Shabby Cottage Chic Gardens

The beauty of gardens is beyond words to describe. Gardens soothe the tired spirit and add beauty to the home's exteriors. For cottage chic, gardens are not always manicured and blooms arranged in neat rows. The prettier cottage gardens are a-washed with rioting blooms with complementing colors for a desired effect such as a perfect spot at the rainbow's end.

Gardens are perfect retreats for reading a book, watching the sun rise or set, or catching the magical colors of the day change. If you want a small garden to match your shabby country styled cottage, you do not need a complete overhaul of your little garden. Adding shabby chic touches gives your garden its distinctive look and these pieces can be found in the attic or online on websites dedicated to shabby cottage chic gardening.

A wisteria-covered trellis and a hammock are exquisite additions to a small garden. But that should not stop you from adding garden décor statues depicting children, cranes, and cherubs. Other enchanting pieces that can be perfect for a cottage garden are birdhouses, birdbaths, and small wall fountains. The cost? These won't go over the $100 tag price. This is quite an incentive to redo your garden, right?

How to Start Your Cottage Garden

Starting a cottage garden begins with smart planning.  The planning includes mapping out the area, the slips and slopes, and of course, the plants or flowers that grow lushly in the area.  You can hire garden planners or get ideas from gardening magazines online or from glossies available at the nearest newsstand or store.

Cottage garden in the English style are top favorites.  These gardens have a happy mix of scented flowers with lush bushes and accented with garden décor.  The gardens have an informal air and no English garden is worth its reputation without roses.  When planning your cottage garden, make a list of flowers for their scents and colors.  Colors are great for creating a warm and cozy garden.

The garden should have a focal point - a birdbath, a small shallow pool or a resting area.  Adding statues or wooden birdbaths and stone walks will increase the cottage garden's potential as a favorite retreat or jacks up the value of your home. Placing these garden décors have to be planned, not randomly placed. You may break some rules, if the effect of your efforts creates interesting highlights for the garden. 

Beach Garden

The beach garden is just as endearing as an English garden.  It adds a rustic look that adds more glam to a cottage garden.  A beach garden invites more light - it's sunnier in a beach garden.  A hammock in a shaded area, sunflowers, pebbled walks, and a garden set under a huge gaily-colored umbrella can mimic a beach garden.

You can fuse your garden design with a beach-themed spot.  Romantic letters-in-bottles, white sand, and a sunbathing lounging chair will be perfect.  The statues however should match the garden theme.  You can find these in different garden-themed websites or get ideas on fusion decorating.  Remember cottage chic is about your tastes, preferences, and lifestyle. Anything goes, but smart planning can level-up your cottage chic decorating style.