A good garden design brief is the single most useful thing you can give your designer. It tells them what you want, how you live, what your garden does well, what it does badly, and where your budget sits. The clearer your brief, the faster the design process moves and the closer the finished result will be to what you had in mind.
You do not need to write a formal document. A few honest notes covering these eight areas will give your designer everything they need to start.
1. Understand Your Garden First
Before thinking about what you want the garden to become, note down what it is right now. Which direction does it face? Where does the sun fall at different times of day? Is the soil heavy clay, sandy, chalky or something in between? Does water drain away quickly or pool in certain areas after rain? Are there any existing trees, hedges or structures you want to keep?
These are the conditions your designer will work with. Knowing them upfront saves time and prevents designs that look beautiful on paper but do not suit the reality of your site.
2. Define What You Want the Garden to Do
image credit: Eco Rooms
This is the most important part of the brief. Not what the garden should look like, but what it needs to do. How you use the space determines the layout, the surfaces, the planting and the features.
Think about whether you need outdoor dining space for regular entertaining. Whether the children need somewhere safe to play that is visible from the kitchen. Whether you want a quiet corner away from the house for reading or sitting. Whether low maintenance is a priority because weekends are already full. Whether you want to grow food, attract wildlife, or simply have a garden that looks good without demanding your time.
Be honest. If you are never going to mow a lawn, say so. If you want a fire pit but your partner thinks they are a waste of space, mention both views. The brief is where real life meets the design, and the more truthful it is, the better the outcome. Our article on integrating a children’s play area covers the family garden angle in more detail if that is relevant to you.
3. Gather Inspiration
Save images of gardens, materials, planting and features that appeal to you. Pinterest, Instagram and our garden design portfolio are all good sources. You do not need to know exactly why you like something. Your designer can read the common threads across your saved images and translate them into a design direction.
If you have already started a Pinterest board, our guide on creating a Pinterest board for your garden project has tips on how to organise it so your designer can get the most from it.
It is just as useful to note things you definitely do not want. If you hate artificial grass, decking or a particular style, say so. Knowing what to avoid is as valuable as knowing what to aim for.
4. Set Your Budget
image credit: House Designer
Your designer needs to know your budget, even if it is approximate. Without a figure, they cannot make informed decisions about materials, planting density or the scope of the project. A garden designed without a budget in mind will either underwhelm (because the designer played it safe) or overwhelm (because the build quote comes back at twice what you expected).
Be realistic about what the budget covers. The total cost of a garden project includes the design fee, materials, landscaping labour, planting, furniture, lighting and any specialist work like drainage or electrical installation. Our guide to garden designer costs can help you calibrate expectations.
5. Be Specific About Must-Haves
image credit: House Designer
Separate the things you absolutely need from the things that would be nice to have. A fire pit might be essential for how you want to use the garden. Raised beds for vegetables might be a dream but not a dealbreaker. A water feature might be lovely but not worth sacrificing seating space for.
Giving your designer a clear priority list means they can allocate the budget and space to the things that matter most to you, and suggest where to compromise if needed.
6. Share Your Style Preferences
Your garden should feel like it belongs to the same home as your interior. If your house is modern and minimal, a traditional cottage garden outside will feel disconnected. If your interior is warm and characterful, a stark contemporary garden will clash.
Tell your designer about the style of your home and the interiors you have chosen. If you are not sure how to describe your style, our garden design styles guide covers the main approaches, and our style quiz can help you narrow it down.
7. Think About the Practical Details
These are the things that are easy to overlook but can cause real problems if they are not addressed early.
- Access: Can landscapers get materials and equipment into the garden? Is there side access or does everything need to come through the house?
- Drainage: Does water sit on the surface after rain? Are there any damp areas or springs?
- Privacy: Are you overlooked by neighbours or upper-floor windows? Do you need screening in specific areas? Our privacy planting guide covers the options.
- Services: Where do water pipes, drains, gas lines and electricity cables run? These limit where you can dig and build.
- Neighbours: Are there party wall considerations? Shared boundaries? Trees with preservation orders?
8. Put It Together
Your brief does not need to be a polished document. A page of notes, a list of priorities, a folder of saved images and an honest conversation with your designer is all it takes. The more your designer understands about how you live, what you value and what your garden needs to do, the better the design will be.
Ready to Start Your Garden Project?
image credit: House Designer
Once your brief is ready, our garden design process takes it from there. We start with a consultation where we talk through your notes, ask questions and make sure we understand your vision. From there, we produce layout plans, planting schemes and 3D visuals that bring your brief to life.
Our garden design packages cover everything from planting plans to full garden redesigns. Book a free consultation to get started.