How To Create An Outdoor Space With Pizzazz
Bistro table and chairs with accessories and plants under a veranda with brick walls, provides a small yet inviting dining area with a Mediterranean feel. This area was previously an untidy garden tools storage and potting area.
Give Your Home Extra Stand Out In A Competitive Market!
If there’s one thing that can give your home a little extra sparkle — and help it leap off the page in estate agent listings — it’s a well-designed outdoor space. Whether you’ve got a sprawling garden or a modest patio, treating the outdoors as an extension of your home can add real value, both financially and emotionally. After all, buyers don’t just fall in love with bricks and mortar; they fall in love with lifestyles. And nothing sells the dream faster than the idea of sipping rosé in a sunny nook, cooking pizzas in the fresh air, or curling up on an outdoor sofa under twinkling fairy lights.
So, how do you take a perfectly nice garden and give it that bit of pizzazz that makes potential buyers say, “Wow, I could see myself living here”? Read on!
Start with shelter: verandas, pergolas and covered areas
One of the best ways to get the most out of your outdoor space is to make sure it works in more than just perfect weather. A veranda, pergola or even a simple canopy instantly adds structure, shade and a sense of occasion. It frames the space, making it feel like an outdoor “room” rather than just a patch of paving.
Picture this: you’re sitting under a timber pergola draped with climbing roses, or maybe under a sleek, louvred roof that adjusts with the sun. The rain might be tapping down, but you’re still outside, coffee in hand, enjoying the garden without having to sprint for cover. Buyers clock that straight away — it turns a fair-weather patio into a year-round living space, which is always a win.
Create inviting nooks and corners
Not every garden needs to shout for attention. Sometimes it’s the quieter spots that win hearts. A tucked-away reading nook beneath a tree, or a little bistro set in a sunny corner, can add real charm. These “zones” help buyers imagine how they’d use the space — a morning coffee here, a lazy afternoon lounger there, and perhaps a cosy corner for evening drinks.
By creating these mini escapes, even smaller gardens can feel bigger and more versatile. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to show off a little corner of their garden designed purely for sipping G&Ts at sunset?
Add a summerhouse or garden building
A purpose-built summerhouse can be the jewel of any outdoor space. Unlike a shed (which, let’s face it, tends to be full of spiders and things you meant to fix three years ago), a summerhouse feels like an extension of the home. It can be a quiet retreat, a stylish home office, or even a chill space for teenagers.
From a buyer’s point of view, it’s a whole extra “room” they weren’t expecting — and that extra utility is a huge selling point. Even a modest structure, painted in fresh colours and styled with some outdoor furniture, can completely transform how a garden is perceived.
Make undercover seating a priority
British weather is a fickle friend, which is why undercover seating is such a clever addition. A gazebo, awning or stylish canopy creates a space where you can relax no matter what the skies are up to. Imagine a corner sofa under a canopy, with fairy lights strung overhead and perhaps even a small firepit or heater for cooler evenings. Suddenly, the garden becomes not just a place to dash out to on a sunny day, but a genuine extension of your living space — a space you can use from early spring and through the autumn. Even winter too if you are happy to wrap up!
For buyers, that practicality is a huge tick in the box. It makes the garden look more than decorative; it makes it liveable.
Alfresco cooking: from BBQs to pizza ovens
There’s something undeniably joyful about cooking outside. It’s sociable, it’s fun, and it smells delicious — and it’s exactly the kind of lifestyle feature buyers love to see.
A dedicated BBQ area gives a garden focus and function, and if you really want to turn heads, a pizza oven will do the trick. The thought of wood-fired pizzas on a warm summer evening instantly conjures memories of holidays abroad, even if you’re only 25 miles from London! Add a tiled splashback or a bit of prep space, and suddenly you’ve got the beginnings of a proper outdoor kitchen.
You don’t need to go all out with sinks and fridges (though if you do, more power to you). Even a stylish built-in BBQ setup, with a couple of shelves for condiments and a bit of lighting for evening grilling, will make buyers imagine long, happy evenings entertaining friends and family.
Surfaces and flooring: setting the stage
Natural stone or porcelain paving immediately lifts a space, giving it polish and permanence. Porcelain is especially popular these days for its low maintenance and range of finishes, from modern greys to warmer tones.
If you want to inject a bit of personality, patterned tiles or mosaics are a brilliant choice. A splash of Mediterranean colour beneath a bistro table, or a Moroccan-style tiled border, can give your garden that holiday feel. These small touches are often the things buyers remember when they’re comparing properties.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match materials either. A bit of decking flowing into paving, or gravel paths weaving between grass and stone, adds texture and breaks up large areas. It’s not just practical; it’s visually interesting.
Furniture, style and feel
This is where the fun really begins. Outdoor furniture is what turns a garden into a living room under the sky. A chunky sofa with plump cushions makes you want to sit down immediately, while loungers suggest lazy afternoons with a book and a cold drink. Bistro sets are brilliant for small patios or intimate corners, giving that café-on-holiday vibe.
Adding colour through cushions, rugs or throws brings life to the space. Just make sure they’re weather-resistant, because soggy cushions aren’t exactly a selling point. Lighting is equally important — string lights, lanterns, and solar spots create an atmosphere that lasts into the evening. The idea is to make viewers think: “Yes, I can see myself out here, glass in hand, enjoying this.”
Different looks to inspire
The beauty of outdoor design is that it can be tailored to different styles and moods.
If you’re going for a Mediterranean retreat, think terracotta pots, mosaic tiles, wrought-iron furniture and fragrant plants like lavender or rosemary. It’s cheerful, sun-drenched and instantly reminds people of holidays.
Prefer something sleek? A modern, minimal-luxe look with porcelain tiles, a grey modular sofa, and a simple firepit will give your garden that designer edge.
For something cosier, a rustic cottage vibe with wild planting, chunky wooden furniture, and maybe a timber summerhouse will make the garden feel warm and homely.
And for those who love to entertain, an all-weather party zone complete with a veranda, heaters, and a full outdoor kitchen will make guests feel they’re at the best garden party in town.
Practical tips
Of course, it’s not all about looks. There are a few practicalities worth keeping in mind:
Weatherproofing: Opt for furniture and fabrics that can cope with rain, frost and UV. Waterproof cushions and rot-resistant materials are a must in the UK.
Drainage: Make sure patios and decking slope slightly away from the house so water doesn’t pool.
Maintenance: Buyers love low-maintenance gardens. Porcelain tiles, hardy plants and durable finishes are all worth considering.
Flow and zoning: Think about how people will move through the garden, and how each zone connects. Cooking areas near dining spots, quiet nooks away from the bustle.
Budget wisely: Pick your showstopper — maybe a pizza oven, a veranda, or statement furniture — and let other features play a supporting role.
Why it pays off when selling
Investing a bit of time, imagination and budget into your outdoor space doesn’t just make it nicer to live in now; it also pays off when you’re ready to sell. Striking outdoor photos make your listing stand out online. Buyers see lifestyle as well as bricks. And when a property has that elusive “wow factor” outside, it often moves up their shortlist far quicker.
Ultimately, you’re not just selling a home. You’re selling Sunday afternoons in a hammock, Friday nights with friends around the BBQ, and lazy summer evenings under fairy lights. And that’s the kind of emotional pull that can make all the difference.
Final thoughts
So, if you want to add some real pizzazz to your home, don’t neglect the garden. A veranda here, a pizza oven there, a scattering of mosaics or a cosy nook, and suddenly your outdoor space isn’t just a bonus — it’s a star attraction. Done right, it can tip the balance between a polite “nice house” and an enthusiastic “we have to have this one!”.
After all, anyone can offer four walls and a roof. But offering a lifestyle that feels like a holiday at home? Now that’s how you stand out on the market.
At The Home Shapers, our purpose is to help families negotiate fully preparing a home for sale, before it becomes overwhelming, as well as to speed up the time it takes to get a property to market.
We are experienced at making both inside and outside looks their best, so if you are keen to hear more about how we can help, please click here to get in touch - we are always willing to talk through how we can ease your journey.