Fun fact: I have never stayed in a home longer than six years. I don’t know what the future holds, but the more personal touches we add to this house—inside and out—the more I can imagine us staying here for a long time. I love continuing projects we’ve already started and layering on the finishing touches that will eventually make this our most “finished” (yet always evolving) home.
With warmer weather I’m dreaming about what our yard could become. The longer we stay, the more big projects are behind us, and the more time I have for the small details I adore. I imagine greenhouses, cutting gardens, rose beds, winding garden paths, and little nooks that invite lingering.
“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” — Luther Burbank
Here are 3 ways to create a happy garden:
#1 Fill it with flowers, plants, and landscaping that delight your eyes and nose.
Some favorite fragrant flowers: lilacs, roses, sweet peas, honeysuckle, peonies, jasmine, lemon tree, daphne, clematis, wisteria, lavender.
Pretty annuals and perennials I love: forget-me-nots, bluebells, hydrangeas, bougainvillea, hellebores.
Landscape plants and groundcovers: stepping plants like Corsican mint or Irish moss, boxwood, and holly.
#2 Design welcoming, charming spaces for memories with people you love.
Create inviting seating areas with comfortable chairs, a cozy firepit, and layered lighting for evenings. Add trellises or arbors for vertical interest, benches tucked among blooms, umbrellas for shade, yard games, small side tables, colorful or patterned pillows, lanterns, and perhaps a hammock for quiet afternoons. These elements make outdoor spaces feel like rooms where people naturally gather and stay a while.
#3 Add soothing sounds.
Sound adds another comforting layer. Consider wind chimes, a bubbling fountain, the rustle of trees and flowers in the breeze, bird feeders to attract song, or discreet outdoor speakers for soft music. These gentle sounds make a garden feel alive and restful.
Do you have a garden? I’d love to hear about it!
Related Posts on The Inspired Room:
Inspired By: Garden Sheds
Garden Inspiration: Arbors, Trellises, and Gates
My Deck and Patio Fire Pit Refresh + Outdoor Furniture + Decor Favorites
How I Care for My Outdoor Furniture
How to Design a Backyard: 4 Essential Zones
9 Elements for Enjoyable Outdoor Spaces
My Trex Deck Tour and Makeover
Our White Gate
Well-Being and Wind Chimes on the Porch