Conventional cottage gardens usually feature a lovely lawn and overflowing borders, but it is easy to add your own traditional touches wherever you live. The great thing about this look is that it relies on you reinventing what you have rather than investing in anything new.

You can really transform your garden furniture with Cuprinol Garden Shades. This old hardwood set had weathered over the years but has been brought back to life with a couple of coats of Garden Shades in Country Cream. A chintz umbrella and matching covers really give it a vintage feel!

To go with this look, select traditional cottage style plants and let them run free. Create pathways and patio areas from reclaimed bricks for an authentic rustic design. Re-invent old planters with Garden Shades in Country Cream and fill with an abundance of pink hydrangeas, to blend in with lovingly tended rockeries and flower beds. If you intend to use your garden as a calming retreat, why not paint an arbour in Country Cream and Wild Thyme? Located in a scented garden it will create the perfect sanctuary.

Even functional features such as sheds, stepladders and tools have a place in a country garden. Painted with Garden Shades in Willow, Country Cream and Old English Green, these practical items will add an authentic feel to your makeover.

A couple of coats of Garden Shades in Willow makes this old shed subtle enough to fit in with the rest of the garden. Don't just treat the outside of your shed - why not transform the inside of a garden building as well?

A country garden is a place for the whole family to while away a summer afternoon, so it's a good idea to incorporate a fun feature for the kids. Little ones will love a traditional wooden swing protected with Garden Shades in Wild Thyme.

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