A Simple Summer Garden Refresh
Every summer I seem to have one outdoor project on my list, and this year it was a garden refresh. This year, rather than completely redesign the garden, I wanted to refresh what I already had. A few carefully chosen purchases, some spray paint, and a little gardening have made the patio feel like a whole new outdoor room.
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to refresh an outdoor space. Thoughtful updates to the things you already own can completely change how it looks and feels.
Editing & Refreshing
In the middle of winter, I decided that this year I really needed to do a garden refresh. Last year I did a lot of work editing my very mature garden, yanking out extraneous plants, cutting down a few bushes. Yes, the extraneous plants are back with vengeance. Such is the life of a gardener. More yanking out to come. Sorry, I mean editing 
You can see the items I found and love here on Summer Garden Refresh: Shop the Look
Fresh Cushions Make a Big Difference
I had been gifted a wicker-look sofa whose cushions had clearly become a favourite nesting spot for some mice. I contemplated making cushion covers but frankly, I hate making cushion covers.
The search was on – I found great new cushions – thick, comfy, and in a color I love in a garden – vibrant and summery. I found some great accent cushions that combine the blue in my existing garden chair cushions with these new vibrant cushions. I even found outdoor cushion inserts – who knew that was a thing, right?
Decorating Tip:
Repeat one or two colours throughout your outdoor space. I carried the blues from the chair cushions into the accent pillows and flowers, which helps everything feel intentional rather than random.
Get Out the Paint
I’m a huge believer in looking at what you already own before heading to the shops. A can of spray paint can completely transform an old piece and often costs less than lunch.
I spray painted some items that needed a new lease on life. One project that really turned out well was an antique sewing machine base that was very rusty. Now, spray painted navy blue, it’s charming. For now it’s got a shelf as a top but I’m planning on finding a piece of live edge wood or a porcelain tile as a table top. It’s perfect as an additional serving piece.
Vintage Ironing Board
Another fun item that doubles as a table is this antique ironing board that I painted blue many years ago. It has become one of the most useful outdoor entertaining pieces on the patio. It serves drinks, displays plants and gives guests somewhere to set down a plate. It’s also a great conversation starter.
Water Features Provide a Calming Sound
I re-located my water feature which was hiding behind the sofa set and not visible. By moving it closer to the seating area, we can now actually hear the relaxing sound of the water while we’re sitting outside.
This meant taking out the chocolate mint that was taking over the world, one garden bed at a time. Be very careful planting mint in a garden bed. Chocolate mint especially – it’s been known to travel from bed to bed. Oregano, also banished from the bed is another traveller.
Pace Yourself with Summer Projects
I bought some decorative screens to hide a section where the hedge between my neighbor’s garden and mine had died (they cut the roots while building a shed). The ones I bought (and painted) blew over so I put them on marketplace. They were quickly snapped up, and I’ve since purchased another type of screen system.
This new screen system is going to require a more robust installation – likely concrete tubes, so I’m waiting until cooler weather. Rather than rush the project, I focused on the updates that made the biggest difference right away. Fortunately, at this time of year the foliage covers the view of the shed.
My Garden Refresh Purchases
These are the five purchases that made the biggest impact on this year’s garden refresh. If you’re looking for more inspiration, you’ll also find a complete Shop the Look page with coordinating pieces to create a similar style.
What Made the Biggest Difference?
If I had to choose the updates that had the biggest impact, they would be:
- New outdoor seat cushions
- Decorative accent cushions
- Outdoor cushion inserts
- Moving the water feature
- Spray painting existing furniture
- Adding faux flowers for lasting colour
Repeating shades of blue throughout the garden—from faux flowers and spray-painted furniture to decorative glass bottles—helps the outdoor spaces feel connected and intentional.
The Best Part of this Garden Refresh
The best part of this garden refresh isn’t any one purchase. It’s that I’m actually spending more time outside. Whether it’s morning coffee, an afternoon with a decorating book, or dinner with family, the patio feels inviting again—and that’s exactly what I was hoping to achieve.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to put my feet up. Lemonade and a good book on the patio await me.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase — at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. All product information is provided by the retailer, and pricing or availability may change at any time.
If you enjoyed this patio makeover, you might also like my English Garden Tea Party and Hydrangea Garden Party posts. It’s the same patio styled three completely different ways, showing how a few thoughtful changes can completely transform the look and feel of an outdoor space. If you want to see the items I used and other ones that are in the same themes visit the Shop Pages: Shop the Look : Hydrangea-Inspired Table and Shop the Look: English Country Garden Tea Party
