner. I could give Hermione Granger a run for her money with my research skills. So I set to work.
I read EVERYTHING and visited ALL THE GARDEN centres and asked my mother-in-law all the questions.
BUT I am rather impatient when I get focused on something so I wanted to make some changes right away.
I started by placing a bench in a place that seemed nice and added some plants. I found myself drawn to that space in the garden and then wanting to build on it. So I did. I added another pot and then another. I found some of the plants thrived so I added a few more. I found some looked brilliant for a week but then faded and didn’t feel worth the effort (looking at you Delphinium).
I learned quickly and became obsessed with the process. So obsessed that I wanted to offer this service to others. Not a full garden makeover but advice on how to create the garden you love one step at a time.
Your Action Step
This week, find your spot. Whether it’s a bistro chair on the patio or a bench under a tree, make it cozy and surround it with greenery. Take a moment to pause and enjoy what you’ve created.
Next week, we’ll explore how designing with joy in mind can transform your garden into a space that reflects the life you want to live.
Remember, one step at a time—your dream garden is closer than you think.
I have also done an Instagram Live inspired by this topic. You can watch it here
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Thank you for stopping by. If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you! Get in touch: Elisabeth@joyfulgarden.co.uk
