Every summer, garden designer Therese Andersén leaves her garden on Lidingö for several weeks.

– I go to the summer house and leave the garden behind.

When she returns, it is still green, lush and sheltered.

– I do not have an irrigation system or anything at all. It gets whatever rain comes.

That is not a coincidence.

The garden is planned to function without constant attention – both in terms of plants and materials.

The basic principle is well known: the right plant in the right place.

But in this garden, the idea has been expanded:

– How do you actually live?

There is little point in choosing plants that thrive in the soil if they do not fit into everyday life.

– Many people want a low-maintenance garden. Then you need to plan for that from the very beginning.

Here, that means robust plants that can tolerate dry periods, little supervision and natural variations in weather.

At the same time, it is important to think long term.

– What you plant today should still work in ten years.

Offerdal flagstones have been used throughout the outdoor space as a consistent material.

– I almost always work with natural materials. They last a long time and require very little maintenance.

Slate withstands frost, rain and temperature fluctuations without treatment. It remains stable year after year and requires nothing in return.

At the same time, it provides a calm, neutral foundation.

Slate is a harmonious material that allows plants, pots and furniture to stand out more clearly.

Pots are one of the most important design elements in the garden.

– Pots are a simple element that I use a lot.

On a slate-paved surface, they are used to frame seating areas, create zones and soften hard surfaces.

They can be moved, grouped and varied over time.

– You can work with different sizes, shapes and materials, or gather several together in groups.

This makes the outdoor space flexible – and easier to adapt without rebuilding.

Even in a small space, it is possible to create clearly defined areas.

In this garden, a pergola provides structure and definition. With climbing plants and grapevines, the outdoor space gains a green roof and a more sheltered character.

Together with the planting and pots, it creates the feeling of sitting in a room – not just on a surface.

This is particularly important in small gardens, where vertical elements can create a sense of space without taking up much room.

One of the most striking elements is an oval marble table.

The table has been brought out from the interior of the house and acts as a link between indoors and outdoors.

– It creates a more furnished and cohesive feeling.

The material and shape mean that the table is not only functional, but also a clear design feature in the garden.

This is a deliberate choice:

With a neutral slate foundation, furniture, pots and textiles can have more character.

The garden is not strict or perfect.

– I let it be a little untidy.

That creates both a more natural expression and less need for maintenance.

– Not everything needs to be so carefully controlled.

When a garden is allowed to be a little freer, it also copes better with periods without care.

– The goal is not for it to be perfect all the time, but for it to work.

For Therese, a good garden is about more than how it looks.

It has to withstand weather, use and periods away from home – and suit the life that is actually being lived.

When the plants are chosen correctly, the materials require little maintenance, and the outdoor space is furnished with flexible solutions, you get a garden that works.

Even when you are not there.