The trend for creating luxury useable outdoor living space looks like it’s set to continue into next year.
Gardens are no longer just a lawn that needs to be mowed every week in the summer. Every part of our outdoor areas can be turned into well-designed space that can be used for living, socialising or relaxing.
Outdoor kitchens are still hugely popular and can be extended to include bar areas, cinema screens or high spec wood-fired pizza ovens.
The other trend that’s going to continue into next year is thinking about ecology and wildlife. We all acknowledge that we need to share our land with the wildlife that lives there or uses it, and can plant accordingly. Native trees that support insect life or trees with berries that passing birds can eat are also enjoyable for us humans to look at too.
I often recommend planting with climate change in mind. This includes looking at the long-term changes and including planting that can withstand warmer summers, but also more intense rain.
Rain gardens, and other methods, can be planned to absorb excess water within a garden, depending on the location and topography.
There are so many ways that we can enjoy our outside space all year round – so I hope this trend continues.
Pictured above: an outdoor kitchen in a bespoke indoor/outdoor room that can be completely opened in the summer months, or closed off with underfloor heating during the winter.
What am I reading?
I was asked to contribute to this article in House Beautiful about garden design ideas. I talk about how I often recommend using large-format porcelain paving for an ultra-contemporary look. However, porcelain is not just about looks – it’s really practical too, as it required far less maintenance than other types of paving stone.
https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/garden/designs/a495/garden-design-ideas/
