Create a beautiful garden sanctuary with country cottage chic

Tamsyn Morgans shares her gorgeous vintage styling ideas for your outdoor space, to create a relaxing summer retreat

Summertime in the garden is all about finding quiet moments to relax, or just to daydream and while away the afternoon in a secret sanctuary surrounded by nature. To kick off your shoes and feel the grass between your toes, to listen to birdsong, or smell the sweet scent of rose or jasmine, perhaps.

Here are some ideas for creating your own special garden retreat, inspired by the timeless chic of country cottage gardens.

Reading spot

For a new take on garden furniture, take your chintziest pieces outdoors. I’ve gone for a full whimsical living room setup here complete with floral lampshade, but you could get the same effect by making some pretty floral slings for deckchairs.

You can scour vintage markets, car-boot fairs and auctions for chintzy chairs. I find all my lampshades at car-boot fairs, but take a look at The Lampshade Loft for some gorgeous handmade ones.

Room with a view

If, like me, you’re lucky enough to have a small summerhouse, then make it a sanctuary and decorate it as you would any other room. I’ve styled mine on a shoestring: the daybed is made from parts of my old sofa, and the side table created simply from an old steamer trunk revamped with a lick of paint and a marble worktop found on eBay.

The vintage eiderdown is from The Old Haberdashery, while the wire basket was sourced at Arthur Swallow Fairs.

Pretty as a picnic

Pick a beautiful backdrop and create a lavish picnic setting in your own garden. Make a cosy spot using vintage cushions, blankets and quilts, and fill a hamper with pretty crockery for homemade cake and sandwiches.

Look on eBay or Etsy for floral cushions, or source some Sanderson fabric from The Linen Garden and make your own. I’ve rolled up a vintage eiderdown and used it as a bolster – you can find similar-style ones at Decorative Country Living. The wicker basket is from The Vintage Kitchen Store, who have an amazing range of vintage picnic sets and hampers.

Romantic canopy

Hang a simple net canopy under a tree to make a wonderful shady outdoor reading spot. I’ve customised mine by adding a fabric pelmet with bunting made from pretty vintage material, and stitched the net on to a hoop. Pile blankets and cushions over the lawn and enjoy the summer breeze with a good book.

The canopy is made from IKEA’s Bryne net. If you’re looking for vintage textiles, Vintage Home is a wonderful place to find gorgeous quilts and fabric for handmade projects.