http://www.mwaah.co.uk/home-life/outdoor-living/go-for-it-in-the-garden#sigProGalleria96ad1ee81c
Investing in an outdoor dining table is another wise move as it will make an instant difference to any garden. There’s a wide range of styles available, and you really can’t beat the latest outdoor wicker furniture that looks stylish and can be left outside, uncovered all year round. No more unsightly green plastic covers!
If, however, you plan to stay for around five years or more, I would recommend introducing a decent patio. A patio in a garden is rather like a kitchen in a house; make it a good one and it will undoubtedly increase the value of your property. A lot of new houses are built and laid immediately with what I call ‘grotty utility paving’; it does the job but looks pretty awful. Decide what size patio you need: is your current space big enough? Is it in the right position? Does it get enough sun? If you’re unsure then I would suggest you call in a garden designer for a consultation.
Most designers will charge a nominal fee and will give you ample advice about size, location, and materials. You can then take this info and DIY or use them to design an outline plan for you, and find you a reputable contractor to carry out the work. A very basic stone patio built from scratch by a reputable contractor will set you back anything from £100 - £200 per square metre. If you want to do it yourself, you can source some lovely sandstones from around £20 per square metre (just for the stone), but add on material costs for the sub-base and mortar etc – and your own hard graft! Alternatively, execute the patio in a deck material. I’m a strong advocate of hardwood; it is more expensive, but it’s worth it. In five years a hardwood deck will have aged beautifully and will look good for 15 – 20 years. A softwood deck will look poor, and will be in need of major refurbishment or replacement sooner rather than later. Labour cost to install both – exactly the same!
In a nutshell, consider transient or moveable items if you plan to stay for the short term, and more permanent features if you will be there for the long haul. This way you will definitely recover any investments that you make in your garden... and you get to enjoy them along the way.
