Spring Garden Glow Up on a Budget 2026
We’ve all got one area in our gardens that needs some attention ready for the warmer months ahead. Well, this is mine. The neglected side return of our Victorian semi. It feels damp, unloved and uninviting and I would really love to give it a glow up in preparation for spending more time outdoors.
If you’ve got a neglected area, these are some of the tips and hacks I’ve used that might suit you too, particularly if you’re on a budget.
Side Return Before
I’m rather embarrassed to show this to be honest. But in the spirit of honesty, this is the side return outside our back door as we come out of the Winter. It’s not seen much love for a few years as we’ve concentrated on other parts of the garden, but stepping out of the house to this has become rather depressing.
The bin store wasn’t being used properly and was a little broken. No one ever put the washing line away. Plants had died. Cardboard and rubbish was just stored here rather than be recycled. It had become an ugly walkway to the rest of the garden that made my heart sink every day.
Time to get to work and make it look more loved. I had a few things to consider:
Garden upgrades that add hard surfaces or change ground levels often touch the same garden drainage and surface water considerations that planning authorities scrutinise on extensions and new builds in flood-affected boroughs.
Luckily we’re safe with both the patio and flood risk.
Let me show you the end result and then explain what I’ve done – in just a couple of weekends, with a small budget.
Spring Garden Glow Up: After
This is how the side return now looks after its little glow up. I’m thrilled with it; it’s so much more inviting, pleasing to look at and has a small coffee area where I can sit in the mornings enjoying the peace and quiet before work and family take over.
And it’s proof that refreshing a neglected garden area doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
Seating Area
This is the Porto Bistro Set from very.co.uk and retails at £113, a very reasonable price for a well-made, sturdy set that will definitely stand the test of time. I’ve kept the look quite minimal but you could also add some cushions for extra comfort if you wanted a more ‘lounging’ experience.
I’ve paired it with the Kamina Outdoor rug again from very.co.uk for just £35.
Adding a good, practical set of garden furniture to your outdoor space allows you to really embrace the area, use it to its full extent, and of course, give you a stylish area to relax, unwind and escape the rigours of the day,
Adding Plants
This part of a garden glow up can start to become more expensive, particularly if you’ve a larger area to fill, or want the space to feel lush and leafy.
These are some of the hacks I’ve used to keep costs down.
- Use what you have. The large acer was positioned in another part of the garden so we moved it here as a focal plant point to give colour and impact.
- Visit your local plant fairs. We have one locally at our school and village where independent sellers set up stall. I bought herbs, hostas and more, getting great advice on filling this shady area. The plants were great value and quality too.
- Split existing plants. I had a few old hostas in another part of the garden that I dug up and split, giving me 4 new hostas for this area at absolutely no cost. I also found a fern growing through the fence (!) so I dug it up and potted it, saving a good £5 on the refresh.
- Pots and planters are another expense. I rummaged in our storage area and shed finding a few neglected terracotta and plastic pots, then put them to good use. I also bought a few more at our local auction and picked up a few that neighbours didn’t need.
- Herbs are easy and practical. I found an old sage plant in the garden and took a cutting, rescued a dying rosemary and picked up a few more herbs from the plant sale. The area outside my back door now feels like a true kitchen garden.
- Bedding plants add instant colour. It’s a great time of year to grab some inexpensive bedding plants – buy baby plants and nurture them – and soon you’ll have wonderful colour and fragrance.
Add Garden Decor and Lighting
It’s easy to add the pots and plants but an area like this needs garden decor ideas too, so it feels more complete.
To make the space more usable in the evenings, I’ve added Bubble Solar Lights (£20) along the fence for an evening glow (they even have different settings) and a Set of 3 Garden Lanterns (£35) for a stylish and practical finish.
I’m thrilled with the result. It’s a world away from where I started a few weeks ago and was good fun to do. I now feel inspired to step outside and enjoy this neglected walkway that now feels like it has a purpose.
There’s more I can do and I’m now motivated to continue revamping this area, adding more pots and plants, more herbs and lighting so the whole family can enjoy the space in the Spring and Summer months to come.
If you have a side return, I’d love to know how you’ve used it, especially when it’s shady like ours.
