As we step into spring, garden trends are taking a more dynamic approach and this year, it’s all about blending nature with innovation.
Gardening is evolving to embrace bold, creative, and sustainable trends that reflect our growing connection to nature and desire to transform our outdoor spaces into a personal sanctuary. Molly Woodward-Moor, interior designer and creative director at Stone Superstore talks through the growing trends that we’ll be seeing in outdoor spaces this year.
Chaos Gardening:
As we move further away from the trend of artificial grass, the focus in outdoor spaces is turning towards nurturing nature and embracing real, organic elements. Chaos gardening celebrates the beauty of natural growth, encouraging wild, free form planting that nurtures biodiversity. This trend is ideal for those seeking a low-maintenance garden that evolves organically. While chaos is in the name, this method requires much less planting and upkeep compared to traditional gardening, allowing plants and flowers to mingle naturally, creating a vibrant and ever-changing landscape on your doorstep.
To embrace this trend that feels effortless, aim for a layered look in your garden. Mix taller plants with low-growing varieties or incorporate vertical gardening elements into your garden with trellises or wall-mounted planters to help create further depth and dimension.
Since chaos gardening is all about letting nature take its course, incorporate natural materials throughout your space. Think natural stone paving or rustic cobbles for pathways or reclaimed wood for garden beds and structures. These materials will blend beautifully with the wild environment and prevent the garden from feeling artificial.
Green Drenching:
We’ve seen ‘drenching’ trends take over our indoor spaces through the use of colour and tiling and now, it’s making its way into our gardens. Green drenching is all about creating an immersive space where greenery takes centre stage, focusing on enveloping your garden with a variety of herbs and plants to surround yourself with an abundance of fresh and vibrant foliage.
Don’t feel the need to limit the green drenching trend to just plants. Apply this same theory to your outdoor décor and furniture such as green cushions, an outdoor rug, or cosy blankets to add comfort while enhancing the trend. For a natural, calming vibe, opt for earthy, muted shades of green that subtly complement the environment, or for a more vibrant, jungle-inspired atmosphere, choose bold green patterns that mimic the rich hues of exotic plants.
Green planters and pots are another easy way to further push this trend, alongside incorporating green-painted trellises, hanging planters, or living walls to introduce organic greenery at different heights. This will not only add to the green drenching effect, but also add a multi-layered look, making your garden look full and luscious.
With plants offering a wealth of both physical and mental health benefits, this trend naturally lends itself to the growing desire for making your garden a wellness space, boosting air quality and creating a heightened connection with nature.
Circular Gardens:
We’ve seen curved furniture take centre stage in interior design trends, and we’re seeing the desire for circular elements move into our outdoor spaces. Circular gardens are rapidly gaining in popularity, as a design approach that focus on creating inviting and intimate spaces. This trend embraces rounded, organic shapes that foster a sense of flow and natural authenticity in outdoor areas, moving away from traditional garden designs that focus on straight lines and rigid, rectangular plant beds.
Circular shapes have an ability to create visually calming spaces. Overly linear, rigid landscapes feel formal, artificial and corporate, whereas softer forms help to promote a feeling of tranquillity, enhancing the relaxation of a garden escape. The key to achieving this trend is to first establish the floor plan of your garden, creating a curved feature, whether that’s a cosy seating area or flower bed, and work outwards from there.
Circular or curved pathways work well here to enhance the flow of the garden, encouraging movement in a way that feels more organic and less intentional that typical straight lines. Consider using natural stone slabs in a stepping-stone style to form a gentle guide around the space, that draws you into and around your garden.
Indoor/Outdoor Living:
The positive health and wellness effects of nature are undeniable, and we’re continuing to blur the boundaries between our indoor and outdoor spaces to optimise these benefits The boundaries between our interior and exterior living spaces will become even more blurred as we continue to invite nature into our homes, yet also begin to apply the ‘rules’ of home design to our outdoor areas – seeing these areas as an ‘additional room’ of our properties.
Look to create seamless transitions with large sliding doors, continuous floors of indoor outdoor tiles and flowing colour palettes to visually link these spaces. From patterned rugs and trendy cushions to decorative lighting or lounge chairs, the separation between furniture being suitable for sole indoor or outdoor use is diminishing. These versatile pieces are a great way of letting your personality spill into your outdoor lounging spaces, that feels just as cool and cosy as your interior.
Personalised Spaces and Bold Patterns:
Similar to the growing desire to inject personality into our interior spaces, more people are looking for ways to customise their gardens to add personality and interest. With individuality seen as a celebration, we’re moving away from ‘cookie-cutter’ garden aesthetics and, with ouroutdoor spaces become an extension of our homes, people want their gardens to feel uniquely theirs.
Patterned paving has become an increasingly popular choice among homeowners looking to make a bold statement in their outdoor space. The use of outdoor patterned tiles injects character without compromising on practicality. By utilising patterned paving to zone seating areas or walkways, gardens can feel more unique and highly considered.
Creating a personalised space with patterned tiling aligns with the maximalism trend and rising nostalgia-core aesthetic we’ve seen in wider interiors, helping to create a sense of timeless beauty that’s both rich in character and deeply personal. Whether they reflect vintage influences, bold colours, or checkerboard designs, patterned tiles are an opportunity to infuse your space with personality.
