Top Garden Design Trends

Designers have a lot to look forward to in the new year, whether inside the home or out. The popular gardening accessories of the last year will remain largely relevant, but they’ll have to be used with up-and-coming, highly intriguing design trends that are sure to add an additional layer of depth to an outdoor area.

Last year, gardens won’t be as over the top as they once were. Subtle color ranges will be highly attractive, along with monotone color palettes such as all white. The beauty of gardens is now in the intricacies, such as the interesting edging of a stone wall, or the mindful placement of contemporary planters. Designers can create a focus and also install planters that form the basis of a truly functional garden space.

PureModern’s striking trough planters deliver a fascinating look when placed perpendicular in the garden, for a layered effect. These planters and some of the complementary accessories we offer can create truly unique looks that vary by day and night.

Plant-centric Designs

This year, gardens will take a step forward by taking one back, and reverting to their original purposes rather than simply filling a backyard with the appropriate outdoor patio accessories. Gardens were initially conceptualized for agricultural purposes, and people are re-honoring that tradition in a big way. 

This year will see gardens return to their purpose, and that functionality will be implemented in a backyard’s design. As this trend grows, it’s projected that it will encapsulate more than just planting and harvesting crops; eventually it may evolve to beekeeping, composting, attracting pollinators, and keeping chickens.

Biophilic Design

Furbish's EcoCline living roof system (image from the Montgomery County Multi Agency Service Park)

Biophilic design has been gaining traction over the last few years, and this year we are really seeing it hit its stride. In case you are unfamiliar, biophilic design is when a designer uses natural elements to better impact the health of a building's occupants and the environment. 

We see designer's everywhere use biophilic design in both their indoor and outdoor spaces. For example, one of our clients, Furbish, creates incredible green rooftop systems using EcoCline. This positively impacts the people that inhabit the building and is good for the environment too! In the coming year, you should explore biophilic design in your garden design projects. 

LED Lighting Reigns Supreme

Though the industry of LED lighting got off to an initially shaky start, the technology surrounding LED lights has evolved significantly. Now, despite their relatively significant initial costs, LED lighting offers considerable long term savings on energy while providing progressively improving technology.

LED lights sold these days are offered in a wide range of warm and cool colors appropriate for a variety of systems. Some lighting schemes are controlled directly from a homeowner’s smartphone, with customizable features such as light dimming, on/off controls, and brightness. Additionally, LED lighting schemes can be customized in a myriad of colors and flickering patterns when it’s time to celebrate a big night in the garden.

Sharp Design Integrated With Sustainable Features

Image from The Towers Project. Click here for project details.

Modern design centers around a minimal aesthetic, but people tend to forget that it centers just as strongly around functionality. This year, gardens will largely take a turn for the more functional and sustainable, all while remaining aesthetically pleasing. For example, past garden trends encouraged peanut-shaped rain gardens installed right in the front yard. However, in the coming year, we’ll see landscapes optimized for functionality, built to respond to the architecture and topography with suitable vegetation choices that will fit the garden’s scale.

Additions to the garden, such as lighting and modern planters, must be installed with the proper respect to new design trends like sustainability, subtlety, and a return to form. Gardens of the future will be refreshing hubs of functionality that are additionally really pleasing to look at.

Garden season will be upon us soon! PureModern’s contemporary planter selection can help you achieve your ultimate garden design.