But it's easier said than done if you aren't an experienced gardener. Here are a few ideas:

Patios
Think about building a patio at the back of your house – it is an ideal place to relax with family and friends on those summer evenings.

If the patio is raised this can give added dimension to your garden.
The careful selection of the right type of brick or paving stone can make all the difference to the look you want to achieve.

There is a patio to suit every garden, from crazy paving to geometrically-designed patterns of red brick, so make sure that it blends in with your home.

Barbecues
A popular garden feature is a solid brick barbecue – perfect for entertaining during the warmer months. Make sure it's in a good position before you fix it in place.

Paths
Make your garden a little more exciting with a path.

Be as creative as you dare, using a combination of colours and types of brick, block or paving stone, thinking all the time about blending in with the surroundings.


You could be daring and have a twisting winding path which circles your garden, or opt for the more formal look with a straight path.

Borders
Build up your borders. Raised beds will give your garden more depth and make it easier for you to look after your plants.

Other featuresTimber arches, walls, seat, benches and water-features are all becoming more popular all over the country and give an added focal point to the garden.

Top tipIf you don't want to try anything too permanent test out the theory by buying a set of table and chairs which you can collapse and put away during the winter.