Garden accessories to spruce up your outdoor space

Get the garden ready for BBQ season with practical, cute, and fun accessories.

Evening garden accessories

by Eleanor Weaver |
Updated on

Whatever your situation, we've found the top garden accessories to give your space a little extra something. After all, a few fun touches can transform your garden into a beautiful and chic hangout spot for visiting friends and family. Maybe your garden is screaming for a makeover, and you just want to add some finishing touches - such as new garden furniture - to give it a little revamp. A garden refresh doesn't need to come with a huge price tag.

Either way, you don't need to spend a fortune, and we've found some of the best accessories that'll help turn your garden, no matter how big or small, into a stylish and summery haven. Whether you're looking to add dimensions with a garden mirror or give your patio a botanical flair with some planters, choosing the right decorative additions and shelving to your space is an easy and effective way to upgrade. You're sure to find something that tickles your fancy.

Each year brings the promise of exciting new garden trends that'll modernise your outdoor space and how we're going to style, design, and use our gardens for the rest of the year. From tropical soft furnishings to eco-friendly planters, there are plenty of opportunities to go bold with your outdoor space. Plus, incorporating a water bowl into your outdoor space acts as a multifunctional feature, a statement and an additional element for attracting wildlife. Similarly, garden lights offer a unique and sought-after ambience, as well as providing adequate lighting.

Best garden accessories at a glance

Best cosy and twinkly lighting: Set of 6 Solar Lightbulb Lanterns - View Offer at Argos
Best chic, exotic cushions: Artscope Set of 4 Decorative Cushion Covers - View on Amazon UK
Best for adding some zest: Set of 4 Fruit Placemats - View at Marks & Spencer
Best for a real eye-catcher: Antique Gold Solar Moroccan Lantern - View Offer at Homebase

Of all the things for your garden, ensure that it brings you comfort and joy. After all, lounging around in the garden is no fun without a comfy recliner to lay back on or a garden parasol to hide under when the sun is at its highest. We saw a deepened love and appreciation for gardens during the pandemic, and this year should be no different. Our gardens provide an escape from the hustle and bustle, calming us. So, why not dip into our pick of garden accessories?

Best garden accessories

Best cosy and twinkly lighting

The iconic lightbulb design on this Set of 6 Solar Lightbulb Lanterns would look glorious nestled in a tree or some shrubbery. The handy hanging mechanism means that you can clip them wherever you like, as long as they're likely to catch the sun. They're ready to use straight out of the box, but be sure to watch them if you're due to some strong winds. Of all the garden trends, solar-powered and indoor-worthy lighting is a must.

Customer Review: "The lights charge in a very short time and glow beautifully. No wire means they can be dotted about the garden and look magical. As they are not glass, I need not worry about safety issues should one fall. I'm so pleased I bought these."

Pros

  • So twinkly and cosy
  • Attached by clips
  • Easy-to-install
  • No worries about wires

Cons

  • Some reviews have mentioned that they need a lot of summer sunlight to work effectively

Best tropical-style lounge chair

Bamboo Stacking Chair
Price: $45 (was £75)

www.homebase.co.uk

Bask in the sunshine with this wicke Bamboo Stacking Chair. This lounge chair boasts both comfort and functionality, as it can be easily stacked for better storage. Whether indoors or brought outdoors for the summer months, this chair is trendy and chic. It boasts a tropical style and is made from strong, durable and UV-resistant materials.

Customer Review: "It's so comfortable and fitted perfectly with my decor. The price was on point, it's so stylish and easy to order online."

Pros

  • Sustainable material
  • Stackable and durable
  • UV-resistant and trendy

Cons

  • None we can think of!

Best chic, exotic cushions

Artscope Set of 4 Decorative Cushion Covers
Price: $16.99

Speaking of cushions, this Artscope Set of 4 Decorative Cushion Covers will help bring a touch of the tropics to your patio furniture. Made of water-resistant soft and sturdy linen, they're a fun and simple way to refresh your garden space. Not a fan of the tropical style? There are plenty of other designs available, including traditional florals, beach designs, geometric patterns, spring flowers, and even more leafy designs to choose from.

Customer Review: "These covers were for indoors, as I wanted some that were, pretty, but could they withstand muddy paws and wet-coated dogs, should they get past me? They passed and look fabulous."

Pros

  • Waterproof
  • Bright and cheerful

Cons

  • Some reviews say the material is a little rough

Best for value fairy lights

Add a spot of magic to your pergola or gazebo with these fancy fairy curtain lights. Cutesy and fairycore styles seem to be coming to the forefront. So, why not inject some sparkle into your outdoor space? They come with eight light settings and are a great way to set an evening mood, whether that be romantic, magical, cosy, or fun for a celebration.

Customer Review: "Absolutely beautiful. The remote is a bit hit-and-miss but the lights can be controlled easily enough from the USB part that is plugged in. They create a really lovely atmosphere and are just really pretty."

Pros

  • Amazing decoration
  • Great value
  • Well made

Cons

  • You have to be careful with the wires as they easily get kinks

Best for taking tea or cocktails on the lawn

Ideal for taking tea in the garden or as a side table for your books and snacks, this Round Drinks Trolley in Forest Green is a must-have accessory for the summer. Display mixers and ice on the lower tier and pour and serve at the top with. It's simply perfect for botanical delights. Not only is it weatherproof, but it has four wheels for easy moving.

Customer Review: "Good quality product at a reasonable price."

Pros

  • Stylish and contemporary
  • Natural luxe colour trend
  • Indoor and outdoor use

Cons

  • Tricky to put together

Best for adding a timeless feel

Artificial Eucalyptus Garland
Price: $11.17 (was £15.95)

www.notonthehighstreet.com

Cottagecore at its finest, this Artificial Eucalyptus Garland will give your rustic garden a timeless feel. Bring the outside in with this simple artificial eucalyptus garland - or keep it outdoors, draped across your garden shed or summer house. Though marketed for weddings, incorporating this garland into your garden will be a cause for celebration.

Pros

  • Great value garland
  • Rustic, timeless feel
  • Year-round green addition

Cons

  • No customer reviews

Best for adding some zest

Once your new accessories are up in your garden, you can sit back and enjoy your handiwork with this Set of 4 Fruit Placemats from M&S. The set is both cute and zesty; they can be used time and time again for year-round garden celebrations. Plus, they're easy to clean and pack away. We adore the cutesy citrus tableware trend.

Customer Review: "These Placemats were purchased for the garden table and they bring the garden together, they are fresh and bright and nice and big, easy to wipe clean and at a very good price, I was pleasantly surprised!"

Pros

  • Bright and zesty
  • Orange and lemon
  • Ideal tableware

Cons

  • A little more expensive than some on the market

Best for a real eye-catcher

Homebase Edit Antique Gold Solar Moroccan Lantern - 48cm
Price: $24.50 (was £35)

www.homebase.co.uk

Place on your patio or grass, or hang from a tree and enjoy the beautiful light show emitted through this Antique Gold Solar Moroccan Lantern. Crafted from quality metal with a retro appeal, this unique garden light is solar-powered. Perfect for the tropical and copper furniture trend, these lights have no tricky wires and are an eye-catcher.

Customer Review: "Much bigger than I imagined, but lovely. Love this lantern. I put it in a really sunny position during the day, and because there are no cables you can put them where you like when the sun has set. Fabulous."

Pros

  • Give plenty of light
  • Beautiful pattern and display
  • Stay lit for several hours

Cons

  • Some customers said their lanterns arrived badly packaged

Best Bridgerton-inspired shade

Perfect for creating a shady spot in the garden to relax outdoors, this Carrousel 2.5m Parasol is extra chic with beaded droplet edging for an extra touch of glamour and the carousel peaked top. There's a crank lift and tilt mechanism for super-easy adjustments, and we think of Bridgerton when we see this parasol. Choose between green, cream and grey.

Customer Review: "Absolutely gorgeous parasol, due to cost I was unsure whether to bury or not, but it's beautiful far nicer than the actual photos. The green is a shimmery colour. The beads are plastic but very pretty. I'm so pleased I bought it."

Pros

  • Different colours available
  • Regency-era inspired
  • Easily-adjustable and chic

Cons

  • Some customers reported issues with colours

Best Cottagecore addition

Provence Ladder Shelf
Price: $98.50 (was £197)

www.notonthehighstreet.com

This Provence Ladder Shelf is a practical but stylish addition to your garden, whether it be to home your potted plants, outdoor ornaments, or trinkets. The gorgeous rustic farmhouse-style shelving will work well in your outdoor space, or you could even bring it indoors for a more relaxed and rustic interior vibe.

Customer Review: "I love the shelf, so creative and plenty of storage room on the shelves. Doesn't take up much room. Had lots of compliments on it already."

Pros

  • Plenty of room for plants
  • Sturdy, durable and stylish

Cons

  • None we can think of!

Best for relaxing in style

Hanging egg chairs are all the rage right now, and we wish we had one to lounge in the garden. It's a bit of a pricey purchase, but it's stylish, durable, extremely comfortable, and it'll be an envious statement in your outdoor space. We love the GardenCo Milan Hanging Egg Chair - as it has a rattan, tropical-esque charm. It feels modern yet timeless...

Customer Review: "The best thing I ever got from Amazon! It's a chair, but also the best swing for my 2YO, that's the only one place that he'll let me read a book to him! It's very relaxing, great for outdoors and indoors!"

Pros

  • Great value for money
  • Tropical-style rattan chic
  • Sturdy yet comfortable

Cons

  • Instructions are tricky to follow

Best for space-saving

Millie Metal Bistro Set - Blue
Price: $76 (was £95)

www.homebase.co.uk

Believe it or not, we're seeing much more blue. Shades such as cerulean have a calming ambience, which seems perfect for an outdoor space. For this, why not consider a Millie Metal Bistro Set in Blue? It features two folding chairs and a table, perfect for hosting your loved one and packing away when not in use. It's even balcony-friendly.

Customer Review: "Just what I wanted, love the colour. Very sturdy; won't get blown about in high winds."

Pros

  • Trendy, calming blue colour
  • Foldable, space-saving set
  • Durable steel frame

Cons

  • None we can think of!

Best eco-friendly planter

SELF-WATERING SQUARE RECYCLED PLASTIC POT
Price: $13.59 (was £16.99)

www.gardenesque.com

Jules recommends this Self-watering Recycled Plastic Pot, which will drain and draw water as and when required. Made from recycled plastic, these pots are lightweight and weatherproof. Choose between colours clay, ash or moss green - and four different sizes for your favourite plants.

Customer Review: "My Capri self-watering planters arrived in good time but without instructions on how to set them up for outdoor use (they are a version with a removable plug obviating the need to drill holes). Roberta was very helpful, contacting the manufacturer to confirm what I needed to do."

Pros

  • Choose between three on-trend colours
  • Four sizes to pot up your favourites
  • Eco-friendly and UV-resistant

Cons

  • No instructions to set up outdoors

Best for adding a pop of colour

From Wedgwood, we love this Sapphire Garden Rug in Teal. It makes a fabulously tropical indoor/outdoor rug in a stunning floral design. Beautifully crafted from 100 per cent polypropylene making, this design is durable, stain-resistant and low maintenance. It's so versatile - and eye-catching. Plus, it comes in different sizes for your space.

Pros

  • Durable and stain-resistant
  • Low maintenance rug
  • Eye-catching, vibrant design

Cons

  • No customer reviews

Garden accessory trends

While we think this round-up is a great, eclectic mix of garden accessories to make your outdoor space look lovely and chic, you might want to follow a particular trend when creating your garden look.

For this, we have consulted Modern Gardens Magazine contributor Jules Barton-Breck to inspire our outdoor space with some accessory trends. Below are some of our favourite garden trends of 2023, which will be sure to pop - no matter the season:

Natural tones: Looking for trendy garden accessories that have a more natural, organic look? These use natural materials and earthy tones, which create a warm and inviting vibe.

Cerulean Blue: Gorgeous blue hue (a mix between sky blue and aqua) that evokes calmness, serenity, and ocean bliss.

Tropical: Create the beach vibe at home with patterns, cool holiday hues, and trendy natural pieces that allow the sun to shine through.

Copper Décor: Make a contemporary, metallic statement with stylish copper pieces, including chairs, lamp posts, and planters.

Lemon and lime decor: Make a bold, fun statement with these citrus-themed pieces, including chairs, plant pots, tables and planters.

Quick and easy ways to give your garden a makeover

As well as buying the best accessories to bring some fun and colour to your garden, there are some other things you can do to help refresh any tired items you already own and make them look good as new.

A lick of paint can make all the difference! If you've got some old terracotta plant pots, you can paint them with bright colours, repaint your existing furniture to make it feel brand new, or give your fences a lick of dark varnish to give the tired wood a new lease of life. We've found the best fence paint to revive your space.

Upcycle some old pieces into something new. We love these rustic rope shelves that you can make from an old pallet. Or, try making your own garden wall bar using old wood from past DIY projects.

Get to work on your garden borders or patio, removing any weeds or unwanted moss. If you have a pressure washer too, a blitz of this will be so rewarding.

If you want to invite wildlife into your garden and hear those bird songs loud and clear, we'd recommend getting a bird feeder to feel that bit closer to nature.

Got a full house and plenty of kids' toys lying around in the garden to prove it? You can easily make your garden more appealing to lounge in by simply buying or building a storage unit to store it neatly away. If it's built sturdy enough, you could even paint it and put some cushion on top to make for a cute garden ottoman and extra seating.

Outdoor rugs to pep up your patio

Beautiful bee inspired décor to brighten up your outdoor space

Nature inspired décor for a new lease of life

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Eleanor Weaver is the Deputy Homes & Garden Product Editor for Modern Gardens, specialising in outdoor furniture, décor, and tools. She's always looking out for inspiration online for stylish and affordable designs and enjoys spending time in nature.

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