How to Create the Perfect Outdoor Retreat by Zoning your Garden-

Written for Inside Out Magazine, UAE.

Have you ever looked at your uninspiring backyard and questioned how gardens are widely supposed to bring us joy? You’ve probably stood there, wistfully reimagining it as any one of the stunning gardens you’ve seen in all the glossy design magazines.

And while you may have to settle for a mediocre lawn every time you look out the kitchen window, the world around you seems to have gone gaga over gardens. Garden design has been in the spotlight for a while now and is only becoming more popular. This is because a greater need to connect with nature and to destress has led to a general desire to spend more time outdoors in spaces that promote our wellbeing.

But how do you go about transforming the lifeless plot you have into your piece of paradise?

It can be a little daunting to know where to begin, but a good way to plan your design is through zoning. Zoning has been a buzz word in interior design, due its ability to create privacy and intimacy in open-plan living, but it works equally well in outdoor design.

Just as a house can have defined zones for an open kitchen, dining, and living area all within one room, the same principle can be applied to your outdoor living space. Zoning can break down a featureless garden into different areas with specific functions and offer a variety of visual interest.

Zoning in gardens of all sizes;

You may want that fulfilling outdoor lifestyle, but find that you have to make do with a tiny patch that extends just a few metres either way. This is especially true for city dwellers who have to deal with the challenges of crowded living. In this case, your zones will need to multi-task and work double-time, so you can squeeze the maximum function and use out of them. And because a small garden often belongs to a small home, you’ll have an added incentive to create areas for different activities outdoors and maximize your living space. 

On the other end, if you’re lucky to have a generous garden plot, you could find that zoning solves an altogether different challenge … not knowing what do with such a massive and featureless patch. Zoning can add shape and definition, and transform your space into an organised and beautiful alfresco area.

Choosing zones for your garden

So you’re on board with the zoning principle, but don’t know what types of zones you need. Think about your lifestyle and how you would like to use your garden area. For example, a couple with no children and who entertain at home every weekend may want an outdoor kitchen and bar with a barbecue, pizza oven, outdoor fridge and wireless music system, with a large proportion of the garden dedicated to creating an outdoor dining area and beach-club style lounge.

This will contrast with the family of four who may want a pool and playground area, possibly shaded depending on the weather, and maybe a quiet reading corner for some alone time and a coffee. So it’s important to begin by assessing the space from a practical perspective, looking at the aspect, confirming what is already there to work with that needs to stay, noting the view (or lack of) from the garden, and checking over the neighbouring wall to avoid having noisy social areas back to back.

So if you’re ready to use zoning to transform your backyard from depressing dump to open-air sanctuary, here’s what you’ll need to consider:

1.     Function

Think about the best use of the space for how your family lives and what you need the garden to achieve. It often needs to be a multi-functional space with areas for cooking/ barbecue, seating, dining, play-area for children, relaxation space, haven to meditate, grassy area to exercise, or any combination of the above.  Creating specific zones will help make sense of the overall space.

2.     Aspect

Where is the sun? Sunlight and shade are a key consideration when designing for outdoor living, similar to the way lighting plays an integral part in designing interiors. Gardens are planned in such a way to maximize the sunlight or shade as needed, depending on the region you live in and its climate.

For example, if you live in a warm climate, you won’t want an outdoor dining area that is situated in the strong midday sun - it’s simply not practical and therefore won’t be used. If the dining area has to be located in an exposed spot, then use attractive structures and clever planting to create the required shade. And the opposite is true if you live in a cold climate where you crave the sun’s warm rays and will try to maximize areas to catch some of it.

3.     Flow

Set up your zones in a way to create a natural flow, not only within the garden, but also with the house. The garden is really an extension of the home and you should look at how you can maximise this extra space during the months of the year when you can live outside. For example, look at which side of the garden your kitchen is located and keep the outdoor kitchen and dining on the same side, to avoid crossing the garden with trays and food.

4.     Levels

Consider aesthetics and having different zones at different levels to make the space appear larger and more appealing. If your garden is all on one level and your preference is to keep it that way, then you can create zones through outdoor structures such as pergolas, partitions, large planters, and flowerbeds. 

5.     Accessories

When it comes to adding the finishing touches, you should view your outdoor area the same way you would indoor rooms. Use outdoor rugs, lamps, cushions, throws and accessories such as table decorations, candles and mirrors to bring the zones to life and make the space feel more welcoming and comfortable. 

6.     Materials

It’s important to make purchasing decisions carefully for the various zones, while considering climate conditions such as sunlight and humidity. Opting for the lowest cost materials is a false economy and you need to invest wisely in items that can withstand the climate and won’t fall apart with the first spell of harsh weather. For example, real wood decking isn’t the most appropriate material for a terrace, as wood will fade, crack and bend. Composite alternatives will be longer-lasting, but stone is still king for durability. For outdoor furniture, metal can sometimes get too hot to sit on and using UV fabric for outdoor soft furnishings will pay back it higher cost in the long run.  

7.     Plants

Last but not least, the most important component of your garden - plants - naturally plays a key role in how you zone it. For each zone, choose specific plants according to how tall or wide they will grow, the amount of sunlight or water they need, their texture and the ‘feeling’ they give. If you live in a dry climate where you can’t rely on rain, keep in mind the high environmental impact of planting large areas of real grass, foliage and flowers, as well as ongoing watering costs. Wherever possible, opt for indigenous plants that have naturally evolved to withstand the local climate. If it’s a challenge to keep grass growing healthy, keep in mind that the quality of artificial grass is continually improving and costs nothing to maintain.

If you follow these simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating a diverse, rich and practical garden that maximizes your living space and boosts your happiness and wellbeing.

Zoning Example

In this garden, there are three levels and a slightly raised pool - a deliberate strategy to separate the outdoor kitchen from the living and dining area. A combination of different materials such as plain tiles, accent tiles, concrete, granite and paint, were used in these areas to differentiate them further.