Making the Most of Your North-facing Garden: 10 Expert Design Tips

At Shackletons, we’ve helped countless customers transform their north-facing gardens from challenging areas into beautiful outdoor retreats. Our garden furniture experts understand that while north-facing gardens often get a reputation for being too shady or difficult to maintain, they actually offer unique advantages when designed thoughtfully. From our years of experience helping garden enthusiasts across the UK, we’ve compiled these ten expert tips to help you create a stunning north-facing garden that you’ll enjoy throughout the seasons.

1. Choose Shade-Loving Plants

North-facing gardens present an opportunity to cultivate a wide range of beautiful shade-loving plants. At Shackletons, we recommend focusing on varieties naturally adapted to woodland environments:

• Hostas: These leafy perennials offer stunning foliage in various shades of green, blue and cream.
• Ferns: Hardy varieties like the Japanese shield fern or hart’s tongue fern provide lush, year-round structure.
• Astilbe: These produce feathery plumes of flowers in shades of pink, red and white.
• Hydrangeas: Many varieties flourish in shady conditions and provide dramatic blooms.
• Foxgloves: Their tall spires of tubular flowers add vertical interest.

These plants not only survive but thrive in the cooler, shadier conditions of a north-facing garden, creating a lush atmosphere reminiscent of peaceful woodland glades.

2. Opt for Hard Landscaping Instead of Lawns

Grass often struggles in north-facing gardens due to limited sunlight. Instead, we suggest:

• Decking: Creates a warm, inviting surface that’s practical even in damp conditions.
• Gravel: Provides excellent drainage and reflects available light.
• Patio slabs: Offer a low-maintenance solution that stays relatively dry year-round.

These hard landscaping options provide practical surfaces that remain usable throughout the year, without the frustration of trying to maintain a lawn that’s constantly in the shade.

3. Add Loungers and Create a Cool Retreat

The lack of direct sunlight in a north-facing garden can actually be a tremendous advantage during hot summer months. At Shackletons, we help customers create comfortable relaxation areas where you can:

• Read a book without squinting in bright sunshine
• Avoid worrying about sunburn
• Enjoy outdoor time without overheating

The Lifestyle Garden Martinique Grey Companion Set from our Shackletons collection offers the perfect seating solution for these shaded areas. Its comfortable design and strong construction make it ideal for long, relaxing afternoons in your garden’s natural shade.

4. Brighten Your Space with Light Colours

One of the simplest ways to make a north-facing garden feel brighter is through thoughtful colour choices:

• Opt for light-coloured paving that reflects what light is available
• Choose pale furniture that stands out against darker backgrounds
• Use white or cream containers for plants

The Lifestyle Garden Onyx 66cm Round Bistro Set in Green, available at Shackletons, brings a fresh, vibrant touch to shadier spots. Its light structure and bright finish help create a focal point that brightens the entire area.

5. Create a Strategic Outdoor Dining Area

Adding a dining area gives you a daily reason to enjoy your garden. While it might seem counterintuitive, our Shackletons design experts recommend positioning your dining furniture at the rear of a north-facing garden, as this area typically receives more hours of sunlight.

The Lifestyle Garden Solana 6 Seat Stacking Dining Set from Shackletons provides an excellent solution for north-facing garden dining. Its spacious design accommodates family and friends, while its quality construction ensures longevity in varying conditions.

6. Invest in Moveable Furniture Options

North-facing gardens often have pockets of sunlight that move throughout the day. At Shackletons, we recommend lightweight, portable furniture that allows you to:

• Follow sun patches as they travel across your garden
• Adapt your seating arrangement based on the season
• Create different configurations for various activities

7. Choose Versatile Sun Loungers

The Lifestyle Garden Aruba Sun lounger Duo Set from Shackletons offers the perfect solution for those who want to chase the sun in a north-facing garden. These loungers are:

• Lightweight and easy to move around
• Designed for maximum comfort
• Built to withstand various weather conditions

Their versatility allows you to position them precisely where needed, whether that’s catching a brief patch of morning sun or settling into a cosy shaded spot on particularly hot days.

8. Position Key Features at the end of the Garden

The rear boundary of a north-facing garden typically receives the most sunlight. At Shackletons, we advise customers that this makes it the ideal location for:

• Statement furniture pieces from our collection
• Colourful planting displays
• Garden structures like pergolas or archways

By drawing the eye to the brightest part of your garden, you create a sense of depth and make the entire garden feel more inviting.

9. Incorporate Thoughtful Outdoor Lighting

Good lighting is essential in any garden but becomes particularly important in north-facing areas that naturally receive less light. Our Shackletons experts suggest:

• Solar path lights to define walkways
• Uplighters to highlight architectural plants
• String lights to create a magical evening atmosphere
• Wall-mounted lights for dining and seating areas

Strategic lighting not only extends the usability of your garden into the evening but also creates a warm, inviting atmosphere during darker winter months.

10. Develop a Cohesive Colour Scheme

A well-considered colour scheme helps tie together all elements of your north-facing garden:

• Choose a limited palette of complementary colours
• Consider how colours appear in shade (many appear darker)
• Use brighter accents to create focal points
• Ensure year-round interest with evergreen structural plants

At Shackletons, we help customers select furniture finishes that complement their overall garden design, creating a sense of purpose and intentionality that makes north-facing gardens feel like thoughtfully crafted spaces rather than simply shady afterthoughts.

Embracing the Unique Charm of Your North-facing Garden

North-facing gardens offer an opportunity to create a tranquil, cool retreat that provides welcome relief during hot summer months. At Shackletons, we’re passionate about helping our customers discover the potential of these unique spaces. By implementing these design strategies and selecting appropriate furniture from our Lifestyle Garden collection, you can change your shaded area into a garden that’s not just functional but genuinely delightful.

The right combination of shade-loving plants, practical surfaces, and carefully positioned furniture can turn what might initially seem like a challenging aspect into one of your property’s most cherished features. Visit us at Shackletons to explore our full range of garden furniture specifically selected to complement north-facing gardens, where you’ll find durable, stylish pieces designed to make the most of every garden- whatever direction it faces.