10 Outdoor Living Trends Set To take a Storm This Summer

 

Spring is just around the corner and serves the perfect time to get your garden in top shape for those long Summer evenings ahead. One good lesson to come out of the pandemic is that it’s taught us how to appreciate our gardens and outdoor spaces. ‘Outdoor living’ refers to outdoor decor, kitchen sets and furniture and is a growing industry with more and more people looking for ways to transform their gardens into outdoor living rooms. The main goal is to create an idyllic space that allows you to want to spend large amounts of time there, even during inclement weather. We’ve summarised the hottest garden trends predicted for the summer ahead.

 

1. Lush Foliage and Mediterranean Plants

This Summer is set to see a big focus on greenery, recreating foreign destinations in your very own back garden. Tropical plants such as Bamboo and Palm trees give your garden privacy and are also fairly low maintenance. Olive trees and citrus plants are also becoming increasingly popular and will make your garden appear as it belongs to Tuscany.

 

Image source: Off Designs




Image source: Off Designs



2. Boho Chic

Bohemian textures and patterns are becoming a popular choice within outdoor living spaces. If you’re someone who enjoys vibrant colours and cultural decor, then this is the style for you. This type of design is also great for a patio space if you don't have grass. You can create this look using low tables, bean bags, aztec patterned rugs, layered cushions, lanterns and ornamental features such as metal buddhas. Tasselled hammocks and bamboo swings will be an amazing finishing touch to this free-spirited look you’re trying to achieve. 

 


Image source: Domino

Image source: Domino

 

 

3. Sustainable Garden Furniture Trend

Our community is more educated than ever before when it comes to helping save our planet. People like to create a sustainable outdoor space as well as a stylish one. Expect to see a rise in recycled plastic outdoor furniture, eco-friendly decor, and natural as well as second-hand materials being the number one choice for garden projects. Reclaimed wood and recycled pallets are being seen more and more across gardens in England.

Image source: Domino


Image source: Dura Ocean





4. Aluminium and Teak 

This contemporary combination is a sleek new look that's growing across the garden furniture industry. The contrast of sturdy aluminium and natural teak gives a beautiful minimalist and modern look. Aluminium is also rust-free making it durable and long-lasting. for no wonder, this material combination is all the rage in 2022. Black seems to be the colour of choice with this type of furniture along with charcoal and darker tones which just oozes complete sophistication.


Image source: Panama Sofa Set - Lifestyle garden




Image source: Panama Sofa Set - Lifestyle garden. You can purchase this sofa set here



5. Outdoor Living Rooms

Alfresco living became extremely popular over lockdown due to being a safe space for avoiding covid. Lots of people created comfortable places to escape the stress and immerse themselves in pure relaxation. We expect to see more of this in Summer 2022 with a rise in people investing in outdoor shelters and pergolas, indoor rugs, hanging lamps, outdoor TV’s and even cinemas! Lounge style sofas are now becoming the first choice over traditional wooden furniture. This type of outdoor living has been going on for years in Mediterranean and southern hemisphere countries. But with more outdoor heating mechanisms, and firepit brands hitting the market this is now possible here in the UK.

 

Image source: Architectural Digest


Image source: Ideal Home



6. Vertical Gardening and Plant Walls

Vertical gardens and plant walls are the latest garden fad. Gardens that grow up as opposed to out not only save space for bulkier items like furniture but also add an impressive aesthetic to any outdoor living area. You can use various different trailing plants to create this look, such as Lysimachia or ‘Creeping Jenny’ which will create a luscious green carpet, or if you’re after a splash of colour you can use climbing roses and wisteria which also grow upwards. If you’re into growing crops there are even lots of veggies that grow this way such as runner beans, tomatoes and peppers alongside herbs like basil and garlic. Already got potted plants? Why not buy metal racking and hang them vertically to create your very own quirky plant pot wall!

 


Image source: The Spruce

 

Image source: This is NZ Life




7. Outdoor Climate Control

Us Brits have never been ones for allowing the weather to stop us from doing anything! In the last few years, we’ve seen a huge rise in outdoor heating systems being produced across the garden industry along with contemporary firepits and outdoor log burners. Depending on the type of outdoor space you have, fire pits can add a beautiful feature to your garden and are fantastic for socialising during those summer evenings when the temperature drops slightly. If you’re after a more Mediterranean look, terracotta chimineas are also perfect and don’t take too much space. If you have a modern space you may want to opt for a ‘love island’ style gas fire table, which doesn’t use wood and often uses pebbles to fill the fire pit instead.


Image source: Kadai Instagram @kaifirbowls image credit @43bythesea  Purchase this Kadai fire bowl  here



Image source: Spa Pools



8. Outdoor Kitchens

 

Similarly to the rise in outdoor living rooms, more and more people are keen to cook outside too with some people even creating outdoor sinks and worktops to fulfil their alfresco cooking habits. There has also been a surge in outdoor cooking appliances being purchased too such as pizza ovens, multi-purpose cooking fire pits along with versitile BBQs that have stoves as well as grills. You can create outdoor kitchens a lot more easily than you think and If you’re lucky enough to have a shelter that protects you from wind and rain you might even want to store a fridge outside to save you the hassle of running in and out of the house to collect food.

Image source: Gardeninginc



Image source: Sahara BBQs





9. Magical Garden Lighting

It's the little details that really go far when it comes to garden design, and outdoor lighting does just that. We’re seeing an increase in garden lantern purchases along with bulb string lights which really give off that mystical feeling. If you prefer modern designs then we’d recommend opting for industrial style draping string light bulbs which will really make your garden stand out when the sun goes down. If you’re a boho chica or chico then Chinese paper lanterns will add some colour and spice to your garden, and can often be purchased in various vibrant colours. Solar lighting is also on the rise and not only does it save electricity bills, but they’re also good for our planet and they look stylish!


Image source: Gardeningetc

Chinese paper lanterns - Image source: Vanble






10. Urban Jungle

Even people living in cities are finding innovative ways to make the most out of their tiny outdoor spaces. Imagine urban cool with a sprinkling of zen, by that we mean we’re seeing a lot of dark decking, river rocks or decorative stones used in urban gardens. Alongside this, black mondo grass is very in fashion and gives a fantastic moody look to your urban backyard. When it comes to furniture choice, black steel ‘pavement style’ folding chairs are very in as they give a contemporary look and don't take up much space. Outdoor mirrors are also a fantastic idea to give the illusion your garden is far bigger than reality.



Urban garden - Image source: Women's weekly




Outdoor mirrors - Image source: House Beautiful