Garden Designer Therese Andersen:

It is tempting to get started right away. But the most important thing you can do is wait a little.

Live with your garden through all four seasons.
See where the morning sun falls while you are having breakfast.
Notice where it feels sheltered when the wind picks up.
Pay attention to where you actually spend time – and where you simply walk past.

Think practically about your everyday life:
Do you want a breakfast spot in the morning sun – or a long table in the evening sun with friends?
How many seating areas do you really need?
Do the children need a place to play?
Where will bicycles be stored – and where will waste be collected?

Also take a look at what is already there:
The terrain, privacy, wind conditions, existing vegetation, and the architecture of the house.

Some things can be adjusted over time.
But sunlight, wind conditions, and how you actually use the garden are much harder to change later.

That is why it pays to position the most important elements correctly from the start –
and instead choose solutions, such as slate laid in loose aggregate, that give you the flexibility to adjust details as your needs evolve.

A good garden does not start with what you want to build – it starts with how you actually live.