With international holidays still proving a challenge, creating an outdoor living space to be enjoyed is more important than ever this summer. Here, we explore 2021’s biggest garden trends and offer our tips on recreating them at home.
1. Holidaying at home
Despite a wet start, summer 2021 has enjoyed some incredibly hot weather, with temperatures soaring to over 30 degrees in many parts of the UK. This, coupled with current limitations on holidays, has seen more and more of us opting to create spaces in our gardens that remind us of being poolside. In fact, searches for ‘lounger’ have spiked by an incredible 66 percent in 2021.
Creating a holiday-at-home feel in your own garden is easy to achieve. Simple changes, such as adding a comfortable relaxation area to recline and read a book, can go a long way in changing the feel of your garden. You can add a touch of luxury to your outdoor space by incorporating luxury garden furniture designed for relaxing, such as our loungers. If possible, try to separate this area from the dining area in your garden to create a distinct ‘relaxation zone’ and ‘eating zone’, just like a hotel getaway.
For extra effect, add a water feature or pop-up pool to help you cool down on the warmer days. If staycations are likely to form an annual part of your calendar going forward, you could take this one step further and consider adding a home swimming pool as a permanent feature to your garden.
2. Bringing the country to the city
The last year has seen a huge trend for moving from the city to the country. For those not yet ready to take the plunge, creating a cottage-style garden is a fantastic way to bring a slice of the countryside to an urban space.
To create a low-maintenance cottage-style garden of your own, forget every rule you’ve read about creating order in your garden. Instead, opt for brightly coloured plants and casual lines. We recommend repeating colours and plant varieties throughout the garden to create some harmony without looking too formal.
Adding timeless pieces of aluminium furniture is another fantastic way to recreate an entertaining space with the look and feel of a classic English cottage garden, even if it’s nestled in the heart of a big city.
3. Outdoor cinemas
We love a movie night and, it seems, so does the nation. In fact, during lockdown, searches for ‘outdoor projectors’ rocketed by 400 percent.
This comes as no surprise. Outdoor cinemas are incredibly easy to create and are a fun activity for the whole family. All you will need is a projector, speaker and a plain white sheet. We’d recommend adding some cosy fairy lights for extra ambience and a comfortable seating area to relax and enjoy the film. Our lounge chairs are perfect for lazy movie nights, but a pile of outdoor cushions and a blanket work well too. Popcorn is also an essential.
4. Garden bars
During lockdown, we saw a huge rise in the number of people installing cocktail bars in their own gardens. This trend for alfresco drinks at home has shown no sign of slowing down, even now hospitality venues have reopened.
The perfect drinks terrace starts with a well-stocked bar. You can now buy garden bar structures online, or, if you’re feeling crafty, why not build your own using some timber, shelving, and strings of fairy lights? Once this is complete, it’s time to plan your cocktails, stock the bar and add some comfortable seating to create the perfect drinks party for you and your friends.
5. Sustainable spaces
The way we use our gardens can have a big impact on the environment, both good and bad. We have been heartened to see so many Brits prioritising sustainability in their gardens this summer. There is a host of simple swaps you can make in your garden to make it more environmentally friendly. From conserving water, and using sustainable compost, right through to only purchasing outdoor furniture and accessories from sustainable sources, you can directly contribute towards creating a more sustainable world.
6. Getting cosy
Whilst we all hope for sunny days and balmy summer evenings, we’re not always quite so lucky when it comes to the UK weather. With this in mind, we have seen an increasing trend for people ‘bringing the inside out’ and creating cosy spaces in their gardens that remain comfortable whatever the weather.
Small touches such as adding outdoor rugs, scatter cushions and candles can make a big difference in making an outdoor space feel cosier. When it comes to beating the elements, fire pits, patio heaters and thick blankets are perfect for taking the chill out of the air, whilst sails and pergolas act as effective shields from rain or bright sunlight. To ensure you can enjoy your garden all-year-round, opt for weatherproof luxury outdoor garden furniture which will withstand all weather conditions.
7. Alfresco offices
With more of us working remotely than ever before, the summer of 2021 has also seen the rise of the outdoor office. Perfect for ticking off your to-do list whilst getting some much-needed Vitamin D, all you need to create the perfect outdoor office is a comfortable chair, a table, and your laptop. We’d also recommend a parasol to shade your screen from any glare, and a paperweight to avoid losing any important documents to a gust of wind.
For more advice on creating the perfect outdoor space this summer, read our top tips for summer entertaining in your garden.
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