How to Bring Nature into a Stylish City-Centre Home

Embracing nature in a city residence

Maximising the outdoor zones in your home has boomed since the pandemic, with more of you valuing being able to enjoy outdoor lifestyle from home. If you’re lucky to live in a city with access to a garden, balcony or green space, you’ll know the pleasure of having your own outdoor oasis, where you can unwind and entertain visitors without leaving home. 

With a little bit of inspiration, you can easily transform a tired patio area, revive your decking or turn a dull garden into an inviting retreat with stylish outdoor furniture. To combine comfort and appearance, opt for durable and cool designs that complement the decor of your interiors. If you are hardy and enjoy dining out with guests, whatever the season, look for weather-resistant outdoor sofas and lounge chairs or cosy hammocks and swing seats. Don't forget to add accessories, such as outdoor rugs, cushions and throws for extra cosiness. 

Boosting your health 

The health benefits of living near green spaces and gardening are well known. Immersing yourself in nature or living close to greenery can improve mental health, benefit physical fitness and reduce stress. Having a healthy mix of parks and green spaces across towns and city centres is intentional as they play a vital role in enhancing people’s overall quality of life. The UK government even advocated for everyone to live within a 15 minutes walk of a green space, recognising the positives to people’s wellbeing, including: 

• Improved mental health: Access to green spaces has been consistently linked to better mental health outcomes. Spending time in nature reduces anxiety and depression symptoms, promoting calmness and overall psychological well being.

• Physical health benefits: Proximity to green spaces encourages physical activity, crucial for maintaining good health. Whether through jogging or outdoor sports, green spaces provide enjoyable and accessible opportunities for exercise.
• Less stress: Nature has a calming effect, easing stress and promoting relaxation. Gardening, in particular, lowers cortisol levels (the stress hormone), offering a therapeutic escape from urban pressures, whether you are tending to a balcony, small garden or an allotment.
• Air quality improvement: Green spaces act as natural air filters, improving air quality by absorbing pollutants like carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Additionally, they mitigate the urban heat island effect, moderating temperatures and creating microclimates conducive to human health and comfort.

Maximising outdoor space with zones

Maximising the usability of your outdoor space requires careful planning and strategic layout design. Consider how you intend to use the space and divide your garden into functional zones that work well for a family, young couple or shared occupants. Create dedicated areas for dining, lounging and gardening, ensuring that each space is easily accessible and well-defined. In order to map out your zones, incorporate pathways, decking and patio areas to connect different areas of the garden while maintaining visual interest and flow. You can also use potted plants or longer rectangles of planters and fill them with a medley of flowers and leafy foliage. Hedges are an alternative and clever way of splitting up and defining unique areas within your garden.

In addition to what you are planning to use the space for, be mindful of the best times of day for shade or sun. In the early evening, you might want to have a small table and chairs with a firepit to enjoy the late summer sun, and long, lighter evenings. Likewise, to maximise time spent in your favourite zones, invest in some ambient lighting and cool decor, such as string lights, lanterns and solar-powered fixtures. They will all add warmth and a trendy vibe to your garden for an amazing after-dark atmosphere. Decorative elements such as sculptures, water features and outdoor art are great ways to add personality and charm to any outdoor zone.

In addition to what you are planning to use the space for, be mindful of the best times of day for shade or sun. In the early evening, you might want to have a small table and chairs with a firepit to enjoy the late summer sun, and long, lighter evenings. Likewise, to maximise time spent in your favourite zones, invest in some ambient lighting and cool decor, such as string lights, lanterns and solar-powered fixtures. They will all add warmth and a trendy vibe to your garden for an amazing after-dark atmosphere. Decorative elements such as sculptures, water features and outdoor art are great ways to add personality and charm to any outdoor zone.

Investing in a variety of greenery

To feel closer to nature in your city-centre home, you can’t go wrong by investing in lots of greenery, flowers and plants for your garden, balcony or rooftop terrace. Incorporate a variety of plants, shrubs and trees (if you have the space) to create texture, a mix of vibrant colours and interest throughout the garden. 

Once your garden zones are mapped out, you might want to add further features such as creating a herb garden, a small wall, or sprinkle colourful flower seeds that will demarcate a zone with a pretty border at the back or side of your home. Designing your garden sanctuary in the city is not just about visual aesthetics, it's about engaging all the senses. If you plant lavender and other fragrant flowers or herbs, you’ll soon fill the air with incredible scents. Meanwhile, adding wind chimes, bird feeders and water features create soothing sounds and evoke a sense of calm. 

Homeowners across the UK, living in busy cities, towns or anywhere else place immense value in having access to green spaces in their neighbourhood or maximising their own properties to add natural features to their homes. For city-living residents, being located in or close to parks, communal lawns and allotments can be highly coveted. 

Green spaces offer a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life, providing opportunities to relax and entertain. If you have your own garden, even if it’s small, it can become a selling point that attracts interest and adds value to any property; having proximity to nature is a key selling point for city-centre homes. If you are planning to sell, Maguire Jackson can help you market your property in the best light and are well placed to showcase your home, with all of its beautiful outdoor space, to the right buyers.