What does your garden look like from inside the house?

It's a question worth asking, because for much of the year — and certainly during the colder months — the view through the window is how most of us experience our gardens. And yet it's surprising how rarely people think about designing for that view.

I recently visited new clients whose home lacked appealing garden views from most windows. The single large window with a view revealed the shed and a bit of lawn, which definitely came under the heading of uninspiring. And what a wasted opportunity.

Some homeowners are lucky enough to borrow views beyond their garden boundaries — a church tower, a mature tree in a neighbour's garden, a glimpse of countryside. But most of us need to create something worth looking at within our own space.

The answer is focal points — objects or plantings that draw the eye outward from the window. These could be a piece of art, a sculptural plant, a well-placed seat, a water feature, a specimen container, or a striking combination of planting. The key is that it gives you a reason to look.

Whatever you choose should balance visual appeal with maintenance. There's no point installing something beautiful if it becomes another job to manage.

Strategic lighting extends the view through winter evenings and dark mornings, which is when you're most likely to be looking through the window anyway.

Go to every window in your home that looks onto the garden. Stand there for a moment and look — really look — at what you see. Is it interesting? Is it beautiful? Or have you simply got used to it?

My clients chose a semi-raised rectangular water feature with an illuminated bubble fountain to replace their uninspiring shed view. It transformed the experience of that room completely.