July 3, 2025
.jpg)
A garden renovation or extension can transform your outdoor space, adding value, functionality, and aesthetic appeal to your home. Whether you’re creating an alfresco dining area, building a garden room, or redesigning your landscaping, it’s a chance to enhance your lifestyle and increase your property’s worth. But these projects come with challenges, and homeowners often make avoidable mistakes that cost time, money, and satisfaction. By identifying these errors early, you can plan more efficiently, avoid unnecessary expense, and achieve a result that works well for your home and long-term goals.
Many people begin a garden project with vague goals like “make it more modern” or “have space to entertain,” but without a clear functional plan. A garden, like any other part of your home, should be designed with purpose. Consider how you will use the space: will it be for entertaining guests, growing vegetables, giving children a safe place to play, or housing a home office in a garden room?
Ignoring these specifics can lead to a design that looks good on paper but doesn’t serve your daily needs. Think about things like:
Clarity around these elements leads to better design choices from the outset.
Even relatively minor garden works may require planning permission or compliance with building regulations. Homeowners often assume that because the project is on their own land, they don’t need approval. However, if you’re constructing a permanent structure (like a garden office, summerhouse, or large deck), you may need permission—especially if you're in a conservation area, near listed buildings, or exceeding height limits.
Failing to check local authority requirements can result in costly legal trouble or forced removal of the work. Before committing to any garden building, extension, or major landscaping change, consult your local planning office or a professional with experience in this area.
A garden should be visually appealing, but it must also be practical. A common mistake is prioritising trendy designs or Pinterest-worthy aesthetics that don’t align with the property or climate. For example, opting for extensive water features or tropical plants that struggle in British weather can result in constant maintenance or replacement.
Similarly, selecting high-maintenance materials like polished concrete or certain woods without considering long-term upkeep may lead to deterioration. Always balance design choices with local conditions, ease of care, and how well the look blends with your home’s architecture.
Many homeowners enter a garden renovation or extension project with an unrealistic sense of cost. They might allocate funds for construction or landscaping but forget to include drainage, lighting, heating for garden rooms, or waste removal. Others underestimate the cost of high-quality materials or installation.
A proper budget should include:
Without a clear and realistic budget, people often have to compromise midway through the project or abandon aspects altogether.
Proper drainage is crucial in any outdoor renovation, yet it's often overlooked until after problems arise. Whether you’re laying new patios, extending a garden room, or reshaping the lawn, water must be able to flow away from the house safely. Poor drainage can cause flooding, structural damage, or waterlogged soil that kills plants.
Similarly, understanding your ground conditions—whether you’re working with clay, sand, or chalk—affects foundation requirements, plant selection, and paving stability. Engaging a professional to assess and advise on these issues before work begins can save a lot of future frustration.
Many homeowners assume that a garden renovation is simple enough to manage without professional design advice. While it’s true that some elements can be DIYed, larger or more ambitious projects benefit immensely from input by landscape architects or garden designers.
Designers don’t just make things look pretty—they plan for functionality, manage spatial layout, choose appropriate materials, and anticipate how the garden will evolve with time. A poorly designed extension or garden room can look out of place or reduce the usability of your space.
Professional input can also help create harmony between indoors and outdoors, ensuring the garden complements the home’s character and increases its market appeal.
Many people design their gardens with summer in mind—deck chairs, BBQ areas, and flowerbeds in full bloom. But gardens are year-round spaces. Forgetting to plan for winter use, low-maintenance design in colder months, or how deciduous planting will look in January can lead to a disappointing view for half the year.
Likewise, considering the long-term is crucial. Trees grow, materials weather, and lifestyles change. A garden room used as a playhouse today might become a home office later. Designing with adaptability and future-proofing in mind avoids the need for repeated renovations.
Choosing the wrong builder, landscaper, or installer is one of the most damaging mistakes people make. It’s tempting to go for the lowest quote, but this often comes at the expense of experience, reliability, and quality.
Some key red flags include:
Always check reviews, verify qualifications, and insist on a clear written agreement outlining timelines, deliverables, and payment terms.
Environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly important, yet many garden extensions still ignore it. Removing mature trees, importing non-native plants, or laying down excessive artificial turf can reduce biodiversity and disrupt local ecosystems.
Instead, homeowners should consider:
A garden renovation that works with nature—not against it—will be more resilient, cost-effective, and pleasant to live with in the long run.
Lastly, many garden renovations suffer from over-design. A garden packed with zones, features, and multiple materials can feel chaotic and crowded. Less is often more.
A successful renovation creates flow, balance, and room to breathe. Simplicity, when done with thought, can be more elegant and enjoyable than an overly ambitious or busy design. Fewer materials, more flexible space, and simple planting schemes often age better and require less maintenance.
In many cases, garden rooms and single-storey extensions fall under permitted development rights, but this depends on size, location, and usage. If you're in a conservation area or building near a boundary, you’ll likely need permission. Always check with your local planning authority.
Costs vary widely based on size, materials, and complexity. Always include contingency and consider long-term maintenance.
You can, especially for simple projects. However, involving a professional can significantly improve the outcome by avoiding common mistakes and ensuring cohesive design. For more complex or permanent changes, it’s strongly recommended.
Late winter to early spring is often ideal, as work can be completed in time to enjoy the space in summer. However, some groundwork and planting are better done in autumn. Availability of contractors can also vary by season.
Check online reviews, ask for references, view their past work, and ensure they’re insured and qualified. Get multiple quotes and never agree to pay in full upfront. A detailed contract should be in place before work starts.
Yes, if done well. Attractive, functional outdoor space is highly desirable, especially in urban or suburban areas. Garden offices, quality landscaping, and good indoor-outdoor flow can all boost appeal and valuation.
A garden renovation or extension can be a major improvement to your home and quality of life, but only when executed with thought, planning, and professional care. The most common mistakes—ranging from poor budgeting and drainage to rushed designs and contractor missteps—are often avoidable with the right preparation.
By taking a step back and planning your project carefully, consulting the right professionals, and considering your long-term goals, you can avoid the pitfalls that catch many homeowners out. The result is a garden space that adds real value, beauty, and function to your home for years to come.
If you’re planning a renovation, extension, or full home transformation, visit our website Milkov & Son Construction to explore our expert services and recent projects. Take the first step toward creating your dream space by contacting us online or calling +44 7951 625853.
