You may not realise it, but garden design trends are often moulded around current affairs. This year, we saw a lot of eco-friendly garden features hitting the market, but we also saw a huge spike in complete garden renovations as more people were stuck in their homes than ever before.
Meeting friends and family in outdoor spaces is quickly becoming the norm, and while we’d like to think that things will ease up as we move into 2021, there’s a high possibility that we’ll be meeting our friends and families in our gardens for a little while longer.
In previous years, you might have only used our garden for the occasional summer BBQ, but this year we’ve seen wedding receptions, children’s birthday parties and many other events taking place in gardens because they can’t take place anywhere else!
So, how will this affect the garden trends for 2021? Well, here are a few predictions to show you how the modern garden could be evolving into a more inviting, durable and easily-maintained space.
Durable Materials
One thing that we can expect to see as people make more use of their gardens, is a shift towards durable materials. Installing something like a timber deck is fine if you don’t plan to use it often and you don’t mind staining and sealing it once a year, but timber decks are known to rot, bow and eventually break when they’re put under a lot of stress.
Homeowners up and down the country are looking into their garden’s and realising that their old timber decking might not withstand the challenges of the coming year, so they’re looking for an alternative. With this in mind, you can expect to see a huge demand for strong, durable materials like composite decking, that can cope with the pressure of a busy garden space.
We’re seeing materials like composite decking and porcelain patio tiles are appearing in lots of gardens already. This is because they’re far more durable than their natural counterparts like wood and slate, with some ranges lasting as long as 30-years! They’re incredibly easy to maintain and they look great in photos too. No wonder so many people are choosing these durable materials for their heavy-footfall spaces.
Covered Spaces
Another trend that we think will spike in popularity in 2021, is the addition of covered spaces. People are realising now that if you want/need to use your garden, it’s very beneficial to have a bit of shelter to sit under. After all, British weather can change in the blink of an eye, so it’s important to be prepared for the worst – especially when you have guests over.
Sheltered spaces come in lots of different shapes and sizes so you’re bound to find something that works for your home. For a temporary option, you could choose a retractable awning, or for a more permanent shelter, you could take a look at a veranda or glass garden room. All of these options are very stylish and are sure to catch the eye of your neighbours!
A garden room or veranda will provide a safe space for visitors to relax in your garden without necessarily coming into your home, helping to maintain social distancing restrictions, should they still be in place.
Photography-Friendly Features
With more and more celebrations taking place in our back gardens, we have no doubts that people will be looking to add photogenic garden features in 2021. This could be anything from a new flower bed to a nice water feature or even outdoor lights. A lot of people have neglected their gardens because they just weren’t being used enough.
However, we’re now seeing people mowing their overgrown lawns, cleaning their patios and giving everything a new lick of paint – just in case the next birthday party or wedding reception needs to be held outdoors.
Hopefully, this gives you a good insight into some of the garden features we expect to gain popularity in 2021. Leave us a comment and let us know if you plan to renovate your garden next year?