Design your own family garden: relaxation, playtime and fun

A garden for the whole family? It’s not that easy when you want to make sure that everyone’s needs are satisfied. Sandboxes , flower beds, garden furniture... toys for outdoors,  such as ring toss games and garden accessories are not cheap to buy. But with a little bit of craftsmanship, passion and creativity, you can make all sorts of fun and relaxing things for your green oasis. We’ll provide you with ideas, inspiration and tips for designing a low-maintenance garden that is right for you and has a big enough play area for your children.

Plan your garden properly

Footballs in the flower bed, squeaky plastic yellow slides and a giant trampoline as a showpiece? That sounds like a nightmare to many nature lovers. But a well-planned family garden can be perfectly suited for children and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. And it definitely won’t be boring! The more varied you make it, the more attractive it will be.

But there is one thing that’s certain: It’s a challenge to set up play areas for the kids while also designing the garden appropriately. That’s why, when planning, you should take into account the opinions, desires and needs of every family member. To avoid flower beds from being destroyed, the garden should be properly separated from the start. You can include garden paths in your design. Properties on a slope lend themselves well to gardens that are divided into different levels. What else brings structure and excitement to your garden? Garden elements that provide a little privacy, hedges or even winding paths. Use these different elements to create a balanced structure and a harmonious relationship between the plants and the open space.

Even though there are designated play areas, it’s also important to make sure that the entire garden is safe for children. That’s why paths should be as even as possible so that there are no risks of tripping. You should make absolutely certain that garden beds are free from poisonous plants. And if you’re planning on having a garden pond or a water oasis, make sure that the children don’t have direct access to it or are old enough to take care of themselves. You can find everything you need to know about making a pond in our guide. Don’t forget that you need sufficient room to store toys and garden furniture. A garden house, the garage or a cellar are perfect for this. And of course, don’t forget the play area. In addition to the many little play areas, active kids absolutely love having a flat lawn.

Or maybe you like to just read a book while your children are playing in the garden. Then, make sure to plan a cosy area for sitting or laying down, which gives you a nice view of the garden and lets you keep an eye out for your kids right from the get-go. It’s also a good idea to place the sandbox directly next to the terrace, which allows your children to have fun all while you kick back and relax with your feet up.

However, before you get started actively planning your garden, you should take some time to think it over first. As soon as you’ve thought of enough ideas, grab some pen and paper and let your creativity run wild. Once you’ve marked everything out, you can check if the garden is divided up in a way that makes sense and that there is enough space for a flower bed, garden pond and so on.

Play areas

Play areas are the be-all and end-all of a family garden. That’s where children can let off steam, play and exercise. A sandbox or sandpit is the highlight of a garden for younger children. Whether digging, building or making mud, the sandbox is THE best place to play. We’ll show you how to easily build your own wooden sandbox here. Do you prefer something a little more natural looking? If so, we recommend you go with a sandpit for all your digging needs. You can also surround it with evergreen plants. This creates an idyllic atmosphere without having to spend much money.

But fun with mud can be had outside of the sandbox, too. Your sand cakes will also taste really great in our DIY mud kitchen. Your kids will be able to get really creative and finally do what mum and dad otherwise wouldn’t let them do: Mix together ingredients like water, sand, soil and leaves to their heart’s content. After hours of cooking and baking, your little chefs can put away the necessary equipment right where they are. And then it’s time to take a breather! For children, little hiding places and retreats are perfect for this. If you have a healthy, sturdy tree in your garden, then why not build a tree house there? A tree that is already rotten on the inside obviously won’t do the job. Oak, lime and beech trees are ideal for tree houses. You can also build a tree house in full-grown apple and pear trees. Walnut, poplar or birch trees cannot hold a lot of weight, so if you do decide to use one of these, you should stabilise your structure with additional supports, just to be on the safe side. Once you have selected the right tree and material, you can get started. Your kids will be able to go on all sorts of adventures that they have always dreamt of.

Relaxation area

Of course, a family garden is not just fun and games. It is so much more. In addition to having many play areas, you should also make sure it keeps the feel-good nature of an oasis. While the terrace is usually the ideal place for a nice and cosy atmosphere, we’ll show you three alternative retreats that are both cosy and comfy.

A pergola provides shade on those hot summer days and can be easily built with walls for climbing plants, squared timber and slats. Comfortable lounge or garden furniture lets you relax and unwind at the same time. Our pallet sofa or DIY hanging bed allows you to enjoy the nature and relieve yourself from the stress of everyday life. Have you had enough relaxation? Then store the cushions and covers in your garden house. Besides being great for storing garden furniture, garden tools and children’s toys, the garden house is also a great place to take a break from the business of family life and work. Depending on its size, it can be used for a whole variety of purposes. It can even be used as a guest house. You can use potted plants to decorate the entrance to the garden house and create a wonderful atmosphere.

Still haven’t gotten enough of the small idyllic garden? Whether for reading, having a coffee break or meditating, the garden gazebo is perfect for nature lovers. You can easily build yourself an oasis full of blossoming flowers using wooden pillars, which climbing plants can grow on. Evergreen ivy, Virginia creeper or climbing roses: The gazebo creates a getaway that is far from your everyday life.

Privacy screen and protection from wind and noise.

Can you sense your nosy neighbours peeking in on you? Then we recommend you give your green oasis some protected space with a fence, wall and hedges. However, it doesn’t just ward off unwanted attention from others, tall barriers also provide protection from wind and noise. In addition, walls give your garden a particular structure and atmosphere. Do dreary walls or plain wooden fences sound unappealing to you? Then maybe you would prefer a wall filled with plants. Climbing plants, tall perennials, different types of grass or bamboo make for a cosy garden. Grass and bamboo in particular grow quickly and turn a privacy screen into a chic accessory. When making the barrier, we recommend you work with wood or other natural materials in order to create a uniform look. Here, we’ll show you how to build a stylish, creative privacy screen – that you can even expand – in just a few simple steps that looks great and shields you from prying eyes. And if you are simply looking to build a privacy screen because it would look nice in your garden, be inspired here. 

Garden beds and garden pond

Both children and adults love garden beds. Your kids will love digging in the soil and helping you plant seeds. It’s also fun to water them and then your children get to watch them grow from seeds into full-grown plants. Working together is highly educational and it will be a really special moment for your children when it’s time to harvest. Other work, such as removing weeds, will fall to you.

Yet plants are not the only things that bring life to your garden. A pond is a real head-turner and will provide wonderful opportunities for observing wildlife from the likes of dragonflies, to fish and frogs. And installing a garden pond is not difficult at all. Nevertheless, you still need to keep a few important things in mind; as lovely as a pond may be, it can be dangerous for people and animals. If your kids are still small and can’t swim, even a small amount of water in your garden can become a hazard. Here, we will show you what you need to know when installing your nature pond and how to install it in just five steps. If you would like to know more about the wonders of a garden pond and what materials are suitable for one, take a look at our article.