As temperatures rise and spring approaches, getting out into the garden becomes more and more a reality. But what do you need to do to make your outdoor space fashionable and functional?
Luke Millard is passionate about design, creativity and, this year more than ever, affordability when it comes to garden projects. Always on the lookout for the latest trends, this garden professional is used to creating intricate and practical designs on tight budgets and deadlines.
Never forgetting practicality and aesthetics, he gave his predictions for spring 2024. As spring flowers and summer days begin to figure more and more prominently in our thoughts, Luke knows that now is definitely the right time to start planning that garden makeover.
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he said: “Simply put, we all just want to get outside. After the pandemic and all the restrictions it brought, the focus has shifted from interior DIY.
“So put down the furniture catalogs, forget about repainting your front door, and focus on your garden this year.”
People's attention may be shifting to the garden, but the spotlight is still on entertaining at home, and one of the top trends will be bringing the indoors outside with outdoor kitchens.
“We all know that barbecue has long held a place on the summer entertainment agenda,” Luke said. “But outdoor cooking is taking it up a notch. Outdoor kitchens were a trend last year, and they're going to be even bigger this year.”
Luke added that this external capability does not have to come at the cost of the planet, as he is keenly aware that we are still in a cost-of-living crisis.
“Rather than spending thousands of pounds on a garden makeover this year, it's important to keep renovations within your budget,” he said. “And there is a focus not only on affordability, but also on sustainability and recyclable materials.”
Always keep an eye on your budget, Luke said you can even use scaffolding boards to create an outdoor kitchen. It may sound unusual, but a scaffold plank kitchen is a great way to reuse and recycle wood without breaking the bank.
Plus, depending on how you treat the wood, you can get a very dramatic look. Dark wood treatments are trending this year, with black and gray being very popular. Both push traditional boundaries.
For example, independent garden products supplier Palace Chemicals has added Midnight Black and Lunar Gray colors to its popular fence guards. These colors can be used to paint pergolas and install fencing around outdoor kitchen spaces. Another trend to note in this garden is the use of Sho cedar bun cladding. Luke revealed that high-end customers are lining up for this.
An 18th-century Japanese method of carbonizing cedar to preserve and waterproof the wood while also creating depth of color, Luke said it was an expensive and highly sought-after material with surprising effects. . But his top tip for creating a similar look on a budget is to use Douglas fir cladding and paint it midnight black with a wood stain treatment.
He added that steel from Counton Engineering, a sustainable steel manufacturer, is another material that can produce great features when used to create water features and planters. Offcuts are perfect for this.
With such a dramatic color backdrop, you can achieve a real wow factor by planting trumpet vines in front of dark-colored fences or buildings. The red and orange flowers of the trumpet vine create a truly dramatic effect.
Alternatively, Luke recommends planting a sea of lavender in front for an equally stunning look. Manufacturers are now making it easy for us to embrace the dramatic garden color trend.
Luke says: “In his DIY SOS: Big Build project, which was last shown on TV, he used dark colors to give Harlow's project deck a dramatic effect. The colors of the flowers really pop.”
To help you make your garden the envy of your friends and neighbors, Luke has listed below nine top garden trends to expect in 2024 and tips on how to create them. So let's take off our gardening clogs for a moment and figure out what should be at the top of your to-do list this year.
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Top 9 Garden Trends for 2024
1. 2024 is all about the outdoors. It's all about being outdoors.
2. Budget. A makeover on a budget is big news. A grand makeover with a price tag to match is over. This year we will be recycling and upcycling ourselves.
3. And it's all about drama! It's a dramatic development. The violets in the garden won't wilt this year, they're going big and bold.
An important tip for garden trends in 2024 is to make a statement with a black or gray background and brighten up your flowers. Orange and red flowers set against a dramatic backdrop.
4. Deck: Still in very good condition, but only with modifications. Why not embrace the drama here too and dye it black, gray or anthracite?
5. Kitchen: Don't “get out of the kitchen,” take it out of the kitchen. Outdoor kitchens will be a big trend this year. If you're handy and know what materials to source, you don't have to be a burden on the planet. Why not try scaffolding boards to keep costs down?
6. Living Wall: Scheduled to last until 2024, and if your budget allows, Sho cedar vane cladding or steel may be the materials to achieve a dramatic look.
7. Garden studios and outdoor rooms: Yes, the pandemic has put them in the spotlight, but they're not going away. Not only do they greatly increase the value and appeal of your property, they are also practical and really enhance your spring and summer entertaining opportunities.
8. Wooden pergolas have long been considered a desirable addition to gardens, regardless of their size. If you already have one, why not update the look and paint the underside black?
You'll be surprised how much this can strengthen the wood while protecting it. Plus, it's a great backdrop for string lighting.
9. Shaw cedar bun cladding or counten steel can add dramatic style to your garden when used to create feature walls, water features, or living walls. However, these materials are expensive, so why not try using composite cladding or Douglas fir cladding and staining it midnight black to create a look on a budget with some truly amazing elements? Is it?
Planting trumpet vines in front will give a wonderful effect when they bloom. Or you could plant a sea of lavender in front. Remember, scraps can be used to create planters.