The process of designing such a place can be difficult and time consuming but you don’t have to do everything at once. A garden is never finished—it is a creation that evolves from season-to-season and year-to-year. Experienced gardeners are well aware of this reality and have even come to enjoy the ephemeral nature of their landscapes. In this article, we’re delving into the top outdoor trends of 2015, looking into some great ideas that’ll transform your tired yard into something extraordinary.
Wall Gardens
This is especially popular, obviously, amongst home owners who have limited outdoor space or no space at all, but it’s also used by home owners who want to add a splash of natural color to their wall. Succulents work especially well in wall gardens and are easy to maintain, as pictured below. Be creative; design a wall garden in all kinds of different shapes, sizes and colors.
Inventive Lighting
If you want to make the most of the outdoors, you’ll want to use it in the evenings when it is dark, and to do this you’ll need outdoor lighting. Opt for creative, or chic options like ambiance lighting, placed under seating or garden features, to complement well placed lamps. Don’t just stick to one color either, versatility is fresh and having the option to change the color of the light at a press of the switch will drastically change the mood and ambiance of the outdoor area.
Herb Gardens
This is an obvious one; and it’s made our list because it’s still a monster of a trend. Herb gardens are especially popular amonst those who appreciate the culinary arts and those who like to know where their food is coming from. The trend has been strongly promoted by popular chefs such as Jamie Oliver, which has gained strength and momentum over the past 5 years. Where gardening of this sorts was once widely regarded for older people over the past number of decades, attitudes are changing. We are seeing youngsters, teenagers and young adults moving in this direction more and more, embracing this trend.
Natural Materials in Garden
If you’ve seen any of our other trend articles, you’ll notice there is a theme running through all of them and that’s the use of natural materials, and there are no places in the home which is more appropriate for the use of natural materials than the garden. Slabs of stone work excellent as benches and’ll last forever. Opt for wood and stone over man-made materials such as plastic. Natural options tend to be more expensive, but if you were to calculate life to cost value, a natural stone option ends up winning.
Sunken Seating in the Pool
Look past the stunning views and the infinity edge of the pool below and focus on the sunken seating. This is architecture and design at it’s finest. It looks good, plain and simple, and it’s sure to impress the guests. We’re been seeing a real growth in sunken seating over the past few years and it looks like this explosion is continuing in 2015 as all the pool suppliers we’ve seen are brandishing all types of different, creative sunken seating solutions.
Outdoor Saunas
For those who like saunas, this is probably one of best investments you’ll make in 2014. There is nothing quite like heating up the sauna and escaping to the end of the garden, especially after a long stressful day. A outdoor sauna installation like the one below (conversely, an indoor sauna installation) won’t break the bank, and it’s a wonderful way to add to the saleability of ones home, whilst also increasing the homes value, even if it’s nominal.
Fire pits/fireplaces
It doesn’t matter if you’re in the cold of England or the warmth of Florida, a fire pit is awesome and practical. The warmth it gives is an outside enabler, giving people the opportunity to use their gardens when it’s cold outside. One of the biggest factors for not using an outdoor area is either the cold or the wet; a fire pit solves one of these pickles. Wouldn’t you like to spend more evening with your loved one, gazing up at the stars in front of a nice, bone warming fire? It’s like sitting around a camp fire, and all the wonderful memories that come with it. This is one of our favorite outdoor trends in 2015.