Homebase Encourages Brits To Create A Summer Garden Sanctuary

• A third of UK adults feel overwhelmed as their social calendars fill up ahead of Freedom Day
  
  
• Four out of five adults (78%) have turned down plans due to feeling anxious
  
  
• Nine in 10 adults (88%) believe having a space to escape to when feeling overwhelmed is important and a quarter head straight to their garden

Ahead of Freedom Day, Homebase, the home and garden experts, has revealed that despite the nation’s excitement to socialise with friends and family, there is also an air of anxiety with research showing that a third of British adults have been feeling more overwhelmed as their social calendars have become busier and nearly half (48%) feel that they need to take more time out by themselves. In fact, almost four in five adults (78%) have actively turned down plans and avoided social situations since lockdown rules began to ease.

The top five reasons why people have been feeling overwhelmed since restrictions began to ease include:

1. Doing more while still having to be socially distant – 43%

2. Trying to catch up with everyone at the same time – 40%

3. Not feeling like they have enough time for themselves – 38%

4. Not knowing if plans will get cancelled in the future due to new strains – 35%

5. Spending more money now you can do more things again – 35%

To combat these feelings, nine in 10 people said it’s important to have a space to escape to and agree that being outside amongst nature was good for their wellbeing. As 56% state that being in their garden is relaxing and 45% say being in their garden boosts their mood, it’s no surprise that three-quarters of Brits say that their garden is their favourite space to escape to. 

Today, Homebase is calling on Brits to carve out an area of their gardens and transform it into their very own Summer Garden Sanctuary, a place to relax, reset and recoup when feeling the social pressures of the summer of celebration.

Partnering with stylist and creative consultant Jenna Elsby, Homebase and Jenna have designed and built a garden sanctuary model at the newly launched Homebase Cheltenham store, from which customers can take inspiration.

The igloo, available in store and online at Homebase.co.uk, is an innovative structure that provides shelter against all the potential elements that a British summer may throw at us, while also giving people a defined space to dress and make their own.

Stephen Pitcher, Director of Trading for Garden and Seasonal at Homebase, said: “This summer is set to be full of long-awaited get-togethers with friends and family, but we know that this big change may leave people feeling overwhelmed. During lockdown, the nation rediscovered its love of gardening and being outside, and we’re reminding people of the feel-good factor that’s right on their doorsteps that can act as the perfect haven.”

For the perfect Summer Garden Sanctuary, with or without an igloo, Homebase’s top tip is to layer colours and textures to create a cosy setting, while adding extra foliage and florals can help brighten and boost your mood.

Source : Homeabse

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