We all love taking a vacation in the summer, especially when it features sitting by a cabin and enjoying the view of a big blue lake. This year things are a little different, and we might not be able to get away. But that doesn't mean we can't give ourselves a relaxing staycation at home in the garden and on the patio!

If you long for the cool forest shade, uncomplicated mountain air and doing nothing but listening to the ferns rustle...then we've got ideas for you! Take a look at our tips and inspiration for creating a cabin inspired rustic patio that you can enjoy this summer with your family!

Start with some ferns!

Nothing sets the mood for a rustic cabin feeling more than lush green ferns, overflowing around the patio! Something about their long fronds and beautiful colouring immediately relaxes us and makes the whole area feel cooler, even in the summer heat!

Ferns generally enjoy shade, so you can line the house-side of your patio with these beauties, or tuck them behind larger pots. Keep their soil moist, by watering them once the top inch gets dry, and they'll keep you company all summer long.

Easy natural pots

Pots and containers made from natural materials fit into a rustic theme, and especially look great out on the patio! The best part is that you don't necessarily have to do a lot of repotting! If you choose baskets and crates that are larger than your pots, you can simply plop your pots inside and save yourself a lot of time (that you could spend kickin' back with a cold drink). 

Light up the magic

Lanterns, candles and strings of lights will add a bit of magic to your patio! It also gives you an excuse to stay out a bit later, even after enjoying the sunset! Rustic lanterns made of wood, worn metals or tin fit into a rustic theme easily.

Even plain candles, safely lit on a solid table, will make you feel like you're at a cabin in the middle of nowhere! You can also try hanging strings of outdoor lights all around the patio for a magical effect.

Adding Edibles

Half of a vacation is about snacking, and what's better than freshly picked, tasty treats? Planting small berry bushes in large pots on the patio will give you beautiful foliage (possibly even shade or privacy, if it grows tall enough) and with the added bonus of snacking potential! You can also try growing tomatoes, herbs and veggies - perfect for the grill! (Watch our DIY herb garden video here)

Refreshing water features

It might be too far to hike to reach a waterfall, but you can create your own at home! Adding in a water feature, no matter its size, will create a peaceful soundscape of falling, or trickling, water. Just lean back, close your eyes, and suddenly you're relaxing by a babbling brook or hidden forest falls. Just make sure to bring it in when winter hits!

Keeping it colourful

There's no need to stick with greens, when it comes to your cabin design. Even if you're not a big gardener, you can still create a lovely (and colourful) patio with annuals for the summer.

Coleus, one of our favourites, comes in a wide variety of shades, and will grow all summer long. Choose forest inspired plants, such as hostas, columbine, foxglove and cyclamen. 

                      

Invite all your forest friends!

What's a vacation without some friends? Of course, right now it's a bit hard to invite friends over, but you can still get forest friends to keep you company! Put out bird feeders with different types of seed, to encourage many different kinds of visitors.

A hummingbird feeder will bring you a jewel-coloured companion as well! If birds aren't for you, why not plant a few flowers that will attract gentle (and quiet) butterflies to your sanctuary? Read all about inviting the right wildlife to your garden in our informative article here. 

Just the right touch

For an authentic staycation, it's all in the details! Miniature cedars or evergreen shrubs will give off just the right forest-scent. Then you can delve into the accents, such as adding sticks and branches to your container gardens, or hanging a wreath made from natural materials. Spruce up those planters with stones, fungi pieces, found wood and moss. Just a few little touches around the patio will have a big effect! 

 

Whether you get a chance to head out into the wilds or have to stay in the city, there's no reason you can't create a beautiful, and restful, atmosphere for yourself in your garden or on the patio. Get creative and have fun, then kick back and relax! Looking for an authentic roughing-it treat? Try our favourite s'mores recipes in this blog post over here!