Spruce up your garden

Get out and get busy

It's not just the house which could use a spring clean and a little brightening up or declutter. If you're lucky enough to have a garden, patio or balcony area, there are many ways you can make it more appealing without major expense.

Ok, we live in Britain and there is certainly no guarantee of a glorious summer but doing the work now in a rather pleasant spring period means you can enjoy your time in the garden, and fingers crossed for rising temperatures later in the year.

A few quick upgrades and relatively cheap garden accessories can make all the difference in helping your garden look cleaner, fresher, tidier and prettier. Spending time outdoor with the kids can be very rewarding so why not make the environment more enjoyable for everyone.

Let there be light

Garden lighting can add character and pleasing aesthetics but also increase the time you are able to spend out there, meaning you can sit out on warmer nights reading a book or enjoying a glass of red. Lighting is often a very affordable solution with solar powered options allowing for simple, quick installations and garden transformation in seconds. Many styles are also available from tea lights, lanterns and lamps to the most popular staked varieties.

Add colour

If you find your garden to be too plain, or monotone, adding colour can work wonders. Terracotta, metal or plastic planter pots come in all shapes, sizes and colours and once filled with your favourite choice of plant, can be placed on patios, decking, balconies or even on juliet balcony gardens for those short on space, instantly offering a brighter, more attractive scene.

Older plant pots can be given a new lease of life by simply painting them, get the children involved as a fun, cheap outdoor activity.

Consider a water feature

Ok, this one can be as expensive as you make it as a whole range of weird and wonderful water features are available nowadays from traditional stone cherubs to more modern stainless steel cascades. Many such water features will require mains power but some varieties are again solar powered for easy installation. Alternatively your water feature could be something as simple as a bird bath that would not only attract small feathered friends for a wash, but also provide a central focal point for the garden.

Update your shed

Get those paint brushes out and bring the garden shed back to life with a quick lick of timber stain, it works wonders in turning a tired old building into something more attractive - no need to stop at the shed either, that fence probably needs a going over too.

Sheds don't have to be brown either, although we instantly think they should be, they can be painted any colour - picture the rows of beach huts lining up on beaches with price tags upto £60,000 - if you can't beat em, join em with a splash of yellow, green, blue or white. Once the shed's exterior is refreshed you'll be sure to tidy up the interior too but in doing so realise how much stuff you have, and how much of it you would miss if it were to be stolen. Consider adding a shed security bar as a deterrent.

Revamp the patio

Give your decking a wash down and re-stain it if necessary or if you have a paved patio, give it a jetwash and good brushing. Timber spindle balustrades can be updated with cost-effective metal decking panels, or modernised with toughened glass panelsthat will make a surprising difference to the overall garden appearance.