Photo from Designers & Books

It’s easy to spend the entirety of winter dreaming of gardens. Envision candlelit dinners outdoors veiled in the fragrance of flowers, sunny afternoons gathering flavorful herbs, and the delicacy of homegrown fruit and vegetables in every dish.

The new year brings new goals, and one of yours might be to refresh and rejuvenate your urban garden–the place that makes you happier and healthier. Our partners at Pittaway Fencing have put together this selection of ideas to enhance your garden’s comfort, privacy, security and beauty. We love sharing ideas.

Photo from houzz

1. Create an Inviting Outdoor Room With Seating
Although the Polar Vortex this winter may make us feel the cold will never retreat, the reality is, that you’ll be hanging up your winter coat and walking into summer sunshine in no time. With that in mind, why not invest in an outdoor seating area for peaceful reading, long conversations with friends, and simple but delicious meals al fresco? Start trawling local charity shops and yard sales to pick up some great second-hand outdoor furniture. Or, if you’ve already got outdoor seating, you can give it new life with a fresh coat of paint, some colorful cushions, gorgeous outdoor lighting, or DIY furniture finishes to make the space even more inviting.

2. New Year, New Fence
If your fence is looking past its best, not only is it a stain on your garden’s beauty, it could be a security risk. Treat yourself to a new fence for a new year and enjoy increased privacy, intimacy, protection and beauty. Whether your garden is contemporary or classic, you can find a fencing style to suit your fancy.

Photo from Visit My Garden

3. Go Hyperlocal: Grow Your Own
Food from your own garden puts other food to shame. It may seem difficult to grow edibles but it’s actually fairly easy. Some of the easiest items to grow include strawberries, tomatoes, onions and zucchini (courgettes if you are in the UK!) These veggies require very little space–even your apartment balcony will be large enough for a vegetable garden.

While you enjoy your delicious harvest, you may not even notice that you are saving money on groceries, reducing your environmental impact, and benefiting from knowing exactly where your food is from and what is in (and not) in it!

Urban Garden in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn designed by Foras Studio

4. Break It Up
If you’re lucky enough to have a large garden space, perhaps even a shared area in an apartment building, deciding what to do with it can be daunting. We’d recommend breaking it up, using different textures and colors to separate various areas. If you have a wood deck, consider wrought iron or other metal furniture for contrast.

Your outdoor room could include vibrant ornamentals, maybe even a collection of ceramic containers sprouting vegetables and herbs. Designing different outdoor areas can add depth and texture to a space, a great asset to smaller urban gardens as well. Consider a rock area, like the one featured below, to offer more textural contrast and distinguish the various areas of your garden.

Photo via Pittaway Fencing.

5. Create a Rock Garden or Rockery
If you’re lucky enough to have awkward sloping areas in your garden, as can be common in crowded city center properties, a rock garden or rockery can be the perfect way to disguise this otherwise unused area. Building a rock garden can be hard work, so don’t leave it until the heart and heat of summer. Instead, get started in the next couple of months as the weather begins to warm up so you can enjoy the beautiful texture and contrast you’ve created all summer long.

Start at the lowest point and work your way up; if a rock garden seems like too much work, or if your garden is too small, think about creating a small flat surface of rocks or pebbles to create a similar effect.