In this blog post, I highlight a couple of clear trends that are gathering pace in the garden design world and that I predict will grow over the next few years. However, garden designers obviously aren’t in the business of following fashion trends! Therefore, I will also expand on the questions that I think are critical for anyone contemplating a new, bespoke, garden design project.
We’re living through a digital age and spending more and more time at our screens. in this context, I believe that professional designers have a unique role to play in reminding people of the benefits of being immersed in nature. Through our work, we can provide a rewarding route to emotional satisfaction and well-being for our clients – and the wider public, in many cases. Yes, a successful garden or grounds scheme should look good, but most importantly, it should make its users feel good. I believe that in future we designers will be even more focused on enhancing the relationship between home and garden. Marrying indoor spaces to those outside to create flow, harmony and a sense of continuity throughout will underpin our work.
Concern for the environment
Looking ahead, one clear trend will be our growing awareness of environmental issues. Garden designers and clients have already been expressing their ecological concerns through a wide range of choices in recent years. These choices range from planting lists featuring native species to locally sourced materials that fit comfortably within a setting. I anticipate that this trend will gather strength, with concern for local wildlife also becoming a big part of the garden design concept. Big or small, a private garden or commercial grounds can be a healthy haven for wildlife in a wider network of places linking urban green spaces with the countryside. Many wildlife species are sadly in decline in the UK. There is growing awareness of the part our gardens and grounds can play in reducing this risk. A host of measures may be deployed, including (but not limited to!):
- replacing fences with green boundaries
- creating ponds and water features
- providing pollen/nectar-rich plants for bees and other insects
- planting wildflower borders and meadows.
A desire to cook and eat outdoors
A second clear trend is the growing popularity of outdoor kitchen areas. This is despite our variable UK weather! Dedicated spaces for cooking, eating and entertaining friends and family have started to feature more frequently on clients’ wish lists. Stylish garden furniture and a pizza oven or sunken fire pit will join the traditional barbecue as part of the setting for outdoor leisure time. For those with the necessary space and budget, eco-friendly garden buildings (not only sheds but also summer houses, studios, guest accommodation, …), outdoor swimming pools and swimming ponds will be a growing trend. As interest in the journey from ‘garden to table’ flourishes too, along with the growth in plant-based diets and peoples’ desire to reduce their supermarket bills, I also predict that more clients will ask us to add edible planting to their garden schemes. This will range from containers on balconies and terraces for growing vegetables and herbs to installing greenhouses for those with the space available.
3 critical questions
While it is thought-provoking to try to predict what the next year will bring in garden design terms, obviously garden design isn’t about just following the latest trends. Whenever I approach a new project, I certainly don’t have a design in mind with which the space has to comply! Put simply, there are 3 factors that I am always keen to understand at the outset which override any considerations of what’s ‘on trend’ or proving popular with other clients:
1. On a practical basis, what does the client want and need from their garden or outdoor space? In other words, how will they use it & what do they need from their garden to make them feel good when they use it?
2. More broadly, what is the ‘sense of place’ that they want to create? This can be hard to articulate but it is vitally important as a designer for me to understand the combination of characteristics that will give a site its special ‘feel’ and help it to sit well in its surroundings.
3. What specific opportunities or problems are presented by the space? Naturally, this is where my own practical experience and knowledge can be combined with the client’s thoughts and ideas to identify possible solutions.
If you’re planning to transform your own garden then I hope that this blog has given you some food for thought. In my view, it’s a golden opportunity for you to not only have a gorgeous space outside but also to reconnect with the ‘great outdoors’.
For design ideas, please see examples of our recent garden design projects here. And for a peek into our current projects and design ideas, give me a follow on Twitter @gardencomp.