22 Garden Ideas to Bring Europe Home
There's no shame in imitating those you admire, especially when your own garden reaps the benefits
If you’ve ever been to Tuscany or Provence, you’ve no doubt drooled over the gorgeous garden vistas and floral delights that greet you at every turn. A visit to Spain or the Greek islands delivers beauty of a different kind, but one that’s no less enviable. Thankfully, there’s no reason you have to fly halfway around the world to experience the garden wonders these destinations have to offer – you can recreate the bits you love best at home.
3. Villa ‘villea
If your outdoor room enjoys all-day sun and you live in a frost-free climate, drape a pergola in bougainvillea. Plant it in pots if you want to curb its growth, or prepare to prune every six months to stop it getting too out of control. Pruning it back is likely to make it flower again within the month.
If your outdoor room enjoys all-day sun and you live in a frost-free climate, drape a pergola in bougainvillea. Plant it in pots if you want to curb its growth, or prepare to prune every six months to stop it getting too out of control. Pruning it back is likely to make it flower again within the month.
4. Wistful blooms
If you live in a cooler area that’s prone to frosts, opt for wisteria instead of bougainvillea for your pergola. With dense foliage and clustered flowers, it provides the shade you need in summer but easily allows the winter sun to shine on in.
If you live in a cooler area that’s prone to frosts, opt for wisteria instead of bougainvillea for your pergola. With dense foliage and clustered flowers, it provides the shade you need in summer but easily allows the winter sun to shine on in.
5. Up the garden path
Create a covered walkway. Pergolas aren’t just for outdoor lounging and dining zones, they can also frame a walkway and bring structure to a backyard.
Create a covered walkway. Pergolas aren’t just for outdoor lounging and dining zones, they can also frame a walkway and bring structure to a backyard.
6. Colour contained
A simple display of potted bougainvillea creates a worthy focal point for any Italian-styled garden. Add some cushions to your outdoor seating area in complementary colours and you’ve just given your backyard a real lift.
A simple display of potted bougainvillea creates a worthy focal point for any Italian-styled garden. Add some cushions to your outdoor seating area in complementary colours and you’ve just given your backyard a real lift.
7. Gourmet garden
An outdoor kitchen like this one brings a taste of Tuscany to your life in more ways than one. Use rendered bricks to create a rustic effect.
8. Mood lighting
Design your outdoor kitchen with lighting in mind – it will make evening gatherings all the more memorable. Soft lighting along the back wall of this barbecue area give it an almost magical atmosphere.
An outdoor kitchen like this one brings a taste of Tuscany to your life in more ways than one. Use rendered bricks to create a rustic effect.
8. Mood lighting
Design your outdoor kitchen with lighting in mind – it will make evening gatherings all the more memorable. Soft lighting along the back wall of this barbecue area give it an almost magical atmosphere.
9. Hanging around
Don’t have the need (or budget) to build something new? Even hanging pot plants on your front or back verandah can have a big impact. Geraniums are an easy-to-grow option that are back in vogue, and their bright flowers bloom all spring and summer long.
Don’t have the need (or budget) to build something new? Even hanging pot plants on your front or back verandah can have a big impact. Geraniums are an easy-to-grow option that are back in vogue, and their bright flowers bloom all spring and summer long.
ENGLAND
10. Balanced shades
English cottage gardens provide endless inspiration for homeowners looking to pretty up their yards. Picking a colour palette can bring a sense of harmony to a garden – pink, purple and white is a common combination that works well with this style.
10. Balanced shades
English cottage gardens provide endless inspiration for homeowners looking to pretty up their yards. Picking a colour palette can bring a sense of harmony to a garden – pink, purple and white is a common combination that works well with this style.
11. Foxy lady
Lining a pathway with foxgloves is a simple way to bring a little English country style home to roost. These long-flowered lovelies perform best if they’re kept well watered.
Lining a pathway with foxgloves is a simple way to bring a little English country style home to roost. These long-flowered lovelies perform best if they’re kept well watered.
12. Let it grow!
Don’t be too concerned about keeping your garden too orderly if English cottage style feels like you – rambling and disheveled is the way to go.
More: So Your Garden Style Is: Cottage
Don’t be too concerned about keeping your garden too orderly if English cottage style feels like you – rambling and disheveled is the way to go.
More: So Your Garden Style Is: Cottage
13. Vintage blooms
Hydrangeas may be old-fashioned, but what’s an English cottage garden if not old-fashioned? These hardy plants bring colour to pots and garden beds, and look particularly effective growing up against the house.
Hydrangeas may be old-fashioned, but what’s an English cottage garden if not old-fashioned? These hardy plants bring colour to pots and garden beds, and look particularly effective growing up against the house.
MEDITERRANEAN
14. Tucking in
In Greece, Italy and Spain, growing food-producing trees in your backyard continues to be popular, and the same can be true at your house without too much fuss. In an inner-city courtyard that tends to get hot, olive trees and other hardy silver-leaved plants add mediterranean style with very little maintenance…
14. Tucking in
In Greece, Italy and Spain, growing food-producing trees in your backyard continues to be popular, and the same can be true at your house without too much fuss. In an inner-city courtyard that tends to get hot, olive trees and other hardy silver-leaved plants add mediterranean style with very little maintenance…
… and you get to enjoy some tasty morsels as an added reward.
16. Not to scale
Olive trees grown in the garden rather than pots grow tall enough to downsize the dimensions of a large-scale home, and add a Mediterranean feel.
Olive trees grown in the garden rather than pots grow tall enough to downsize the dimensions of a large-scale home, and add a Mediterranean feel.
17. Sweet and sour
Cumquat or lemon trees in pots can work in any sized garden, whether bordering a bricked terrace or tucked up by the back door. Plant lush flowers around the base and let them spill over the pot.
More: How to Create an Orchard in a Small Garden
Cumquat or lemon trees in pots can work in any sized garden, whether bordering a bricked terrace or tucked up by the back door. Plant lush flowers around the base and let them spill over the pot.
More: How to Create an Orchard in a Small Garden
PROVENCE
18. High and dry
Mass plantings of lavender bring Provincial appeal to any home. Lavender plants prefer well-drained soil, and they grow well on slopes, in pots and rockeries. Clay soils tend to hold too much moisture for lavender to thrive.
18. High and dry
Mass plantings of lavender bring Provincial appeal to any home. Lavender plants prefer well-drained soil, and they grow well on slopes, in pots and rockeries. Clay soils tend to hold too much moisture for lavender to thrive.
19. Homey scents
Line a pathway with lavender, and you’ll be rewarded with a heady whiff of perfume every time you come home.
More: Waterwise Planting Tips for Year-Round Greenery
Line a pathway with lavender, and you’ll be rewarded with a heady whiff of perfume every time you come home.
More: Waterwise Planting Tips for Year-Round Greenery
20. Mix and match
The soft, silver leaves of lavender look beautiful alongside rosemary, and the combined scents are heavenly.
The soft, silver leaves of lavender look beautiful alongside rosemary, and the combined scents are heavenly.
21. Secret garden
Create a secluded garden nook for French country flair. A creeper-covered archway and rustic stone wall turns this cute corner into a private oasis.
More: Garden Seating Nooks Worth Dreaming About
Create a secluded garden nook for French country flair. A creeper-covered archway and rustic stone wall turns this cute corner into a private oasis.
More: Garden Seating Nooks Worth Dreaming About
22. Well trained
Espaliered creepers can transform any external wall into a work of art. Secure criss-crossed wire to the wall and let nature take its course.
SHARE YOUR STYLE
Which European-style garden would you love to create at your house? Tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
How to Choose the Best Plants for a Small Garden
7 Common Garden Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
How to Create Drama and Spectacle in the Garden
Espaliered creepers can transform any external wall into a work of art. Secure criss-crossed wire to the wall and let nature take its course.
SHARE YOUR STYLE
Which European-style garden would you love to create at your house? Tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
How to Choose the Best Plants for a Small Garden
7 Common Garden Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
How to Create Drama and Spectacle in the Garden
1. Out to lunch
Who can resist the timeless appeal of a long lunch on a traditional Tuscan terrace? Walls rendered in a warm sandstone tone around exposed bricks set the scene, while comfortable seating makes it easier to linger longer and pop open another bottle of Chianti.
2. Sweeten the pot
Hang lanterns and install sconces to add atmosphere when the sun goes down, and plenty of pot plants will deliver Tuscan charm in spades.