How to create a Glastonbury style festival in your own home

Not heading to Glastonbury this weekend? Then this is the perfect opportunity to create the same vibe, but with a lot more comfort, in your own garden.

And you wouldn’t be doing this alone. John Lewis says it has seen sales of bunting up 85 per cent, gazebos up 462 per cent and garden sofas up 30 per cent compared with this time last year.

‘Bring elements of your home outside such as cushions, pouffes and beanbags to create relaxed seating areas,’ says Wil Law, home design stylist at John Lewis. 

‘You could also opt for a gazebo or tent for the unpredictable British weather.’

Set the scene

It wouldn’t be Glastonbury without a tent. ‘Make your own campsite using a teepee, neon fairy lights, picnic blankets and lots of cushions for comfort,’ suggests Anna Cross, head of home living at Habitat. 

Try Habitat’s Kids Play Mini Scandi Teepee, (£60; habitat.co.uk), tissue paper scallop garlands (£13.50; merimeri.co.uk) and ball string lights, £10 (habitat.co.uk).

For the ‘main stage’, lay down a big blanket, such as Puebco recycled-wool moving blanket (£35; domesticscience home.co.uk) and scatter cushions such as gingham cushions from John Lewis’s AnyDay range (£15; johnlewis.co.uk).

For extra festival vibes, string up a hammock (Wayfair have a good selection from £25) and add a boho parasol (The White Company, £236). 

Add relaxed outdoor sofas such as The Colwell Sofa set (£2,100; gardentrading.co.uk), or stripy Southsea Deckchairs (£140; conranshop.co.uk).

Wired for sound

Every festival needs music, so prepare a fun playlist in advance (or there are several Glastonbury 2022 playlists on Spotify) and invest in some good-quality speakers. 

The ultra-rugged SoundLink Flex Bose speaker can survive knocks and bumps, as well as water, and automatically adjusts to any orientation to deliver your music in balanced tones (£149.95; bose.co.uk).

If you’re keen to screen Glasto, try a Yaber 7000 lumens projector (£76; amazon.co.uk) or even an inflatable screen (Kodak Inflatable 14ft Screen; £219; urban outfitters.com). 

To capture all your memories, try the Instax Mini Evo, which allows you to print off polaroid images from its digital camera (£174.99; instax.co.uk).

Centrepiece: This handmade steel fire pit can also double up as a BBQ (£270, kiphideaways.com)

Serve in style

If you’re setting up a picnic, ‘use large decorative trays to create a stable surface for food and drinks’, says events planner Liz Linklater. She suggests rattan trays (£75 for two; hadeda.co.uk). 

Serve salads and nibbles in enamel bowls which won’t chip if knocked over; Falcon Enamel has a great range (falcon enamelware.com). 

It’s always useful to have paper plates and cups to cater for extra guests; Meri Meri has a pretty range (from £4; merimeri.co.uk).

To really set the scene fire up a pizza oven. ‘Pizza is the ultimate festival food — it’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser,’ says Tom Gozney, founder of Gozney, which makes restaurant-grade garden pizza ovens (£399; gozney.com).

Vibe setting

To mark this as more than just a garden party you need that special festival atmosphere. 

‘Burning incense in the garden creates a chilled festival vibe,’ says Paul Firmin, co-founder of candle brand Earl Of East. 

After dark, dot tea lights around in lanterns or try solar-powered Porto lanterns (£49.99; Lights4fun.co.uk). 

Then light a fire pit and toast marshmallows — try a handmade steel one which doubles up as a barbecue (£270, kiphideaways.com).

Savings of the week: Outdoor cushions… up to 35% off 

The Evans Lichfield gold leopard cushion is priced £12 (furn.com)

Water-resistant outdoor cushions add comfort and glamour to garden furniture. 

Choose suitable designs and they can be used inside in winter. Greenwich cushions from Heal’s, in blue, green and yellow, are made from recycled plastic bottles. They were £59 and now £47, (heals.com).

Exotic 18th-century Chinoiserie designs are enticing. The Evans Lichfield gold leopard cushion is priced £12 (furn.com).

For geometric patterns, Bramblecrest offers a variety, now £23 (gardenfurniture andinteriors.co.uk).

Habitat has two fern print cushions now £12 from £15 (argos.co.uk).

Dunelm’s giant inflatable cushions are half-price at £13 (dunelm.com).

Anne Ashworth