Jennifer Sheahan: Summer garden accessories with the fun factor
A hammock can help you enjoy your garden more, says Jennifer Sheahan. 'I had two galvanised steel hooks installed on my outdoor walls, but you could also string one up between two trees, or buy a freestanding frame if you have the space.' File picture
Ireland on a sunny day is the best place in the world. Summer 2025 has (mostly) delivered so far, and when the skies are blue, there’s nothing better than making the most of your outdoor space. Whether it’s a tiny courtyard like mine, an expansive garden, or a spot on the balcony, a few clever accessories can crank up the fun factor. I don’t like too much clutter in my house, but over the past few summers, I’ve slowly built up a collection of accessories that make my garden a treat to hang out in. Here are a few of my favourites, plus some I’m eyeing up for the remainder of the summer.
For my postage-stamp of a garden, getting a hammock was a combination of necessity and desire. Nothing else would fit, and I have nowhere to store a bulky sun lounger for the cloudy days, so a hammock, which folds away to nothing, was a perfect choice. But space restrictions aside, I wanted one anyway. There’s something about a hammock that immediately signals relaxation
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I went for the Minorca hammock from hammockgiant.com, a cheerful stripy affair that fits into my colourful garden, and it’s the first thing I take out when the forecast is good. It instantly makes me feel like I’m on holiday. I had two galvanised steel hooks installed on my outdoor walls, but you could also string one up between two trees, or buy a freestanding frame if you have the space. Add a book, a glass of something cold, and a wide-brimmed hat, and you’re set for the afternoon.
If you’ve read any of my past campervan pieces, you’ll know one of my latest and favourite camping accessories is the Camping Moon tabletop mini-charcoal grill and fire pit, €35 on Amazon. It’s tiny and folds up origami-style into nothing, so it’s great to take on the road, but it’s also perfect atop my garden table for summer evenings at home.Â
I don’t have space for bulky outdoor cooking equipment, and my kitchen is literally within arm’s reach of my garden, so something dual-usage and tiny like this has been perfect.
It works brilliantly for small BBQs, and doubles as a fire pit when the sun dips down and the midges come out. My main drawback of this BBQ is that you need to make sure to set it up in a sheltered spot.Â
The ashtray is not quite deep enough, so a gust of wind can scatter the ash if you’re not careful. But aside from that, it’s a brilliant multitasker and a great option for smaller gardens or balconies where a full BBQ might feel like overkill.
I don’t have this one yet, but I’ve been tempted for years, and I think it’s time I pulled the trigger. Paddling pools are always fun, but Minnidip have taken them to a stylish new level. They’re a bit of a cult favourite, and for good reason. Unlike your average kids' paddling pool, the Minnidip designs are more cocktails and Palm Springs than Peppa Pig — beautiful designs and chic colour palettes that won’t ruin your garden aesthetic.
They’re marketed as "adult-friendly" paddling pools — big enough for a grown-up to sit in with a cocktail in hand. They don’t ship to Ireland from the website, so you’ll have to go through Amazon or eBay, but they’re so pretty I’m willing to do it, plus they do beautiful inflatable sun loungers and even water fountains too, which fold away without taking up too much storage.
During the last heat wave a couple of years back, I picked up an inflatable splash pad for my dog Perry, and it turned out to be one of the best hot weather purchases I’ve made.
The pad connects to your hose and sprays gentle jets of water into a shallow pool, creating a kind of mini water park for dogs (and kids!). Perry adores it. He pads around in the cool water, chases the little sprays, and then flops down somewhere to dry off before jumping back in again.
Aside from being adorable, it’s also genuinely useful. Some dogs really struggle with the heat, and this is a great way to keep them cool and entertained at the same time. Plus, it packs away small at the end of the day and takes about two minutes to set up again.
When the sun does start to set, lighting is key to keep the summer garden festivities going. Solar lighting is the best choice — there’s no wiring, and free electricity! I bought my solar fairy lights and festoon LED lights from The Solar Centre, but you’ll find them almost everywhere these days. Solar garden lights come with small solar panels that you will need to install somewhere that angles them towards maximum light.Â
They’ll charge up all day, and then as the sun sets, a sensor will tell them to turn on automatically and twinkle away for a few hours.
No matter what type or size of outdoor space you have, it can be transformed year-round by the right lighting. Stringing up festoons and fairy lights and dotting around solar-powered spotlights or stake-lights is so simple, affordable, and atmospheric, and you can move things around as you please. Even in winter, with the sparse few hours of sunlight we typically get, you can still expect your solar lights to last a few hours in the dark evenings.
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