This Is the Cozy Winter Garden You've Been Looking For – It's Straight Out of The Holiday

The Holiday is a favorite Christmas movie because it’s pure escapist comfort; crackling fires, snow-dusted hedges, and that impossibly cozy setting where Jude Law somehow looks even better wearing glasses. If you’ve ever wished your backyard felt like the charming English countryside cottage in the movie, you’re in luck. While we can’t whisk you off to Surrey, we can help you turn your garden into a winter retreat that feels just as magical.

With the right plants, textures, and lighting, your outdoor space can become a romantic cold-weather escape perfect for sipping something warm, stargazing, or simply pretending you’re living your own movie moment.

Start With Fragrant, Classic Evergreens

English cottage gardens thrive on structure, and winter is when evergreens really have their opportunity to shine. Choose varieties that add fragrance and form for a timeless countryside feel.

Holly: Holly is obviously a classic when it comes to Christmas scenery. With glossy leaves and bright red berries, it’s straight out of a storybook. Put your holly shrubs near entryways or along fences for a traditional cottagecore look. This dwarf holly shrub from Walmart grows up to 5 or 6 feet.

Boxwood: For a softer, more manicured shape, boxwood is perfect. Its evergreen density adds structure even on the grayest days. You can use boxwood to line pathways, frame a patio, or create a small hedge around a seating corner. This Japanese boxwood is sold at Walmart and grows well in winter.

Bring in Winter-Blooming Flowers for Subtle Romance

A true winter wonderland garden needs just a touch of delicate color, nothing showy. There should be soft blooms that feel like they belong in a snowy cottage landscape.

Hellebores: These are often called Christmas or Lenten roses and are the stars of winter gardens. Their flowers bloom in pink, white, purple, or cream while most plants are dormant. Hellebores' ability to bloom in cold weather makes them perfect for adding a bit of romance.

Cyclamen: This is another beauty, loved for its heart-shaped leaves and elegant blooms. Hardy species like Cyclamen coum are ideal for winter and early spring. They tuck themselves into shady corners or underneath shrubs.

Layer Textured Shrubs for Depth and Drama

Winter landscapes depend heavily on texture. Think of the variety of hedgerows seen in The Holiday movie. The appeal comes from how shrubs of different heights and shapes overlap.

Try mixing witch hazel, viburnum, winterberry, and dwarf conifers. Even without flowers, their branching patterns, berries, and foliage add some life to the cold winter months. Textured shrubs also provide essential shelter for birds, which brings a bit of countryside charm right to your door.

If you’re looking for rustic containers, try this Threshold planter from Threshold planter from Target. To build some layers, try another one of a different height, like this Hearth and Hand outdoor planter basket, also from Target.

For even more texture, add branches along with seed heads, berries, and dried herbs for authentic countryside charm.

Paul Hervey-Brookes, a multi-award-winning garden designer, says “I grow a lot of dogwood, Cornus, and some Salix. To get the best from them, they should be stooled – cut to the ground every second year – which means their colorful branches can be used in containers to add drama or even made into supports and wreaths in rich shades of red and light green.”

Create Intimate Seating Nooks, Cottage-Style

No winter retreat is complete without a cozy spot to linger. This is where you channel pure The Holiday charm.

Choose a tucked-away corner, like a pergola, alcove, or even a small bench under a tree. Add fairy lights, lanterns, or battery-powered candles to create a soft glow. These outdoor fairy lights from Amazon have larger bulbs and a remote for convenience.

Add blankets, a small outdoor rug, and maybe a couple of weatherproof cushions. Place potted boxwood or winter flowers around the seating area for structure and warmth.

A Garden Worthy of Your Own Cozy Movie Moment

Transforming your garden into an English countryside retreat doesn’t require snow-covered cottages or Hollywood magic. With fragrant evergreens, winter-blooming flowers, textured shrubs, and a thoughtfully lit seating area, you can create a space that feels romantic, rustic, and delightfully transportive.