Mum transforms garden into Singapore-inspired outdoor oasis for £10,000

A family who were desperate for a taste of their former foreign lifestyle have transformed the plain back garden of their newbuild home into an incredible Eastern-inspired paradise.

Mum Lydia Elder, 31, grew up in Singapore, and was desperate to get back some of the outdoor lifestyle she enjoyed there.

Not knowing when the family would next be able to travel abroad, she spent two weeks transforming the family’s back garden, in Swanscombe, Kent, into an unbelievable outdoor oasis.

Lydia, who lives with her husband Peter, 30, and two children, Teddy, five, and Arlo, three, spent £10,000 on renovating the garden by adding paving, stepping stones, a roofed deck area and artificial grass.

Mum Lydia Elder, 31, who lives in Swanscombe, Kent, spent two weeks transforming the family’s back garden into an unbelievable outdoor oasis. Pictured, after the transformation

Lydia Elder grew up in Singapore and was desperate to get back some of the outdoor lifestyle she enjoyed there. Pictured, before the transformation

Lydia Elder grew up in Singapore and was desperate to get back some of the outdoor lifestyle she enjoyed there. Pictured, before the transformation

The family were desperate for a taste of their former foreign lifestyle so decided to transform the plain back garden of their newbuild home into an incredible Eastern-inspired paradise

The family were desperate for a taste of their former foreign lifestyle so decided to transform the plain back garden of their newbuild home into an incredible Eastern-inspired paradise

Lydia, who lives with her husband Peter, 30, and two children, Teddy, five, and Arlo, three, spent £10,000 on renovating the garden. Pictured, after the transformation

Lydia, who lives with her husband Peter, 30, and two children, Teddy, five, and Arlo, three, spent £10,000 on renovating the garden. Pictured, after the transformation 

The garden has been completed with a stunning patio dining set, hot tub, fire pit, barbecue, gas fire table, playhouse and lounge area.

Lydia, who works as a social media influencer, said: ‘Since moving into this house, there was so much scope for what we could do because it was a new build so it was just a white box.

‘I knew from the start that we would have to save up to do a big landscaping project; I grew up in Singapore and there is a big outdoor living lifestyle there.

‘We wanted to make an outdoor space we could sit in, eat out in and somewhere that would be flexible so we could sit out in any weather.

Lydia explained that since moving into the house, there was so much scope for what the family could do. Pictured, the garden before the transformation

Lydia explained that since moving into the house, there was so much scope for what the family could do. Pictured, the garden before the transformation

Pictured, the garden before the transformation

Pictured, the garden during the transformation

The mother-of-two told how she wanted to make an outdoor space the family could sit in, eat out in and somewhere that would be flexible so they could sit out in any weather. Pictured, left and right, during the transformation

Lydia added paving, stepping stones, a roofed deck area and artificial grass. Pictured, during the transformation

Lydia added paving, stepping stones, a roofed deck area and artificial grass. Pictured, during the transformation

The garden has been completed with a stunning patio dining set, hot tub, fire pit, barbecue, gas fire table, playhouse and lounge area (pictured)

The garden has been completed with a stunning patio dining set, hot tub, fire pit, barbecue, gas fire table, playhouse and lounge area (pictured)

Lydia added there's also room on the grass for a paddling pool and said it's just a 'really flexible place'

 Lydia added there’s also room on the grass for a paddling pool and said it’s just a ‘really flexible place’

Lydia explained that when it comes to furniture, she always tries to look for bargains. Pictured, lounging in the seating area

Lydia explained that when it comes to furniture, she always tries to look for bargains. Pictured, lounging in the seating area

Lydia said the garden is 'really versatile' and told how they switch it up throughout the year - so one month they have a hot tub and the next they'll have a playhouse for the kids to play in. Pictured, garden after the transformation

Lydia said the garden is ‘really versatile’ and told how they switch it up throughout the year – so one month they have a hot tub and the next they’ll have a playhouse for the kids to play in. Pictured, garden after the transformation

The creative mother told how she wanted the garden to be an extension of the house - and they saved up for a year so they could fund the transformation. Pictured, after

The creative mother told how she wanted the garden to be an extension of the house – and they saved up for a year so they could fund the transformation. Pictured, after

‘I wanted it to be an extension of the house; we had to save up for a year.

‘In terms of the furniture, I always try and look for bargains. I love showing people how to up-cycle pieces you find on Facebook marketplace and we actually made our own bench out of free wooden pallets people were giving away.

‘The garden is really versatile so we can switch it up throughout the year; one month we could have a hot tub and the next we’ll have a playhouse for the kids to play in.

‘There’s also room on the grass for a paddling pool and it’s just a really flexible place.

‘Since lockdown, the space has been even more important to us because we’ve been working from home and the kids have been at home so we are so glad we had it done in time’. 

The newly transformed garden includes paving, stepping stones, a roofed deck area, artificial grass and barbecue

 The newly transformed garden includes paving, stepping stones, a roofed deck area, artificial grass and barbecue 

Lydia has an Instagram account where she shares her favourite home buys and projects with her impressive 99,000 followers. Pictured, the garden after the transformation

Lydia has an Instagram account where she shares her favourite home buys and projects with her impressive 99,000 followers. Pictured, the garden after the transformation

The mother-of-two said that since lockdown, the space has been even more important to the family because they've been working from home. Pictured, the garden after the transformation

The mother-of-two said that since lockdown, the space has been even more important to the family because they’ve been working from home. Pictured, the garden after the transformation

Lydia has an Instagram account where she shares her favourite home buys and projects with her impressive 99,000 followers.

She added: ‘I started the Instagram account before we moved in because I wanted to stalk other David Wilson homes.

‘I wanted to get inspiration from other people but once we moved in and started decorating, I wanted to document the progress.

‘People enjoy seeing the DIY I do because it helps them to realise that they can do a lot of things themselves.

‘This year, I really saw it take off because everyone has been at home so have had more time to decorate and up-cycle different things around the house.’

Lydia told how the kids have been at home so she's glad they did the garden transformation (pictured, after) in time

Lydia told how the kids have been at home so she’s glad they did the garden transformation (pictured, after) in time

Lydia achieved her aim of trying to get back some of the outdoor lifestyle she enjoyedwhile growing up in Singapore. Pictured, garden after the transformation

Lydia achieved her aim of trying to get back some of the outdoor lifestyle she enjoyedwhile growing up in Singapore. Pictured, garden after the transformation