From textured sisal rugs to a perfectly imperfect gallery wall, the Brits are rife with design inspiration. But why limit all the good ideas to your interiors? Because let’s be honest: Gorgeous outdoor spaces are kind of the United Kingdom’s thing.
“The exterior of a home is every bit as important as the interior,” says Emma Corner, a British designer who now resides in New York City. “Outdoor spaces offer the most wonderful opportunity to layer color, texture, and atmosphere.”
Lush foliage, colorful flowers, and curvy patio furniture are inherently English—not to mention they can transform the most mundane backyard into The Secret Garden. And, good news, it’s possible—and quite easy!—to bring these details across the pond to your own neck of the woods. To help, we tapped a few pros to spill their secrets for creating an idyllic, English-inspired outdoor space.
Bring the Indoors Outside
It might sound counterintuitive, but Sam Donnelly of Mercantile & Merchant encourages you to bring a little bit of the great indoors outside. Yes, you read that correctly. “I also love gardens that feel like a series of outdoor ‘rooms,’” she says. The trick, however, is finding pieces that look good but are able to withstand moisture and harsh UV rays. Sam’s favorite? Rechargeable lamps, which are “the best thing ever, so easy, and useful.”
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Group Your Greens
You could plant a bunch of produce and perennials in a raised garden bed, but potted plants are an easy, adaptable alternative for homeowners and renters alike. If you want to give your collection an oh-so British flair, Sam recommends placing them in terra-cotta planters of varying sizes. Bonus points: Create a vignette. “Group plants together rather than scattering them around the garden,” says Sam. “British gardens tend to feel collected over time, so a curated mix of old and new pieces often works better than buying an entirely matching outdoor furniture set.”
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Maximize Natural Materials
Your outdoor spaces should complement their surroundings, not compete with or steal away attention from your plants and flowers. “I look for materials that feel as though they’ve always belonged there,” says Sam. “Weathered stone, brick, gravel, timber, and aged metals all become more beautiful with time.” But why stop there? Ditch the high-density polyethylene pieces for furniture made with teak or galvanized steel, both of which have a time-honored quality.
Floral-Forward Accents
“Outdoor entertaining is about more than decoration,” says Emma. “It’s about creating a setting where every guest feels welcomed, every detail feels intentional, and the evening lingers long after the candles have burned down.”
When she’s throwing a party, Emma loves to accent her tablescape with colors spotted in her garden. “A table is such a beautiful opportunity to express personality and thoughtfulness,” she says. “The colors, shapes, and textures become the starting point for the evening: a collection of glasses, colorful napkins, delicate flowers placed at each setting, and perhaps a signature Pimm’s to welcome guests as the night begins.”
Not entertaining? You can always reprise your flowers’ colors in some throw pillows or a rug.
Embrace Imperfection
The most charming thing about British backyards? They’re not meticulously manicured. Rather, English gardens have a relaxed, layered look brimming with whimsy. “The gardens people remember are rarely the most perfect,” says Sam. “They’re the ones that feel loved, lived in, and deeply connected to the people who use them.”
Translation? Don’t dwell on perfection. Better yet, ignore it altogether. Let your foliage grow wild and embrace patinated pieces. Sam also prefers climbing plants because they “soften architecture and create a sense of romance.” Your outdoor space won’t look immaculate—but that’s exactly what makes it so beautiful.
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, ELLE Decor, and Country Living among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
