Creating a sanctuary garden is a great way to bring peace and tranquillity into your home. Whether you have a garden, patio or balcony, you can create your own sanctuary garden with some simple tips and tricks to transform your outdoor space into a more relaxing retreat that can be used throughout the year.

What is a Sanctuary Garden?

A sanctuary garden is a place of refuge where you can relax, unwind, and find solace from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It's an outdoor space that encourages contemplation, reflection, and mindfulness. It's also a place to bring nature into your home while creating an oasis of beauty and serenity. With the right plants, furniture, décor, and layout, you can create an inviting outdoor space that will be perfect for entertaining friends or just spending time alone in peaceful solitude.

Step-by-Step Guide:

A Step-by-Step Guide to creating a sanctuary garden. Transforming Your Outdoor Space into a Relaxing Retreat:

Step 1 - Identifying the Right Location

before you start designing, it's important to identify the right location for your sanctuary garden. The perfect spot should be one that offers privacy, natural beauty, and plenty of sunlight. It should also be close enough to your home so that you can easily access it when needed. The best location for a sanctuary garden is usually near the back of your property, away from the main living areas of your home. You may also want to plant your sanctuary garden next to a fence or other structure that will provide natural privacy and define the space. If you have a balcony think about

Creating a Sanctuary Garden with macrame white hammock in the sunlight.
Creating a Sanctuary Garden with burnst ash wooden bench and an orage and yellow planting scheme

Step 2 - Choosing the Right Plants & Flowers

There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to choosing certain plants for your garden. The most important thing is that you pick plants that are appropriate for the climate in your area, whether it be hot or cold, dry or wet, or humid and rainy. You also need to pick plants that will thrive in the conditions and grow strong enough to provide you with ample flowers over time. Think of how to add height to borders and whether you would like a more wild or formal oasis, this will help to narrow down which plants and flowers would be best suited to the area and the overall look and feel you wish to create.

Step 3 - Creating a Space with Hard Landscaping

Flagstones, tiles or brick pavers can be used to add texture and colour to your outdoor area and help to mark out the space for the sanctuary garden. Use contrasting colours such as our Old Provence Petite Lozenge & Charcoal Tiles as seen on Escape to the Chateau to create patterns or opt for a more contemporary feel with porcelain tiles like Parme Garden Design's Cheshire Garden. Adding structures such as covered pergolas or gazebos create a more usable living space for every season along with sheltered seating - one of this year's Landscaping trends and a firm favourite at The Chelsea Flower Show.

Jacobean Brick circle in walled garden design.
boulder water feature flowing into pool with pastel flowers at the bottom.

Step 4 - Incorporating Water Features & Lighting

Incorporating water features and lighting into sanctuary gardens can create a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. Water features such as fountains, ponds, and streams can provide a calming sound that helps to relax the mind and body. Contoured landscapes can create a sense of stability and security in outdoor gardens. Think about incorporating natural elements, such as large boulders. Lighting can be used to highlight certain areas of the space or to create an inviting atmosphere in the evening. With careful planning, these elements can be used to create a sanctuary garden that is both beautiful and functional whatever time of day or month.

Creating a Sanctuary Garden Inspiration

More Sanctuary Garden inspiration from Chelsea Flower Show 2021 and 2022, leading the way and showcasing how to meet our latest needs in our garden spaces, from balconies to terraces and beyond. Follow us for this years RHS Chelsea Flower Show coverage and all thing home and garden in the UK:

hollowed out tree sanctuary garden with seating.
black and white hammock on decking,
set dinner table surrounded by plants and shrubs.
wooden seating area covered in vines to create shaded space.
balcony garden with planting and bench right.