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What Will We Want in Our Landscapes in 2024?
Discover seven trends that landscape designers predict homeowners will be bringing into their outdoor spaces this year
Landscapes have come into their own in recent years, with more of us embracing the abundant uses of our outdoor spaces. We increasingly see our yard as a habitat for wildlife, a place that boosts well-being and a space to grow plants for food. And, if our trend predictions for 2024 are anything to go by, this shows no signs of waning. Read on to find out what landscape professionals on Houzz are forecasting for the year ahead.
2. We’ll Look for Ways to Manage Water on Site
“Within the wider [landscape] designs, there will be a closer attention to managing drainage and slowing the flow of water through the landscape,” Reader predicts. “Quick-draining surfaces where required and spaces to hold and store water will become much more mainstream throughout [landscape] design.
“Similarly, designs will encourage the holding of rain excess for use in the times of higher temperatures and less reliable rain,” he adds.
“As designers, we need to continue to be creative with surfaces that replace lawns,” Nuttall says, “utilizing all the gorgeous materials that are available to us now in a more environmentally friendly way, so they’re broken up with planting or other permeable options to allow water to drain into the ground below.”
To Manage Stormwater Sustainably, Understand Your Site
“Within the wider [landscape] designs, there will be a closer attention to managing drainage and slowing the flow of water through the landscape,” Reader predicts. “Quick-draining surfaces where required and spaces to hold and store water will become much more mainstream throughout [landscape] design.
“Similarly, designs will encourage the holding of rain excess for use in the times of higher temperatures and less reliable rain,” he adds.
“As designers, we need to continue to be creative with surfaces that replace lawns,” Nuttall says, “utilizing all the gorgeous materials that are available to us now in a more environmentally friendly way, so they’re broken up with planting or other permeable options to allow water to drain into the ground below.”
To Manage Stormwater Sustainably, Understand Your Site
3. We’ll Want Innovations That Enhance Outdoor Living
“Comfortable outdoor spaces for living and entertaining will still be the core of [landscape] design trends in 2024, with all-weather furniture — including quick-drying cushions — and outdoor barbecue and cooking facilities sitting at the heart of them,” Reader says.
“The wish to be outside almost regardless of the weather has increasingly been made possible by the burgeoning of design options for weather-proof pergolas. These modern and ever-more sophisticated structures now come equipped with tilting and sliding roof slats that can be positioned to allow the sun in or keep the rain out,” he says.
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“Comfortable outdoor spaces for living and entertaining will still be the core of [landscape] design trends in 2024, with all-weather furniture — including quick-drying cushions — and outdoor barbecue and cooking facilities sitting at the heart of them,” Reader says.
“The wish to be outside almost regardless of the weather has increasingly been made possible by the burgeoning of design options for weather-proof pergolas. These modern and ever-more sophisticated structures now come equipped with tilting and sliding roof slats that can be positioned to allow the sun in or keep the rain out,” he says.
Shop for patio furniture on Houzz
4. We’ll Add Wellness Zones to Our Yards
Nuttall predicts people will be using their yards to harness the health benefits of combining cold water exposure and heat therapy. “I can see an increase in people interested in finding space in a new [landscape] design for a cold water plunge bath or pool and also for saunas,” she says.
“There are a lot of beautiful saunas [for sale] now, some of which have a glass side that could be cleverly immersed within planting for a fabulous view.
“Small, cold water plunge baths or pools needn’t take up a lot of space, either,” she continues, “and if surrounded by gorgeous planting, this could provide privacy and really enhance the experience.”
Nuttall predicts people will be using their yards to harness the health benefits of combining cold water exposure and heat therapy. “I can see an increase in people interested in finding space in a new [landscape] design for a cold water plunge bath or pool and also for saunas,” she says.
“There are a lot of beautiful saunas [for sale] now, some of which have a glass side that could be cleverly immersed within planting for a fabulous view.
“Small, cold water plunge baths or pools needn’t take up a lot of space, either,” she continues, “and if surrounded by gorgeous planting, this could provide privacy and really enhance the experience.”
5. We’ll Be Creative With Our Color Choices
Nuttall believes homeowners are becoming braver with the colors they use in their outdoor spaces. “Bringing more color into [landscapes through] furniture choices, painting walls, colored tile accents and other items seems to be becoming more popular, with clients open to bold color suggestions,” she says. Nuttall suggests choosing tones in your planting and furniture that complement each other to create a harmonious space.
Nuttall believes homeowners are becoming braver with the colors they use in their outdoor spaces. “Bringing more color into [landscapes through] furniture choices, painting walls, colored tile accents and other items seems to be becoming more popular, with clients open to bold color suggestions,” she says. Nuttall suggests choosing tones in your planting and furniture that complement each other to create a harmonious space.
6. We’ll Grow Edibles in Small Spaces
Reader says the continued popularity of healthy living and eating will mean even more people will want to grow their own food and points to a focus on ideas for doing this in small spaces.
One way is to go back to the original cottage garden style of mixed flowerbeds and Claudia de Yong of Claudia de Yong Garden Design predicts this will become more popular. “[We’ll be] incorporating more edibles into traditional landscaping, as well as plants with medicinal properties due to the awareness of natural remedies and wellness,” she says.
Reader says the continued popularity of healthy living and eating will mean even more people will want to grow their own food and points to a focus on ideas for doing this in small spaces.
One way is to go back to the original cottage garden style of mixed flowerbeds and Claudia de Yong of Claudia de Yong Garden Design predicts this will become more popular. “[We’ll be] incorporating more edibles into traditional landscaping, as well as plants with medicinal properties due to the awareness of natural remedies and wellness,” she says.
She also sees a solution in upcycling and forecasts more “innovative ways to garden in containers, with repurposing items, as well as maximizing and catering for those with limited spaces.”
What to Know About Adding or Renovating an Edible Garden
What to Know About Adding or Renovating an Edible Garden
7. We’ll Embrace Gardening With Others
De Yong predicts a greater focus on connection among gardeners. “Gardening in community and shared spaces will continue to expand, as individuals come together to cultivate and harvest,” she says. “Tech and online platforms and social media in gardening will see huge growth.”
Your turn: What do you want in your landscape this year? Share in the Comments.
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De Yong predicts a greater focus on connection among gardeners. “Gardening in community and shared spaces will continue to expand, as individuals come together to cultivate and harvest,” she says. “Tech and online platforms and social media in gardening will see huge growth.”
Your turn: What do you want in your landscape this year? Share in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Get inspired by landscape photos
Find a pro for your home or garden project
Shop for outdoor products
All our experts agree that the trend towards wildlife gardening will continue to grow. In fact, this seems to be more the norm than the exception now, and not so much a trend as a shift in thinking.
“Planting schemes for pollinators, together with the acceptance of messy areas within the garden and leaving the stems of perennials over winter, will become increasingly the norm,” Peter Reader of Peter Reader Landscapes says.
Natasha Nuttall of Natasha Nuttall Garden Design sees a continuing trend for replacing a lawn with biodiverse planting. “More clients are open to the idea of having a [yard] without a lawn, which allows more space for abundant planting that’s attractive to pollinators,” she says. “Being immersed in planting creates a lovely and inviting atmosphere for people to enjoy.”
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