Fun Houzz: 11 Gorgeous Garden Retreats for the Creatively Inclined
Finally finish that novel, opera or oil painting you’ve been working on by drawing inspiration from these peaceful retreats
Writers and artists have always been inspired by the world around them, and the secure yet mysterious beauty of gardens have been no exception. Creative souls of all kinds have always sought refuge and inspiration in the calming, serene and otherworldly atmosphere of their own outdoor spaces. Gardens have also held a mythological fascination for all cultures around the world, with the archetypal Garden of Eden (appearing, in some form, in both Western and Eastern mythologies) setting the foundation.
It’s therefore no wonder that gardens have been an integral part of many artists’ creative processes. Virginia Woolf wrote major parts of all her masterpieces, including Mrs Dalloway and The Waves, in a little shed at the far end of her garden at Monk’s House, Sussex. Claude Monet famously immortalised the ethereal lily ponds of his garden in Giverny in many of his paintings. Roald Dahl’s vine-covered writing hut in his garden in Great Missenden was surrounded by flowering fruit trees, which cocooned his writing haven in lush greenery.
So take a break from your usual routine and have a peek at these green hideaways and retreats that are perfect for gathering inspiration and rediscovering creativity.
It’s therefore no wonder that gardens have been an integral part of many artists’ creative processes. Virginia Woolf wrote major parts of all her masterpieces, including Mrs Dalloway and The Waves, in a little shed at the far end of her garden at Monk’s House, Sussex. Claude Monet famously immortalised the ethereal lily ponds of his garden in Giverny in many of his paintings. Roald Dahl’s vine-covered writing hut in his garden in Great Missenden was surrounded by flowering fruit trees, which cocooned his writing haven in lush greenery.
So take a break from your usual routine and have a peek at these green hideaways and retreats that are perfect for gathering inspiration and rediscovering creativity.
A tucked-away garden shed
Garden sheds surrounded by lush shrubs and flowers provide the perfect hideaway for any artistic endeavour. It’s therefore no surprise that a wide spectrum of writers and artists have sought refuge in the humble garden shed in order to complete their masterworks.
The little veranda in this powder-blue hut is a lovely addition that invites you to take a break outside with a cup of coffee, surrounded by the relaxing scent of wild lavender, and feel a little less pessimistic about the state of the world around you.
Perfect for… Writing your personal aesthetic manifesto.
Explore 10 garden sheds with real appeal
Garden sheds surrounded by lush shrubs and flowers provide the perfect hideaway for any artistic endeavour. It’s therefore no surprise that a wide spectrum of writers and artists have sought refuge in the humble garden shed in order to complete their masterworks.
The little veranda in this powder-blue hut is a lovely addition that invites you to take a break outside with a cup of coffee, surrounded by the relaxing scent of wild lavender, and feel a little less pessimistic about the state of the world around you.
Perfect for… Writing your personal aesthetic manifesto.
Explore 10 garden sheds with real appeal
A secret alcove
Gardens are often associated with the concepts of purity, isolation and abundance. This secluded retreat blooming with wildflowers creates the ideal, distraction-free space in which to get lost in your writing and spend hours observing the intertwined branches around you.
Perfect for… Finally finishing that collection of free-verse poems about the tragically short lifespan of the mayfly.
Gardens are often associated with the concepts of purity, isolation and abundance. This secluded retreat blooming with wildflowers creates the ideal, distraction-free space in which to get lost in your writing and spend hours observing the intertwined branches around you.
Perfect for… Finally finishing that collection of free-verse poems about the tragically short lifespan of the mayfly.
A lonely pond
American transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau had the right idea with Walden Pond, the seminal retreat in Walden, his manifesto on self-reliance. A lonely lily pond surrounded by lush, wild maidengrass and fresh meadow flowers is the ideal place to enjoy a moment of self-reflection and undisturbed serenity.
Perfect for… Painting a four-part neo-Impressionist series on the effects of light on bodies of water.
American transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau had the right idea with Walden Pond, the seminal retreat in Walden, his manifesto on self-reliance. A lonely lily pond surrounded by lush, wild maidengrass and fresh meadow flowers is the ideal place to enjoy a moment of self-reflection and undisturbed serenity.
Perfect for… Painting a four-part neo-Impressionist series on the effects of light on bodies of water.
A haven among the bushes
Sometimes, a simple chair and table set among freely growing shrubs and bushes is the best no-frills space to achieve some peace of mind and creative inspiration. Discreetly nestled among the garden’s greenery, this little seating area is ideal for undisturbed work.
Perfect for… Completing a critical essay on the role of satire in 20th century Mongolian poetry.
Sometimes, a simple chair and table set among freely growing shrubs and bushes is the best no-frills space to achieve some peace of mind and creative inspiration. Discreetly nestled among the garden’s greenery, this little seating area is ideal for undisturbed work.
Perfect for… Completing a critical essay on the role of satire in 20th century Mongolian poetry.
A harmonious pavilion
A Japanese-inspired garden is the quintessential Zen space. A warmly lit pavilion set among a peaceful koi carp pond and small, winding paths create a beautifully serene space in which to let the mind wander unencumbered and allow creative impulses to flow freely.
Perfect for… Composing a modern sequel to Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly.
A Japanese-inspired garden is the quintessential Zen space. A warmly lit pavilion set among a peaceful koi carp pond and small, winding paths create a beautifully serene space in which to let the mind wander unencumbered and allow creative impulses to flow freely.
Perfect for… Composing a modern sequel to Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly.
A mysterious courtyard
The intertwined branches of the arch leading into this hidden courtyard create an air of both mystery and beauty. Hidden in the far recesses of the secluded garden, a lone bench beckons you to settle down among the leafy shrubbery and use the oddly melancholy atmosphere to your artistic advantage.
Perfect for… Finishing your carbon illustrations based on Edgar Allan Poe’s collected stories.
The intertwined branches of the arch leading into this hidden courtyard create an air of both mystery and beauty. Hidden in the far recesses of the secluded garden, a lone bench beckons you to settle down among the leafy shrubbery and use the oddly melancholy atmosphere to your artistic advantage.
Perfect for… Finishing your carbon illustrations based on Edgar Allan Poe’s collected stories.
A Hellenic homage
Nestled among stately cypress trees and well-manicured juniper shrubs, this neoclassical gazebo invites you to escape from the everyday and find your very own personal muse in this abundant green landscape.
Perfect for… Writing an epic prose poem in homage to Homer.
Nestled among stately cypress trees and well-manicured juniper shrubs, this neoclassical gazebo invites you to escape from the everyday and find your very own personal muse in this abundant green landscape.
Perfect for… Writing an epic prose poem in homage to Homer.
A Bohemian backyard
Sometimes, wonderful things happen when you add cosy, slightly whimsical touches to a flowering garden. The result is a creative, open space complete with a hammock, Tibetan prayer flags and colourful blankets amid bushes and trees. This is the ideal space both for holding a group discussion on the role of interpretive dance in modern society and for pursuing your own creative projects in blissful solitude.
Perfect for… Creating a surrealist oil painting based on your nap-time dreams.
Discover how to throw the perfect garden party
Sometimes, wonderful things happen when you add cosy, slightly whimsical touches to a flowering garden. The result is a creative, open space complete with a hammock, Tibetan prayer flags and colourful blankets amid bushes and trees. This is the ideal space both for holding a group discussion on the role of interpretive dance in modern society and for pursuing your own creative projects in blissful solitude.
Perfect for… Creating a surrealist oil painting based on your nap-time dreams.
Discover how to throw the perfect garden party
A hideaway in the canopy
The best way to get away from everything is to literally rise above it all. A hidden tree house, whether small or more generous in size, would be an ideal place in which to regain perspective, escape the oppressions of routine, and be inspired by the sight of the wind gently blowing through the overhanging branches.
Perfect for… Developing a post-colonial reading of the representation of Tarzan in popular culture.
The best way to get away from everything is to literally rise above it all. A hidden tree house, whether small or more generous in size, would be an ideal place in which to regain perspective, escape the oppressions of routine, and be inspired by the sight of the wind gently blowing through the overhanging branches.
Perfect for… Developing a post-colonial reading of the representation of Tarzan in popular culture.
A regal escape
Dense and abundant climbing plants create a canopy across this wrought iron gazebo, thus providing the perfect coverage as you gaze across the manicured lawns and paths spread out around you. A cup of tea is all that’s needed to create a gloriously elegant and secluded writer’s haven in an otherwise open garden.
Perfect for… Completing a scathingly satirical play on gender dynamics in Edwardian society.
TELL US…
Do you like to retreat to the outdoors for creative inspiration? Share your favourite inspirational spots in the Comments below.
Dense and abundant climbing plants create a canopy across this wrought iron gazebo, thus providing the perfect coverage as you gaze across the manicured lawns and paths spread out around you. A cup of tea is all that’s needed to create a gloriously elegant and secluded writer’s haven in an otherwise open garden.
Perfect for… Completing a scathingly satirical play on gender dynamics in Edwardian society.
TELL US…
Do you like to retreat to the outdoors for creative inspiration? Share your favourite inspirational spots in the Comments below.
The lavender wisteria and powder blue gates, coupled with a barely there arch, make this retreat feel particularly hidden and protected. The warming sunlight and bright colours keep the space cheery and energetic, perfect for whiling away a productive and creative summer afternoon.
Perfect for… Completing that 19th century romance novel set in Provence.