Landscape & Urban Design Issue 67 2024 | Page 15

To create an inviting , and stylish outdoor cooking or dining area that you will want to spend time using , it ’ s important to factor in practicality . Overhead garden structures , such as pergolas and awnings , have started to re-trend over recent years , offering shelter from the temperamental British weather , while providing a sense of enclosure and much needed privacy .
When it comes to functionality , opting for a durable and easy-toclean flooring material , such as porcelain paving tiles , is a must-have for exterior dining areas , ensuring food and drink spills are easy to clean without marking your external flooring . For those looking to take their design creativity to the next level , try incorporating patterned paving into your patio to zone the dining seating area from the rest of your garden area .
Rewilding Ideal for low-maintenance gardeners , the rewilding trend is a sustainable gardening approach that encourages wildlife and pollinators to thrive , immersing our space with nature in a grounding and authentic way .
From growing flowers , incorporating shelter for wildlife to using natural stone materials , it ’ s about making smart design choices that benefits wildlife within your outdoor space .
This trend encourages scattering native wildflower seeds into your planting beds to benefit local wildlife , that in turn creates a vibrant and romantic ambience to your garden that is also very low maintenance . Additionally , reducing lawn mowing and introducing home composting works well here to enrich the soil with valuable nutrients in an easy way .
Urban Gardens More people are seeking to transform their outdoor space into their own sanctuary where they can nurture plants , grow home produce , and relax .
GARDEN DESIGN
The key to designing an urban terrace or balcony is to maximise the space you have available . Most people tend to overlook exterior walls however , creating a vertical garden will allow you to incorporate colour and nature into a small space .
You can utilise exterior walls with the use of hanging planters , wallmounted shelving and even using patterned tiling to add colour and dimension to the space . Additionally , outdoor mirrors work particularly well for this trend , giving the illusion of a larger area whilst also brightening up your space .
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