These garden design ideas are key to creating a scheme you'll love for years to come. Whether you're looking for garden landscaping ideas to overhaul your outdoor space, or more tailored garden design inspiration such as eco garden furniture, paving, lights, plants, borders, decking and more, we've compiled some fabulous garden ideas to help you transform your back garden. Whether it's a big or small change –it'll help to boost your property value too.

Whether it's a small garden, long and narrow garden, cottage garden or courtyard garden, you should observe where and at what times of day different parts of the garden get light and sun. Think about access and what you want to use your garden for – planting and growing veg, sunbathing, eating alfresco or simply sitting down to enjoy a cup of tea on a sunny morning?

Plan your Planting

The best garden designs start with structural plants infilled with pretty, flowering plants. So use evergreen shrubs at the end of each border and as punctuation along the way. Include small shrubs such as box balls, or large evergreens, for example mahonia, for bigger areas. Once you have this frame, fill the gaps with pretty flowering plants. Try to stick to just five or six different types and arrange them in repeated patterns for a coordinated and harmonious effect. A metre or more in depth is a perfect size for a border, giving you enough space to put smaller plants at the front with taller ones behind.

Don’t Forget the Lights

Don't underestimate how important it is to create an atmosphere in your garden. In exactly the same way that you layer up indoor lighting, do the same in the garden and choose a variety of sources, from standing lights and table lamps, to candle lanterns and draped bulb strings. 'Outdoor lights and a firepit mean that you can continue to enjoy your space even when the sun sets or if the weather isn’t quite what you hoped,' says Jon Holloway.

Whether it's fairy lights or lanterns dotted along a garden path, the lights you choose will bring character, ambience and atmosphere to your space – and it's essential for dining alfresco well into the evening.

Small Space Solutions

Vertical planting is key. Make use of fences and walls by planting upwards to maximise space and buy hanging baskets (these are great for front gardens too). In terms of paving, switch to gravel; it's much more affordable. The most important thing to remember is that just because you have a small garden it doesn't mean you can't enjoy it and make the most of it. There are some great space-saving, foldable or stackable table and chair sets that are perfect for compact spaces – invest in a garden bistro set for style and functionality and deck chairs for easy, instant seating.

A Family-Friendly Garden

Get smart with landscaping to utilise space in a family garden to make it work for everyone. For example, create a hidden playground in your garden, weaving elements of play throughout the design so that both children and adults can enjoy the space.

Kids love going out in the garden for some playtime but zoning an area is key, as small family gardens can often be dominated by play equipment, leaving little room for anything else.

While you would need to have a large garden to install a slide or playhouse, for more restricted spaces, sand tables or mud kitchen play sets in a corner will work great, and it will entertain kids for hours too.