Exciting news for house-buyers; this year, plans for 17 new garden villages and towns were announced, which hopefully means that the government is at long last taking the housing crisis seriously.
With crossed fingers, expect to see garden villages popping up throughout the UK, including: Cheshire East, Cornwall, Merseyside, Cumbria, Lincolnshire, Stratford-on-Avon, Lancaster, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Derbyshire, East Northants, Essex, Devon, and Runnymede and Surrey Heath. Plans are also in place to build garden towns in Taunton, Aylesbury, and Harlow and Gilston, which are expected to provide an extra 200,000 homes.
Like many people dreaming of owning their own home, here at IDEAL, a garden large enough to have some fun with is top of the priority list. With this in mind, we couldn’t resist looking at next year’s upcoming garden trends.
Al-Fresco Dining
Usually, outdoor dining spaces are conveniently located right next to the house, on a patio next to the kitchen. However, of late, dining spaces are being pushed back into the actual garden to create a more nature-immersive dining experience, so you feel like you’re in a completely separate outdoor space and more at one with your natural surrounds.
Decking spaces
While outdoor dining areas are being pushed back, decking areas are becoming more like an outdoor living room. Keep your eye out for a rise in people investing in composite decking boards. Ideal for making your decked area safe and usable all year round, more garden villages mean a greater opportunity to make the outside feel like home, so get ready to see a rise in decked areas.
Grow-Your Own Food
As any restaurant worth its flaked sea salt continues to extol the virtues of hyper-local, hyper-seasonal dining, home cooks are starting to follow this trend more strictly. This spells great things for garden spaces (and dinner plates too). Expect to see raised beds of fresh produce – as well as window sills packed with fresh herbs – cropping up in even the smallest garden space in 2018. You can buy fruit and veg plants and seeds online from gardening specialist sites like Bakker. Just remember to pay close attention to the seasons to determine both the best time to plant and the best time to eat for maximum results
Artificial Grass
Have you ever considered a fake lawn? The rise of garden villages means a simultaneous increase in people receiving a garden they must maintain. Although a cherished hobby for many, gardening is certainly not for everyone. So, expect to see demands for artificial lawns increase as garden villages – and subsequently, more houses – are built.
Well-Being Plants
Air purifying and calming plants which help create a relaxed environment are going to be big next year. Studies show that plants make you feel better, often cited is that people feel healthier and less stressed when they’re in a green space around plants. Lavender, for instance, is one of the best known anti-anxiety fighters and has been proven to slow down heart rates, lowering blood and stress levels. Jasmine, one of our favourite scents, makes you feel less anxious and more at peace, assisting in sleep, and Aloe Vera is said to be one of the most powerful plant air purifiers in the world.
Hot tubs
Although a luxury item, many of us are already treating ourselves to a hot tub to keep in the garden. These are great additions to any private outdoor space, especially if you have a rural view of the surrounding countryside, making them great for garden village homeowners. The influx of invitations to hot tub partys in 2018, then, is going to be difficult to resist.
Outdoor lighting
When the sun sets, there’ll be no reason to head indoors in 2018. From hanging Chinese lanterns between deck posts to filling jam jars with twinkling LED fairy lights, illuminating your garden creatively is set to be a big spring and summer trend. Perhaps due to the rising cost of going out and socialising, expect the fun to be brought home more often next year.
Antique furniture and Upcycling
Thee trendiest garden furniture is starting to centre around retro designs and old-fashioned techniques. Expect to see more natural, traditional materials — such as teak and rattan — to create a rustic look, as well as a rise in woven and crochet techniques for the retro effect.
Summerhouses and cabins
With the rise in first-time buyers finally having the opportunity to have their own garden, there’s likely to be a boost in summerhouses and log cabins. Great for maximising your garden space and creating an extra room for your family without having to pay for an expensive house extension, these are easy to fit into your garden with enough room for a few chairs and a table to unwind around with drinks and food.