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New Build Garden Ideas

Kellie Cade

Aug 1, 2024

One of the biggest benefits of buying a contemporary new home is that a new build garden is a truly blank canvas to play with. You can really make it your own and decide exactly what you want in your dream garden.

Not sure where to start? Our guide to designing your dream garden in 5 simple steps has a guide to sectioning your garden – from space for fruit and veg patches to a play zone for kids, deciding what you need from your garden should be the first step before you let yourself run riot with new build garden ideas and inspiration!

But when you know roughly what’s going where, we’ve pulled together our favourite new build garden ideas for ways you can put your unique stamp on your little patch of perfection.

Smart Shelving

Adding shelving to your new build garden design is a great way to add extra storage, and keep your everyday essentials close at hand. Whether you add shelves to a patio or along a wall, here are a few ideas for how you can use shelving in your new build garden.

Outdoor Dining

For keen outdoor diners, that might mean keeping useful bits and pieces like plastic cups, cutlery, and garnishes – no more popping back into the kitchen every few minutes.

Gardening Essentials

If you’re a green-thumbed gardener, then this is a great place to pop your must-have gardening tools instead of giving up valuable garden space to a shed.

Toys and Games

Instead of bringing them out from their bedroom, keep kids’ favourite outdoor toys and games neatly stored away with shelves and storage boxes.

Seating Ideas

Of course, part of the joy of having a stunning new build garden is that you can make it exactly what you want, and have space to sit out and enjoy your outdoor space.

If you love sitting outside on warm summer evenings and dining al fresco with friends, then having seating in your garden is a great option for adding extra entertaining space to your home. So make sure you choose the right seating option – here are a few ideas to help you decide what’s right for you.

Dining Chairs and Tables

If you like dining outside or hosting garden parties, then getting a durable set of outdoor dining furniture is a must. It makes it easier than ever to carry food from the kitchen out to the garden, and gives you plenty of space for entertaining, from kid’s birthday parties to chats with your friends over a cocktail.

Pick a set with weatherproof construction – for a modern-inspired garden, then look for contemporary styles with polyester, glass, and stainless steel, or for a more rustic look, a synthetic rattan will protect against UV and rain damage.

Modular Sets

If you’re planning the occasional garden party, then a modular seating set might be a good idea. Cube-shaped seats are ideal for guests, then they’ll stack neatly back together to create a handy side table when not in use.

Alternatively, larger modular garden furniture like sofas and seats give you plenty of versatility, allowing you to assemble a large sofa for sprawling out on warm summer days, and split out into individual seats for when you have friends over.

Swing Seats

A swing seat makes a lovely feature in any new build garden, and can help to fill out those awkward corners or bare spaces in a garden. It can also be a great feature if you choose to build a patio thanks to the stability and structure of patio flooring, as opposed to being placed on grass.

Parasols

Adding a parasol to your seating area means that even if you’re lucky enough to enjoy tons of sun in your south facing garden, you can still enjoy the shade whenever things get a little bit too bright. A cantilever or banana parasol is smart, sleek, and lets you make the most of the shade – you can adjust where it sits without needing a parasol pole right in the middle of your table or seating arrangement.

Raised Beds

Replacing your grass with artificial lawn, or just want to keep your growing to a designated area? Raised beds can help. You can choose the borders to match your garden’s style, whether you’re going for a charming and rustic feel or a more sleek and minimalist vibe.

Raised beds can also be used to give your garden a sense of structure, especially if you’re planning your space around them. Adding raised beds also gives you more control over the soil mix you’re using – and by planting closer together in raised beds, there’s less space for weeds.

Pick Pollinator-Friendly Plants

We’re passionate about creating eco-friendly homes here at Strata, and if you want to support those efforts, then consider picking pollinator friendly plants for your new build garden. From butterflies to bumblebees, pollinators refer to any creature, largely insects, that pollinate and fertilise plants.

Luckily, these plants are also often pretty picks for your garden – here are a few suggestions:

Verbena
Wallflowers
Sunflowers
Honeysuckle
Buttercups
Hyacinths
Marigolds

Choosing these plants can help to encourage biodiversity and support our native pollinator populations. Check out our guide to planning an eco-friendly garden for more ideas on how to make your new build garden greener than ever.

Plant borders

Even if you’ve chosen some bee-friendly plants, it can be tough to know where to start when it comes to adding plants and greens to your new garden. That’s where plant borders come in – fill your garden in from the outside inward, starting with the corners and borders.

Planting borders is an easier way to introduce some greenery and flowers without needing elaborate planting plans. You can also plant taller trees, bushes, and plants in the corners of your new build garden to help add a bit of privacy.

Pergola

A pergola adds style and interest to any outdoor space, but they’re also ideal for adding privacy to your new build garden too!

Create a green space that blends into your garden by twining creepers and flowers up a wooden pergola. Greenery will also fill in any gaps, helping to make your pergola even more private – and if you really want extra privacy in your new build garden, you could add trellises to the side of your pergola, filled with more creepers, hanging plants, or other climbing plants.

For a more modern look, choose a metal pergola – a dark matte finish gives your garden a big injection of chic, contemporary style, especially combined with some modern garden furniture. Screens or fabric curtains can also be a nice addition to a more modern-style pergola.

Secret Grove

If you want a pretty and private corner of your new build garden to really create some privacy, then create a secret grove! Traditionally, this could have meant rows of tall, thin trees that block both your view and the sun, which can become quickly unwieldy to deal with.

Instead, opt for shady evergreen trees that branch widely, such as an ornamental pear tree, a crab apple tree, or a silver birch. Cluster a few around a spot in your garden, and add an ornamental bench or an outdoor lounger, and you’ve got a cosy, private secret grove.