Want to wow people with your garden? Adding one or two statement features could be key to making your garden more exciting and unique.
Statement features serve as focal points that can add character, create conversation and potentially boost the value of your home. Below are 16 examples of statement features to consider in your garden.
Archway
An archway could be a fun focal point to add to your garden. Archways are often used to connect different sections of a garden – helping to serve as a doorway. Alternatively, you can use them to frame a pretty view in your garden. A lot of people use archways to support climbing plants like roses, clematis or sweet peas. You can also decorate them with fairy lights.
Birdbath
Birdbaths are a simple water feature that can help attract birds to your garden. They typically consist of a dish on a pillar, which is either made from stone or metal. However, you can also buy hanging birdbaths to suspend from trees or simple dishes that can be placed on the ground or a wall.
Fire pit
Fire pits can be great for huddling around on a cold night. On top of providing warmth, they are a cool visual feature. A fire pit can be fixed or it can be portable (such as a chiminea). If you don’t like the idea of real fire, there are artificial alternatives for adding warmth such as electric patio heaters.
Fountain
Fountains could be a great water feature to consider. Not only do they look amazing, but they also create the sound of trickling water, which can be very relaxing. Fountains can vary in size and style. The most elaborate fountains can be quite costly to buy and run, so bear this in mind.
Garden path
Adding garden paths can help you to direct where people walk in your garden. They can be straight or winding, and they can be turned into fun aesthetic features by surrounding them with plants or lights. Garden paths can be made from gravel, concrete, wooden decking or stepping stones.
Gazebo
Gazebos are garden structures that are designed to provide shade. They can be great statement features to add to the middle of a garden or at the end of a garden. You can place furniture under a gazebo or use them for activities like yoga. Custom made wooden crates are a unique and versatile way to add character and functionality to your garden. They can be used for everything from stylish storage solutions to planters that enhance your garden’s aesthetic.
Hedges
Hedges are living walls. They can attract wildlife, provide privacy and muffle sound. You can grow hedges around the perimeter of your garden like a fence or use them to divide certain sections of your garden. These features do require a fair amount of maintenance to keep them looking great, which is something to consider beforehand.
Pergola
A pergola is similar to a gazebo, but it has an open or louvred roof instead of a solid roof. As a result, pergolas let the sun through and are designed purely to be a statement feature. They are often made of wood and can be decorated with climbing plants or fairy lights.
Pond
A pond could be a fun water feature to add to your garden. You can keep pet fish in a pond and grow aquatic plants in them. They will also attract local wildlife such as frogs and dragonflies. Other water features like fountains and waterfalls can also be incorporated into ponds. The downside of a pond is that it requires quite a bit of upkeep – you need to keep it clean, top up water levels and make sure fish are fed in hotter months.
Raised deck
Adding a raised wooden deck could have many benefits. In a sloped garden, such a deck could be used to provide a flat area. You can also use a raised deck to access new views or take advantage of sun traps. Raised decks often contain garden furniture and can even be used to grow a range of potted plants on. In some areas, a zoning permit may be required to build a raised deck.
Statues
Statues are a great way to add visual interest to your garden. These could be statues of animals, heroic figures, religious figures or even family members (including pets). You could stick to small statues or opt for a large statue in a prominent location.
Summer house
A summer house is a wooden outbuilding that is often placed at the end or in the corner of a garden. This could have many purposes – it could be a home gym, a home office, a playroom for the kids or simply somewhere to relax in the shade. Summer houses can take all kinds of ornate forms.
Sundial
Sundials are time-telling devices that use the sun to determine the time. They are a great way to add character to your garden. Sundials are best placed in the middle of an open lawn where they won’t be obstructed by shadows from trees or other structures. You’ll need to make sure they’re oriented properly and it could be worth buying a string trimmer to keep the grass around them tidy.
Sunken patio
A sunken patio is a patio that is built below ground level. This can provide a sense of coziness, privacy and shelter from the wind that a regular patio may not have. Sunken patios can contain furniture or be used as a BBQ zone. An unused pool or pond could be great for converting into a sunken patio.
Trees
Planting a tree in your garden could be another way to add interest. Trees have a range of benefits – they can attract wildlife, provide shade, provide privacy, grow fruit or even be used to support a treehouse or swing. You can grow a tree from a sapling or plant an adult tree. Make sure to explore different species of tree and work out which is the best choice for your garden.
Waterfall
A waterfall could be a fun water feature to consider in your garden. This could be an electric waterfall leading into a pond that uses a pump – helping to filtrate the pond. Alternatively, you could sculpt a waterfall to direct rainwater – this could be used to prevent flooding while also serving as a pretty feature.