Think long-term: Choose durable, low-maintenance materials that complement greenery while standing up to weather and wear.
Garden by Fi Boyle MSGLD. Photo: Heather Edwards
4. Sustainability Without Sacrificing Style
Garden by Nicholas Morton.
5. Small in Scale, Rich in Detail: Where Craftsmanship Defines Luxury
GARDEN DESIGN
lines, and create layered“ rooms” that unfold as you walk, without sacrificing openness or light. This approach gives each area— dining, relaxing, play, or entertaining— its own sense of purpose and privacy while keeping the space fluid and inviting, ideal for small or challenging urban sites.
Designer tips: Use changes in paving, decking, or gravel to signal different zones. Plant in dense groups or draping arrangements to mask sight lines and guide movement. Introduce subtle level changes— steps, terraces, or raised beds— to create separate areas without closing the garden off.
Garden by Tomoko Kawauchi MSGLD at Charlotte Rowe Garden Design.
Garden by Fi Boyle MSGLD. Photo: Heather Edwards
Why it’ s new: Designers are taking sustainability beyond planting choices, embracing a retainrecycle-reuse approach. Neglected structures, old pavers, and on-site stone are repurposed into features that tell a story, add character, and create visually compelling spaces. These gardens show that eco-friendly design can be both responsible and highly stylish, transforming challenging sites into layered, authentic landscapes.
Why it’ s new: Luxury is no longer about large lawns or grand features. Judges consistently praised craftsmanship, material junctions and thoughtful detailing— proving refinement now matters more than scale.
Designer tip: Adopt the‘ less is more’ approach. Invest in fewer, better materials and well-finished details to elevate even the smallest garden.
6. Spacial Zoning and Layered Privacy
Garden by Barbara Samitier MSGLD of Moss Studio. Photo: Annaick Guitteny
7. Biophilic Gardens: Nature That Nurtures Wellbeing
Garden by Nicholas Atherton MSGLD. Photo: Marianne Majerus
Reader tips: Repurpose materials from your own garden— old bricks, stones, or timber can become paths, terraces, or seating.
Combine reclaimed elements with new planting to add texture, history, and visual interest.
Use material variety to define different zones and create a sense of narrative in the garden.
Garden by Gonzalo Morillo MSGLD. Photo Silvia Cerrada.
Why it’ s new: Designers are redefining garden division, moving away from fences and screens. Instead, they use planting density, level changes, material shifts, and subtle structures to guide movement, mask sight
Why it’ s new: Biophilic design is moving beyond interiors into gardens, schools and corporate campuses. Designers are integrating nature-inspired patterns, biodiversity, and lush greenery near buildings to boost mental health, encourage outdoor engagement, and create restorative spaces fostering curiosity, wellbeing, and lasting connections with nature.
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