Holiday Inspired Garden Design
Bring that amazing holiday feeling home, and use your travels as inspiration for creating a space to relax and unwind in your own garden.
There’s nothing quite like stepping outside and feeling as though you’ve been transported somewhere sun‑soaked and carefree. The good news is that you don’t need a plane ticket to enjoy the holiday magic, you can create it right in your own garden! With a few clever design choices, your outdoor space can become a place that feels like a Mediterranean courtyard or a British coastal retreat. Try adapting your choices to suit your garden and keep that holiday spirit alive!
Start With the Mood
- Think about the kind of holiday feeling you want to evoke.
- Mediterranean Escape: Terracotta, citrus trees, warm stone, cobalt accents.
- Tropical resort: Lush foliage, oversized leaves, dramatic shadows, warm wood.
- Coastal Calm: Whites, blues, driftwood textures, grasses that sway in the breeze.
- Sleek Boutique Hotels: Cosy seating, clean contemporary design,
- Your chosen mood will direct and guide your material choices, planting style and any highlight features you would like to add.
Right: The oversized leaves of Fatsia Japonica, bring a tropical vibe to the garden.
Choose Plants Wisely
- The key thing to remember when picking plants, is that whilst plants may thrive in a holiday location, they may not do so well where you live. So, you will need to pick alternatives that give the same look, but suit your soil and geographical location.
- Planting densely gives an immersive feel and repetition helps create cohesion.
- Mediterranean: Olive trees, lavender, rosemary, thyme and agapanthus, all work in British climate and give a Mediterranean look to a space. Silvers, blues, yellows and oranges are a great colour pallet choice for a Mediterranean style. (See more on Mediterranean plant choices here.)
- Tropical Getaway: Lush greens, large, architectural plants such as Cannas, Bananas, Fatsia, Bamboo, Hostas and Ferns will add that dramatic look. Warm or bright colours or dramatic flowers will also add the tropical vibe.
- Coastal Retreat: Soft textures, and calm colours such as grasses (Stipa, Miscanthus), Sea Holly, Verbena, Salvias and White roses are all recognisable coastal plants that will happily grow in most sunny gardens.
Left: Sea Holly (Eryngium) is great for coastal retreat style gardens.
Get the Materials Right
- Materials are key to creating the specific feel of your holiday destination. Pick some key materials that are specific to you desired destination.
- For example, gravel is often seen in warmer climates or coastal areas. Decking or bark might be more suited to a Nordic or tropical location. For a sleek hotel courtyard, clean white walls, porcelain paving and wood accents work, whilst a Mediterranean look lends itself to pale warm toned stones mixed with gravel, blue and terracotta accents.
- Holiday gardens always have great containers. Large ceramic planters in cobalt, teal or turquoise, terracotta pots for warmth, woven baskets for a beachy feel, matt black or stone for a hotel‑terrace vibe. The key is to cluster pots in threes or fives to mimic the styling you see in resorts.
Right: Clean white walls, porcelain paving and wood accents with mediteranean style plants, mimic the style of a sleek hotel courtyard.
Create a Destination Corner
- Every holiday garden has a spot that invites you to sit down and unwind. This can be easily replicated within your own garden.
- A bistro table under an archway or pergola, invites to dine and entertain. A daybed or outdoor sofa with jewel‑tone cushions or a pair of loungers with a small side table for drinks encourages relaxation. A seating area near a water feature to leads you to pause and unwind.
- The trick is to make it feel intentional with a focal point or journey to these relaxing spots, not just furniture placed outside, but a little sanctuary.
Left: The path in this ALDA garden leads to a quiet corner to relax and unwind
Use Lighting
- Lighting is the fastest way to create atmosphere, something hotels and holiday rentals are great at. This can be easily replicated in your own garden with just a few well-placed lights to set the mood.
- Aim for soft, golden light, never harsh white, as holiday lighting is all about glow.
- Think about which areas in the garden you would like lit up. Warm white festoon lights around a seating area are great for evening meals or entertaining. Uplights at the base of trees or spotlights along planting beds are great for highlighting plants and adding some drama to the garden.
- For more advice on lighting, see our blogs with more information on types of lighting.
Right: Warm lighting around this ALDA designed seating area creates a cosy and inviting atmosphere.
Ultimately, a holiday garden isn’t just about plants or furniture, it’s about creating a place to slow down, breathe deeply, and enjoy being outside. With a few thoughtful choices, your garden can become the escape you look forward to every day.
From planning a new border to a complete garden remodel, we pride ourselves on transforming ideas into beautiful reality, with minimum disruption. If you’re based in or around the Reading and Newbury area, we’d love to meet and discuss your project in detail – book your free no-obligation garden consultation today.