24 Relaxing Garden Nooks Far From the Madding Crowd

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If you’re craving a secret garden spot to rest and dream, these ideas are for you. These home garden nooks are perfect for reading, resting, and dreaming.

For more also see 25 Planter Ideas for Porches and Front Gardens.

Inviting Outdoor Seating Areas

Lounge chair in a flower-filled garden nook.

Whenever I go on home garden tours, I’m looking for ideas. Along with interesting plant combinations and garden art, sitting areas top the list.

What’s a beautiful garden without somewhere to sit and dream?

Not that I plan to do that while visiting gardens, but there’s something about a seating area that makes a garden an outdoor home.

Some seating areas are purely decorative, using furniture that would be neither cozy nor encourage napping.

Others go for complete comfort, setting a perfect scene for a good book and better nap.

Have a look and see which ones you like best. The one at the top of the post (which you’ll see again from another viewpoint at the end of this post), is probably my favorite. Comfortable, secluded, surrounded by sweet smelling flowers. Oh ya.

1Lounge Chairs with Umbrella

This country garden had a blue theme running throughout it.

Taupe lounge chairs in the garden with blue pillows and an overhead sun umbrella.

This lounge chairs are in a garden where blue is used as a theme color throughout the space.

2Old Fashion Front Porch

There’s nothing like the shade of a nice big porch on summer day.

Large covered porch with seating area — Large Victorian porch with seating area

3Garden Deck with Treasures

This garden was on a rural tour. It was quite unexpected to find so many plants and treasures on this deck next to the woods.

Garden terrace with bistro set, potted plants, and decor — Bistro set surrounded by potted plants and wall decor

4Covered Patio with Outdoor Kitchen

Lovely covered patio and how nice to have the cooking area built in with a sink and fridge.

Related: Gallery of Garden Art Easels

5Tree Branch Bench

This bench is made from lumber and tree branches. I’m not sure if it’s sturdy enough for humans but it definitely looks pretty with the red flowers.

6Deck with Shade Lattice

I’m not a big fan of gazebos. I think they are too pricey and offer an awkward sitting area. But some gardeners dream of them so who am I to judge?

7Deck with Blue Theme

This bench provides storage along with a place to sit.

Garden storage bench with blue decor — Garden storage bench with cushions

70 Gallon Storage Deck Bench | Amazon

8Front Porch Gathering Spot

It’s rare to see houses with nice deep porches with enough room to gather—but this one is perfect.

Front porch gathering spot with chairs and plants

Related: Turn a Birdbath into a Planter

9Red Chairs by Garden Pond

The choice of red for the chairs turns the sitting area into a lovely focal point next to the pond.

Backyard pond with red Adirondack chairs. — Backyard pond with red Adirondack chairs

10Open Deck with Modern Chairs

This deck has a modern vibe with the curved chairs and bright green cushions.

Open backyard deck with modern style chairs — Modern deck chairs

11Rustic Shed with Long Bench

Rustic log shed with outdoor chairs and long bench — Long garden bench, table, and chair by rustic shed

12Flagstone Patio

This garden is in a small town. The owner bought the property just a few years earlier and transformed it from plain to wonderful.

Yellow and blue make a strong, cheerful color combination.

Flagstone patio with yellow chairs around table and blue decorative accent pieces — Colorful patio with yellow chairs and blue accent pieces

13Pool-Side Patio with Wicker Chairs

If you’re going to keep your patio cushions outside, be sure to get water-resistant ones like these ones.

Wicker patio set with colorful flower planter

14Bistro Table and Chairs

I don’t know if you tell from the photo, but the flowerpot is decoupaged with butterflies and wildflowers. Delightful!

You can get one-of-a-kind flowerpots like this on Etsy.

Black metal bistro set with two chairs and table. — Black bistro set with two chairs

15Covered Patio with Outdoor Kitchen

Lovely covered patio and how nice to have the cooking area built in with a sink and fridge.

Related: Gallery of Garden Art Easels

16Garden Bench with Sun Cover

I think this sun cover is calling out for vines!

17Wood Chairs in Shade

This looks like the perfect spot to admire the garden and catch up on a good book.

Old wood chairs with dog statues in garden — Old wood chairs with dog statues

18Wicker Chairs on Porch

The designer who owns this home kept to a black/white/grey country living style theme.

White wicker chairs on Victorian front porch

19Vine Covered Gazebo

Now that’s a good shady spot!

20Bench on Shady Path

This garden had long winding paths and lots of rest spots along the way with good, solid garden benches.

Garden bench on shady path in woods — Garden bench on shady path in wooded area

Baltic Garden Bench | Amazon

Garden bench with inlaid glass mosaic tiles.

Also see 17 Creative & Rustic Garden Bench Ideas for more ideas.

21Shed Deck with Potted Plants

I’m a big fan of putting collections together for a bigger impact in the garden.

Here they have a nice collection of potted plants plus some old oil cans all painted black.

22Deck with Shade Lattice

If you live in our region (Ontario, Canada), sun cover is essential.

We get hot, humid summer days and there’s no sitting outside unless you have a shady spot like this.

Large lattice-covered outdoor patio area — Lattice-covered outdoor patio area

23Front Porch with Garden

This garden follows one important rule for great impact: make your borders deep and give plants room to breathe and grow.

Front porch with chairs surrounded by plants — Large garden bed surrounding front porch

24Large Covered Patio with Wisteria

Always make your deck or patio bigger than you think you need.

Often people plan for a patio table and chairs but don’t think about having room to sit together and chat or move around.

While I’m ranting, porches on newer houses are always too small for any meaningful use.

Large patio with wisteria growing overhead — Large covered patio with wisteria

Beware: American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) is invasive in some regions.

25Reading Nook

And here we are back at my favorite little outdoor nook from all of the garden tours.

Time to catch up on a book and have a nap.

Resources

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