Nurturing gardens
When it comes to garden design trends, it's clear that people still want to spend plenty of time in their outdoor spaces. In the past year, more people have chosen to move away from minimalist planting and bring in more flower beds and shrubbed areas to their spaces, including raised beds for growing vegetables. This is great news for biodiversity, creating a wildlife friendly garden is both a fun and environmentally-friendly change to make to your space and there are many ways to make both small and big changes.Whilst being great for wildlife, it’s great for our physical health and the harmonious colours can have a big effect on our wellbeing as well.
The healing powers of water are becoming more widely recognised - from stress relief to reducing inflammation - influencing the rise of big changes like outdoor bathrooms or garden spas to an increase in water features and reflection pools integrated into garden designs.
Created by JA Dodds landscapes this garden exemplifies a nurturing garden, complete with lots of green space, a water feature and plenty of space for relaxation
Joyful gardens
As well as having something attractive and colourful to look out over, current garden trends also show that people really want to spend quality time outdoors. Heading into 2024 there will be in increased focus on creating spaces defined by playfulness, positivity and togetherness. Seating areas, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and floor-like laying patterns are all must-haves for 2024. This mood-lifting direction is focused on creating landscapes that are energising and vibrant, self-expressive and lively.
People lucky enough to have larger outdoor spaces are choosing to create different zones within their gardens. They have different features, such as open-air cooking and eating areas and specific spaces for children to play in. Our Marshalls Registered Installers tell us that garden zones were a rising trend in 2023, and we expect that to continue. But, even if you haven’t got a huge space and are looking for design ideas for small gardens, you can do plenty.
Created by Signature Landscapes, this small outdoor kitchen fits neatly into the corner of the garden and looks great close to a swinging outdoor chair
Regenerative gardens
The need to restore biodiversity and rewild our lived environments went mainstream a couple of years ago and continues to build momentum. People are abandoning AstroTurf, embracing No Mow May and enabling new habitats to establish. Naturalistic and cottagecore aesthetics dominate, informality and imperfection are key.
Increasingly, planting spaces are being transformed into 'edible landscape's' with an emphasis on grow your own veg in response to the cost of living crisis and a newfound interest in locally-sourced products.
A beautiful example of a front garden with 'cottagecore' aesthetics, using Drivesys Original Cobble for the driveway
Luxurious gardens
As evidenced by the other trends, the desire for calm spaces is strong. This trend aims to bring ‘quiet luxury’ to your outdoor space. The clean architectural lines of hard landscaping and softer, natural planting creates a striking look emphasising quality over quantity and more premium and durable materials that are guaranteed to last. In terms of colour, the direction can be interpreted in light or dark tones, with a pared back palette to create a contemporary look.
Porcelain paving is the perfect mixture of sleek and stylish quality and long lasting, low maintenance material
What are the 2024 garden colour trends
Grey paving remains a popular choice for homeowners. Grey paving looks great against most types of brickwork and works well for both modern and older homes. A popular design idea is to use a grey patio to create a smooth transition between outside and in, perfect if your house has bi-fold or patio doors.
Warm colours have been on an upward trajectory and are an excellent choice for anyone looking to add a stylish, cosy look to complete their garden oasis. These colours can improve mental health and wellbeing, with the Mediterranean influence transporting users to holiday destinations and state of mind. Soft curving forms and reassuring earth tones can help to create a grounded sense of security. Giving your garden a dramatic lift can redefine the look of the space and how you use it. From the slick look of porcelain to the more natural look of sandstone, warm coloured paving can provide a unique new look to your garden for 2024.
There is still a growing trend for patterned paving and outdoor tiles for people looking for modern garden ideas and ways to create a stylish garden. Marshalls outdoor tiles are available in several different patterns and finishes, such as corten and terrazzo; recent garden designs have used these for step risers, underneath seating areas and even outdoor dancefloors. Scroll down for photos of gardens using grey and black paving and some patterned paving inspiration too.
Fairstone Sawn Versuro provides warm, earthy tones
Marshalls Symphony porcelain
Symphony Matte patterned porcelain paving
The best of both worlds
Who says you just need one colour or one type of paving? Combining colours and paving styles can create a stunning and eye-catching look that will instantly transform the look and feel of any outdoor area. You can use borders and edging to frame paving, creating a neat and attractive finish, while different types of paving can create different pathways and visual effects. Combinations can add a touch of class and sophistication to any outdoor space while still allowing for plenty of creativity and individuality.
Cost-effective ways to revamp your garden
Updating garden borders is a great budget garden idea as an alternative to a full patio. They are an easy and inexpensive way to add a decorative element to any landscape, allowing you to save money while still creating a beautiful and stylish look. Borders are also relatively easy to install, making them a great option for anyone looking for a quick and simple solution to new paving.
A revamped pathway can create a sense of direction in your garden, helping to define the different areas of your garden and provide a logical flow through the space. It can be a great first step to a larger revamp when your budget allows it. Our Drivesett Tegula range has been one of our most popular materials for pathways in 2023, and we see this continuing into 2024.
Drivesett Tegula
What are the most popular patio materials for 2024
Indian sandstone became one of our most searched for materials in 2023, and it’s not hard to see why. Our ethically sourced Indian Sandstone is a strong yet affordable rustic paving product which suits just about any residential setting.
Indian sandstone
Porcelain paving is a beautiful and low maintenance option for creating an on-trend outdoor space in 2024. Known for its strength and resistance to damage, porcelain is ideal for use in areas with high foot traffic or outdoor areas exposed to the elements. Porcelain paving is also easy to maintain and clean, ensuring that it will continue to look great for years to come. Additionally, it comes in a wide range of colours and styles, allowing you to create a unique and stylish look for your outdoor space.
Another trend we see continuing in garden designs for 2024 is block paving, a top choice for driveways, for garden paths and used as a border around a patio in the same shade. This is a great way to break up a space and use different materials whilst sticking to a colour theme. Lunar is one of our popular new options and offers a lot of different shades for an innovative, cost effective solution to garden pathways or driveways for your front garden.
Expert garden design advice for 2024
It can be hard to know where to start if you're looking to kick-start your garden project in 2024. Fortunately, we have a network of Marshalls Registered Installers, whom we asked for tips and advice to share with you. Planning ahead is a common theme, and we'd echo that advice. Our Registered Installers said that they are consistently busy, but as the advice below suggests, it is always worth waiting for a trusted supplier rather than going for someone less well-known who can do the job immediately.
"Keep in mind the price. But go with who you feel comfortable with. There's a lot of bad workmen out there. Don't be caught having to pay twice and most of all, don't be afraid to ask for anything. A lot of things can be done nowadays." Tom from Northowram Landscapes
"Get in early as high quality landscaper are book up." Richard from English Landscapes
"Make sure you have a realistic budget and time frame." James from JT Landscapes
"Take a while to think about what you want/need, put thoughts to paper even if its rough." Lee from Project landscaping
"Start planning at least 6 months before you want to start." Matt from 4 Life Landscapes
Driveway trends for 2024
In this article, we've talked a lot about the popular patio colours and garden trends for 2024, but it's worth looking at driveway trends too. Installers tell us that they saw a rise in the number of driveway projects and quote requests in 2023, which means driveways have been bumping up priority lists. This isn't so surprising when you factor in the rise of electric vehicles and the need for electric charging points on driveways.
When it comes to driveway trends, they follow the same pattern as garden trends – we're seeing grey paving for driveways and hard-wearing materials win the popularity contest. Cobble driveways have also had an upswing in 2023 for the classy and unique look they can bring to a property. People also continue to ask for low maintenance front gardens; in general, they want the time they spend pruning and mowing to be within their private outdoor space rather than at the front. And our ever-popular Drivesett Tegula range continued to be one of the most searched for products on our website in 2023, we expect that to continue in 2024.
We hope you've found this article useful, and it's helped inspire your 2024 garden project. For more inspiration and photos of gardens, please visit our completed projects and don’t forget to use our outdoor reality app to instantly see our paving products in your outdoor space.
