We have a small garden at the back of our terraced house, which we’ve rather neglected. Since we are having a fantastic summer, and we don’t have a large budget, we were thinking of holidaying at home rather than abroad. I wonder if you have any ideas for how we could cheer it up without spending a lot of money?

Although you don’t tell me what you already have in your garden, it sounds as if you are in need of some furniture as well as pots and accessories. So with your budget constraints in mind, let me direct you to Homebase (www.homebase.co.uk), where you will find a range of very acceptable garden furniture at amazingly agreeable prices. Most of it doesn’t have the panache of a designer number, but the price tags make up for it.

The pretty Sorrento round table in glass, aluminium and steel (122cm diameter) is reduced on the website from £129.99 to £99.99, while the round Sophia wicker-effect table is down from £139.99 to just £69.99. There are also some pleasingly plain parasols from £15; add in the base for about the same price and you’ve got some decent shade for just £30.

These are all serviceable, as opposed to stunning, pieces of furniture, so to add some magic, look at Crocus (www.crocus.co.uk), which has a wonderful collection of pots of every kind, and add some tubs and greenery. I love the industrial look of the Geo square planters, which are made of aluminium-effect fibreglass and come in chic steel grey. There are two sizes (60cm high for £89.99 and 80cm high for £119.99), but I’d go for the biggest – a bit of grandeur can perk up a garden no end.

If you would like a more Mediterranean feel, Crocus has lots of terracotta pots, from as little as 99p. The company also has some fantastic Cretan oil jars, which would make stunning focal points, but these are a bit more expensive at £259.99.

Lastly, for magic at night, look to Lakeland (www.lakeland.co.uk), which has some inexpensive and delightful solar butterflies, £29.92, and garden lights, from £5.29.

ask.lucia@thetimes.co.uk

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