There’s nothing quite as dreamy as the layered, lived-in cottage gardens of the English countryside. If you love this look—and perhaps want to channel your inner Beatrix Potter this summer—but aren’t quite sure how to transform your builder-grade backyard into the ultimate cottage-style escape, then you’ve come to the right place. Below, I’m sharing eight simple ways to transform your patio into the cottage garden retreat you’ve always wanted.
Plant a Climbing Rose
Okay, so technically Peggy Martin roses are “ramblers,” not climbers, but the sentiment still stands! Flowering climbing vines offer a quintessential charm that makes them an absolute must for anyone wishing to transform their patio into a whimsical escape.
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Pretty Up Your Pot Display
There’s something so darling about a display of weathered, moss-covered terra-cotta pots. If your patio doubles as your gardening station, transform your storage with stacks of terra-cotta pots that double as shelving. All you need for this simple DIY is aged pots and wide planks of wood.
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Rely on Woven Furniture
Woven furniture, preferably wicker, will warm up your patio instantly. Pick pieces with soft, curved silhouettes and fanciful detailing for a true cottage look. Thrift chairs and sofas and paint them in shades such as creamy white, blue, or sage green to give your outdoor setting a nostalgic feel.
Layer on Block Prints
Block-print fabrics are core to cottage style, so be sure to dot them throughout your patio with abandon through cushions, pillows, table linens, and even umbrellas and awnings. Accent block-print patterns with gingham details and lace accents to bring your patio a true grandma-chic look.
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Top Your Tables with Potted Plants
Blending function and fun is a hallmark of cottage living, so ensure your table decor does double duty. A mix of herbs and white geraniums does the trick on this Alabama patio.
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Swap Pavers for Pea Gravel
Nothing says English garden quite like the presence of pea gravel, so skip the pavers and rely totally on the warm tones of pea gravel to give your garden a classically quaint feel. If you need added stability underfoot, lay simple pavers in a checkerboard pattern and fill the gaps with pea gravel.
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Trot Out the Topiaries
Topiaries are popular choices for flanking front doors, but dotted around the back patio—or even just one placed strategically—they go a long way in bringing a twee, cottage feel.
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Extend the Look with Raised Beds
While gardens-gone-wild are a key part of cottagecore, not everyone is able to transform their backyard into the meadow of their dreams, and cottage living is all about maximizing the space you have. Enter: raised beds! Plant vegetables and wildflowers within view of your patio to give the appearance of a winding, wild garden. Top the beds with wooden finials for added charm and consider lining surrounding flower beds with woven willow edging to push your space into true storybook territory.
RELATED: Easy Raised Garden Bed Ideas You Can DIY This Weekend
Anna Logan is the Deputy Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.
