Arranging your garden:
Define and delimit spaces
First thing to do before embarking on the installation of furniture and decoration that will make up the exterior of your home, you need delimit spaces.
So, don't hesitate to take measurements and make a plan to define the space you want to dedicate to your terrace, the one you want to devote to a possible kitchen garden and finally the one who will be your relaxation area (possibly with the addition of a water point: swimming pool, jacuzzi, etc.). 🍈🍎
You will have the choice between several possibilities to delimit the spaces:
â € ¢ Des hurdles : opt for small shrubs or flower plantations to delimit the vegetable garden of your relaxation area.🌺 You also have the possibility of choosing to install small wooden barriers, for example, to create a boundary. However, the choice of a separation with shrubs or flowers will allow you to bring some plants and cheerfulness to your exterior. 🌳
• A well-defined terrace : Creating a wooden, concrete or tiled terrace will allow you to define the space and separate it from the vegetable patch. 🍅 This will allow you to create a first demarcation of your exterior and then continue the development with the creation of your vegetable garden (if you wish to make one) or your “relaxation corner” area. 🏊🏽♂️
â € ¢ Des aisles : regardless of the delimitation method you have chosen, we advise you to create areas where you can move around. 🌷
Stepping stones, gravel paths, etc. This will allow you, for example, to walk around your garden without damaging your lawn too much by walking on it.
However, depending on the placement of these aisles, they may also be used to delineate the different areas of your exterior.
Ripaton tips: If you're short on space and want to set up a small vegetable garden, consider a raised bed vegetable garden. 💡
RIPATON info: If you have a swimming pool or if you wish to install one, be aware that certain rules must be respected. For example, for a pool, without shelter, between 10 and 100m², a prior declaration of work is mandatory. In addition, a security system is imposed for a swimming pool even if it is a private swimming pool only.
Create a cheap garden:
Protect yourself from prying eyes
We opt for the classic and rather “radical” method: the wall.
Attention, building a wall requires take precautions beforehand. So, be sure to find out about the heights authorized in your municipality. If no particular rules apply, then those applied by law must be followed. In municipalities with less than 50 inhabitants, you will need to build a wall of at least 2.60 m. In those with more than 50 inhabitants, a wall of 3.20 m will be requested.
Moreover, although no rule mentions a maximum height, be aware that if your wall disturbs your neighbor (hiding from the sun, etc.), the latter will be entitled to take legal action. Finally, make sure the wall is entirely built on the plot of your house and not "astride" your neighbour's. So, although it may seem very simple to do, certain rules must be respected before building your fence.
A green wall as a separation:
Some plants have the advantage of being perfectly blackout (if you take for example a cypress hedge or very leafy shrubs) and bring some greenery to your exterior. Thus, for the fence of your house, you can opt for shrubs such as cypress, cedar, laurel which are perfect for use as a hedge because they are very occulting. In addition, their growth rate is relatively fast (about 50 cm per year for the laurel, for example). 🌻
If you want a more original plant, you can opt for bamboo which grows very quickly and which will hide perfectly from vis-à-vis. Otherwise, you always have the option of choosing fruit trees that will hide you from prying eyes and give you beautiful fruit in the middle of the season (the only problem: unlike cypress, these trees lose their leaves in winter). 🌳
Price idea: for a laurel hedge count around 65€ for 10 meters of hedge. See: Gammvert
An artificial but slightly natural fence: canisse
We are familiar with the technique of wire mesh as a fence. However, we must be honest, unless you grow vegetation on it like ivy, for example, this method is not really aesthetic. To hide this fence, there are also the reeds.
Ce privacy screen, widely used especially in the south of France, is a more aesthetic alternative to the traditional green or gray mesh. Very resistant, the reeds will allow you to hide you from prying eyes while bringing more charm to your garden than a simple fence or screen.
Be sure, however, to secure your garden canisses so that they are resistant to time and bad weather. To ensure a better longevity, you can opt for a stain which will allow you to keep the original color of your bamboo canes and prevent them from becoming greyish over time.
Create a cheap garden:
Stock up on plants
What would a garden be without trees, shrubs or flowers? Yes, who says spring says planting period. So don't wait any longer, roll up your sleeves and start bring your exterior to life. If you don't have a green thumb or don't want to have fun planting flowers every year, opt for perennials like lavender or Agapanthus (ideal for beginner gardeners). 🌼
In addition, by adding shrubs and other plants in your garden or on your terrace, you will have the possibility of creating paths which will allow you, there too, to naturally delimit the spaces of your garden.
Be careful, when buying plants, be sure to choose species suitable for the place where you want to put them (full sun, shade, semi-shade, humid place, etc.). ☀️
Arranging your garden:
Choose suitable furniture
Thus, the purchase of your garden furniture is not done lightly and certain criteria must be taken into account.
Here are some materials usually used for the manufacture of outdoor furniture.
Benefits | Drawbacks | Price | |
Wood | 💪🏽 Toughness Sustainability rot-proof Comfort Does not burn (wood stores heat) | Heavy (depending on the wood used) Regular maintenance (protective oil, etc.) Keep dry as much as possible because the wood can become dull and damaged in the event of severe weather or exposure to UV rays. | Between 250 and 1500€ depending on the type of wood chosen and the model of dining table/chairs. |
| Tips | |||
| Choose hard and rot-proof woods such as Teak, Acacia, Eucalyptus 🌳 | |||
| Aluminium | Light Sustainable 🌱 Resistant to weight, time and bad weather | Its lightness makes it unsuitable for windy environments 🌬️ Its price: "high-end" aluminum furniture is expensive. | Between 600 and 3000€ (“high-end” furniture) |
| Epoxy steel | Robustness Sustainability Easy to maintain Resistant to weather, humidity, heat ☀️ Timeless | Quickly warm (but with cushions and a cotton tablecloth, the problem is easily solved). Slightly heavier than aluminum | Between 200 and 1200€ depending on the model. |
| DIY ideas | |||
| To reduce your expenses and for more creativity, make your dining table with two steel legs and a wooden top. 💡 (price: around €180 for two steel feet + price of the tray) | |||
Braided resin | Very UV resistant rot-proof Easy maintenance 🧼 Different colors and models Light | Its cost: the price for a solid and durable garden furniture is close to 1000€ for a first price. | Between €500 and €2 |
| PVC | Wide choice of colors Does not rust Light Very affordable price Solid | Low weather resistance (must be tucked in in case of bad weather and winters) 🌩️ May warp if exposed to too much sunlight. | Between €150 and €500 depending on the model chosen. Note that a first price garden furniture is likely to be less resistant. |
Arranging your garden:
Harmonious decoration and colors
Finally, once the bulk of the landscaping of your exterior has been done, you will need to add a few touches of decoration and color to give a little more life and a more personal style to your garden.
How to do ?
Again, it's very simple and several techniques will allow you to set up a cheap garden. 🌺
You can, for example, add fixtures such as garlands or lanterns to create a dim light the evening. Depending on the chosen furniture, cushions seating and/or decoration as well as a tablecloth will be added. 💡
For textiles, be sure to choose laundry of similar colors in order to obtain a harmonious result. Also remember to choose them to match your furniture!
In the end, no matter what you decide to add, as decoration, to your exterior, the only thing to know and to think about is to create a harmonious decoration and in accordance with the style you want to give.
For example, if you want a bohemian exterior, give preference to shades of beige, white, linen and natural materials such as rattan, rope, bamboo, stone.
Conversely, for a more modern exterior, opt for black, anthracite gray colors, and materials such as marble ou steel.
Info RIPATON: Note that steel can be used for both creation of modern furniture and minimalist than for the creation of furniture mixing wood and steel. This mix of materials will bring an authentic, natural and slightly industrial style to your decoration.
Our selection of RIPATON table legs for dining table, bench and garden furniture.
Do you want to start planning your garden?
To help you in the layout of your garden, here are the essential points to remember:
Delimit the spaces:
It is unthinkable to have the vegetable garden in the middle of your terrace, isn't it? So to avoid this, it is important to define spaces and to separate them with hedges, paths or small barriers (preferably low ones). 📏
Protect yourself from prying eyes:
We like to enjoy a sunbath in peace, don't you? To do this, it is important to hide from vis-a-vis. Opt for the construction of a wall, the planting of hedges (tuya, laurel, cypress, etc.) or the installation of canisse. 🌳
Stock up on plants:
A garden without plants is not a garden! So here we choose the flowers, the trees et shrubs adapted to its exterior (full sun, shade, semi-shaded, etc.), we roll up our sleeves and embark on the plantations. 🌻
Choosing the right furniture:
There are many models of outdoor furniture. Aluminum, braided resin, steel, wood, …: all have their advantages and disadvantages (and a different price) which must be taken into account when making a purchase. 💡
Opt for a decor and harmonious colors:
Here is the final touch, the icing on the cake! The little ones decoration elements will come to finalize the layout of your exterior and make it friendly and warm. Be careful, however, not to overuse colors and unnecessary accessories. 🏮
If you want to find out more ideas on landscaping your home (or apartment), here are two articles that you might like:
• How to arrange your terrace for the summer?
• 4 DIY ideas for making garden furniture.
Find all our advice and DIY on our blog.
And don't hesitate to share your creations with us!
The Ripaton team 🚀